Your support will help us continue to preserve Eastern State Penitentiary and amplify the power of this site for generations to come.
Keep reading to learn more or make a gift now!
When you visit Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, I hope you experience a profound testament to “the power of place.”
As the world’s first penitentiary, and like so many other “firsts” in the City of Philadelphia, Eastern State was founded on principles of dignity and hope. As a historic site, Eastern State continues to embody both the promise of those original values and the deep flaws in our criminal justice system.
Today, I ask you to join our community of supporters and help ensure Eastern State remains a powerful place for reflection, education, and the promise of what people can do together.
Over nearly 150 years Eastern State incarcerated more than 80,000 individuals. A supportive community was key to helping those impacted by Eastern State reclaim their freedom and find the promise of a fresh start. Throughout the penitentiary you can explore spaces where community was found — dining halls, places of worship, recreation and work areas.
With your help, we have begun to preserve many of the sacred spaces that tell the story of Eastern State and its inhabitants, but there is still much to do. The entirety of our 11-acre campus requires significant preservation work—in fact, 26% of the site has had almost no attention since the prison was abandoned in 1971. Your support allows us to continue the important work of protecting this unique place to foster critical dialogue about the American criminal justice system. Will you make a gift today to support our preservation efforts?
Preserving the Fleisher Memorial Synagogue
In 1924, Eastern State Penitentiary became home to the first synagogue inside an American prison. Several solitary exercise yards originally designed for isolation were combined and transformed into the Alfred W. Fleisher Memorial Synagogue, a place of gathering and spiritual reflection for the penitentiary’s Jewish community.
When the prison closed, the site sat abandoned for decades. During that time, the once sacred space of the synagogue fell into decay — the ceiling collapsed, plaster crumbled, and more than three feet of debris covered the floor. With the help of generous donors, it was restored in 2009. Now, thousands of visitors each year step inside the synagogue to learn about the unique experience of Jewish people incarcerated at Eastern State and their connections to the larger Jewish community beyond the walls.
An Investment in the Future
Essential infrastructure improvements are now required to protect the Fleisher Synagogue, including a new climate control system. We’ve already secured $150,000 of the $250,000 needed. Your support for this effort will help amplify the power of this site for generations to come.
And this project is just the beginning. As we approach Eastern State’s 200th anniversary in 2029, we have ambitious plans for the site’s renewal. Your support for preservation and restoration at Eastern State will also help fund numerous other planned projects throughout the penitentiary, including:
Hospitality Center: Converting the historic electrical building into a welcome center, complete with long-needed permanent bathrooms, to enhance the visitor experience.
Greenhouse Revitalization: Restoring the 1923 greenhouse for a new exhibit, with work beginning in 2026.
Education Center: Reimagining the historic Industrial Building to create a flexible, two-story education facility for our growing workforce development and K-12 school programs.
Will you donate $100, $250 or even $500 and help us reach this critical goal? Your gift today will allow us to advance essential projects like these, not only to preserve this historic place, but to share the stories of those incarcerated here and foster dialogue about the criminal justice system in America — past, present, and future.
Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to continuing this important journey with you in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Kerry Sautner, Ed.D.
President and CEO
