Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is open to visitors year-round. Below you’ll find the latest information regarding our hours of operation, including any notices regarding unexpected closures or delays. All hours of operation are subject to change.
Current Hours of Operation
Open Wednesday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
Seasonal & Holiday Schedule
- January – February: Open Wednesday – Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
- March – November: Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- December 1 – 22: Open Wednesday – Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
- December 23 – 31: Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The historic site is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Special Event Hours
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site also operates select evening events throughout the year:
Halloween Nights
Select evenings, September through November. Dates to be announced in late summer.
LEARN MOREPlanning a visit to Eastern State?
Explore, visit, and gain perspective as you walk the preserved historic grounds—plus get details on what to bring, where to go, and how to make the most of your visit
Know Before You GoUpcoming Historic Site Events
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A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future
Thursday, January 01 - Thursday, December 31, 2026
A yearlong slate of free, inclusive programs exploring the evolving meanings of liberty and justice in America.
Drop-In Art Activity with Mark Loughney
Saturday, January 17, 2026
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Join artist Mark Loughney for a family-friendly, hands-on art activity
January 2026: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion
Sunday, January 18, 2026
11:00am - 12:00pm
Subject to availability. Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. An Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions.
Finding Justice Month
Sunday, February 01 - Saturday, February 28, 2026
Eastern State Penitentiary’s Finding Justice programs invite visitors to explore how expression—through words, art, and music—has always been a natural and essential human right, even within spaces of confinement.
Voices of Liberation
Sunday, February 01, 2026
12:15am - 12:15am
A video installation highlighting prominent civil rights leaders who spoke and wrote from spaces of confinement.
Highlighted Mini-Tours
Sunday, February 01, 2026
12:30am - 12:30am
Learn how how creative expression—through visual art and sound—has long offered both reflection and resistance within the prison walls.
Public Tour with Artist Talk
Saturday, February 07, 2026
11:00am - 12:00pm
Subject to availability. Purchase timed tickets online to secure your spot. Join us for a special iteration of our Guide-Led Tour & Discussion featuring a Q&A with artist Mark Loughney.
Public Portrait Session with Mark Loughney
Saturday, February 07, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Visitors are invited to sit for a portrait with artist Mark Loughney. The portraits will be included in the next phase of his art installation "Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration," which is now on view at the historic site.
February 2026: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion
Sunday, February 15, 2026
11:00am - 12:00pm
Subject to availability. Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. An Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions.
March 2026: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion
Saturday, March 14, 2026
11:00am - 12:00pm
Subject to availability. Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. An Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions.
Spring Break: Escape and Resistance
Friday, March 27, 2026
All Day
Uncover real accounts of daring escape attempts, test your problem-solving skills in a hands-on challenge, and step back in time to the era of Prohibition through immersive storytelling, live-action challenges, and history reimagined.
Memorial Day Weekend Preservation Fest
Friday, May 22, 2026
All Day
Program details to be announced. Whether you're a history buff, preservation enthusiast, or looking for a meaningful way to honor those who served and sacrificed, Eastern State offers a unique blend of education and remembrance.
Freedom Summer 2026
Thursday, June 11 - Sunday, July 19, 2026
Details to be confirmed—please check back for updates.
Closed for Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 26, 2026
All Day
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is closed for Thanksgiving. We resume normal hours on Friday.
Closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Friday, December 25, 2026
All Day
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is closed December 24 and 25. We resume normal hours on December 26.