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Many people are surprised to find that Eastern State Penitentiary is in Center City Philadelphia in the Fairmount Neighborhood, which is only a few blocks from City Hall and the towering skyscrapers. The Fairmount Neighborhood is home to an abundant array of corner cafes, neighborhood pubs and some of Philadelphia’s finest restaurants. You can find out more about Philadelphia Tourism on our Links Page. Also take the time to visit www.gophila.com, an excellent resource for visitors to Philadelphia. We hope you enjoy visiting the beautiful neighborhood as much as we enjoy working here. |
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Several wonderful Fairmount restaurants, all just steps from E.S.P., offer special ESP Lunch packages that include your prison tour ticket. Simply make your reservations by contacting the restaurant directly.
Aspen Belgian Café Bishop's Collar Bridgid's Figs Illuminare Jack's Firehouse L'OCA Italian Bistro London Grill McCrossen's Tavern North Star Bar Parkway Room Rembrandt's Rose Tattoo Cafe Savannah Trio Zorba's Art Museum Restaurant & Pizzeria B & W Sports Bar Cafe MoJoe Fairmount Pizza & Grill Garden Fresh London Next Door Mugshots CoffeeHouse & JuiceBar Pete's Famous Pizza Philly Flavors Best Western Center City Hotel Hampton Inn Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center City
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Visit Eastern State Penitentiary and FIVE other Philadelphia Attractions for 1 LOW Price with City Pass. Attractions included in the City Pass program are designated by an asterisk (*) below. The Parkway Council Foundation STRETCHING FROM CITY HALL to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia’s grand, tree-lined boulevard is flanked by some of the city’s most acclaimed institutions. (Eastern State Penitentiary is a Parkway institution.) Visitors will discover a cultural mecca - world-class museums and educational institutions, the magnificent Swann Memorial Fountain and Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Logan Square, and even the famed "Rocky" steps. Find links to all of the Parkway institutions. The Academy of Natural Sciences Museum* Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences is an international museum of natural history housing over 17 million specimens. The Academy undertakes research and public education that focuses on the environment and its diverse species. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway 11 (long) blocks from Eastern State. Adventure Aquarium features nearly 200,000 square feet of sea life and wildlife. Visitors explore the West African River Experience featuring hippopotamuses, porcupines and over 20 species of African birds in a free-flight aviary, surround themselves with dozens of sharks in a suspended 40-foot walk through tunnel, discover the wonders of the deep sea in the Jules Verne Gallery, and more. 2.5 miles from Eastern State. Recently restored, this beautiful garden behind the Art Museum at the end of Fairmount Avenue on Kelly Drive has become a favorite site for wedding photos and is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch, before or after a tour of Eastern State. 5 blocks from Eastern State. Five blocks from Eastern State Penitentiary, at the end of Fairmount Avenue on Kelly Drive is an eclectic collection of Victorian buildings known by locals as Boathouse Row. This National Historic Landmark District on the banks of the Schuylkill River is home to Philadelphia’s rowing Clubs. 5 blocks from Eastern State Nestled on the banks of the Schuylkill River, Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped park in the United States (4,180 acres) and one of the world’s largest municipal parks. The park contains several million trees; the oldest zoo in the U.S.; Boathouse Row; cherry blossoms to rival those along D.C.’s Potomac Basin; Robin Hood Dell, an outdoor venue for soul-filled summer singers; the Mann Music Center, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s (and others’) summer amphitheater; picnic areas; tennis courts; miles of bicycle paths; bridle paths; an azalea garden; hundreds of statues and monuments; and two dozen or so 18th- and 19th-century buildings, which comprise an unusual historical patrimony. 5 blocks from Eastern State Just below the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Schuylkill River is the Fairmount Water Works, designed by Frederick Graff. One of the most romantic collections of buildings in Philadelphia, this architectural achievement built between 1819 and 1822 is comprised of a dam, pumphouse and reservoir. Classical in feeling, the grouping of the superintendent’s house, the pavilions, and the balustrades along the river form an unforgettable picture. This National Historic Landmark has recently been restored to its former splendor and is a favorite destination of Eastern State Assistant Program Director Brett Bertolino. 5 blocks from Eastern State The Franklin Institute Science Museum* Founded in 1824, The Franklin Institute Science Museum continues to offer new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would both amaze and delight Mr. Benjamin Franklin. 222 North 20th St. 10 (long) blocks from Eastern State. Opening shortly after Eastern State in 1848, it is hard to believe that these two institutions in the middle of Philadelphia once stood alone, surrounded by farmland. Today, the Girard College Museums display a priceless collection of Stephen Girard’s furniture and personal effects, and a pictoral history and memorabilia from Girard’s 150-year existence. Part of the Stephen Girard Collection includes over a half million documents and ledgers of Girard’s activities during the periods 1785 to 1831, all microfilmed and available to scholars researching the merchandising, shipping, trading, and banking activities of the period. 2101 S. College Ave. 4 blocks from Eastern State. Moore College of Art and Design Established (in 1983 and 1987) to present contemporary art, the Galleries at Moore operate with two distinct, complementary missions: The Goldie Paley Gallery . . . to bring into focus cutting-edge art, architecture, and design by national and international artists who, though important, have not always been in the mainstream of cultural consciousness The Levy Gallery for the Arts in Philadelphia… to bring local and national attention to established and emerging Philadelphia artists 20th St. and The Parkway 9 blocks from Eastern State The Museum’s collections include over 20,000 objects, including fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens, medical instruments, anatomical and pathological models, items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians, and medical illustrations. 19 South 22nd St. 13 blocks from Eastern State. The National Constitution Center is America’s first and only museum devoted to the US Constitution and the freedoms that empower us as individuals and as a nation. Located on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, this contemporary and moving experience includes an award winning live theater performance and over 100 interactive and multi-media exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture and artifacts to inspire everyone. 2 miles from Eastern State. Accessible from E.S.P. via the Philadelphia Trolley Works. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, founded in 1876, is unique among American museums in its integrated presentation of a full range of both fine and applied arts from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Spanning over 2,000 years, the collections include masterpieces of painting, sculpture, prints, and drawings, as well as a wide range of furniture, silver, glasswork, architectural elements, and entire furnished rooms from historic houses. Just five blocks from Eastern State Penitentiary. Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 26th Street 5 blocks from Eastern State. Philadelphia Trolley Works Trolley/Double Decker Bus Tour* Allow Philadelphia’s Premier Tour Company, Philadelphia Trolley Works, to show you the sights and tell you the tales of a city that cheered for Rocky, forged a nation and is home to the Liberty Bell & Independence Hall. Your CityPass gives you the freedom of unlimited on-and-off privileges at all 20 stops throughout the day using Trolleys or The Big Bus Double Decker buses. You make the choice! Departs Daily from the Corner of 5th & Market Streets. Free Courtesy Shuttle (9:00 am - 4:30 pm) available from Center City locations - call (215) 389-TOUR. Cheetahs, hippos and rhinos make the Philadelphia Zoo Philadelphia’s leading family attraction. Soar nearly 400 feet above the city on the Channel 6 Zooballoon. Visit the PECO Primate Reserve to see gorillas, ruffed lemurs and more. Experience the brand new Bank of America Big Cat Falls, home to lions, leopards, jaguars, and the largest of the world’s big cats - Amur tigers. Located in beautiful Fairmount Park, at 34th Street and Girard Avenue. Accessible from E.S.P. via the Philadelphia Trolley Works or Flash. You won’t find a "Do Not Touch" sign at this museum designed specifically for kids. The Please Touch Museum features educational and entertaining hands-on exhibits that replicate real life for kids ages 1-7. 210 North 21st Street 10 blocks from Eastern State. Built in 1927-29, the Rodin Museum houses the largest collection of Auguste Rodin’s work outside France. Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 22nd Street 7 blocks from Eastern State. Center City is a thriving downtown, the vibrant hub of the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan region and home to state-of-the-art office towers, world renowned museums and cultural institutions, nationally-known fine dining, charming historic neighborhoods, world-class tourist attractions, great shopping from national retailers to unique small shops and, of course, the world’s first true penitentiary. With over 78,000 residents, center city is the third largest downtown population of any U.S. city and attracts over 8.2 million visitors annually. Eastern State is about 16 blocks, a 25 to 30 minute walk, from City Hall. |
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc.
