Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Launches Family-Friendly Spring Break Programming Focused on History of Sports and Recreation
March 18, 2024
For Spring Break 2024, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESPHS) invites the public to discover the rich and captivating history of sports and other team activities at the historic prison and their enduring societal legacy in prisons today. Visitors to Eastern State from March 23 through March 31 can explore the profound impact of sports and recreation on prison life through engaging talks, family-friendly activities, and interactive experiences.
From March 23 through March 31, daytime admission to Eastern State Penitentiary includes all standard programming—”The Voices of Eastern State” Audio Tour, Hands-On History experiences, exhibits, and artist installations—as well as special sports-and-recreation-themed programs available exclusively for Spring Break:
- Baseball Pop-Up Talks & Home Run Hits — (March 23 at 11:30 a.m., March 28 at 11:30 a.m., & March 31 at 1:30 p.m.) On the penitentiary's historic baseball field, visitors learn more about the impact of baseball in prisons past and present. Then, they can step up to the plate and see how far they can hit a wiffle ball toward Eastern State's tall perimeter wall.
- Pop-Up Museum: Sports & Recreation — (Ongoing) Visitors get a closer look at rarely-seen artifacts that tell the story of sports and recreation at Eastern State, including historic photographs, prisoner-made crafts, and recovered athletic equipment. Plus, visitors can try their hand at games that people incarcerated at Eastern State once played like dominos, checkers, chess, and cards.
- Sports & Recreation Scavenger Hunt — (Ongoing) Designed with kids and their caregivers in mind, this sports-themed scavenger hunt takes young visitors on a learning journey throughout the site. Visitors who complete the scavenger hunt win a prize.
- Sports & Recreation Trivia — (March 27, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and March 30, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.) Visitors play trivia testing their knowledge about sports in prison. Prizes awarded.
- Hands-On History: Race, Baseball, & The Legend of Charles "Jack" Blackburn — (Daily, Select Times) ESPHS Educators offer 10-minute drop-in tours about a renowned boxing champion turned Eastern State baseball player.
- Guide-Led Tour & Discussion — (Daily, Select Times) ESPHS Educators lead small group tours that invite visitors to consider Eastern State’s history and how it relates to modern-day incarceration. Tours during spring break will feature additional content about sports & recreation. These tours have limited capacity and are subject to availability. Reservations can be secured by purchasing timed and dated Guide-Led Tour & Discussion tickets online in advance.
The historic site’s special Spring Break programming illuminates how sports and recreation played a crucial role in enhancing prisoners' daily lives by easing tensions, boosting morale, and fostering camaraderie among teammates. In correctional facilities today, these activities continue to serve as vital outlets for navigating social, economic, psychological, and political challenges, linking individuals to a sense of normalcy, home, and community. They bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals' past and future, aiding in understanding their experiences.
“Sports and team activities not only offer recreational value, but also inspire creativity, strategic thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills,” says Dr. Kerry Sautner, President & CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. “We hope that visitors who join us here at Eastern State this Spring Break will have fun, but also that they will reflect on their own life experiences and consider some of the universal human experiences that connect us all.”
Spring Break: Sports and Recreation takes place March 23 through March 31, 2024 at Eastern State Penitentiary. Spring Break activities are included with standard admission. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit EasternState.org/SpringBreak.
About Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site:
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site interprets the legacy of American criminal justice reform, from the nation’s founding through to the present day, within the long-abandoned cellblocks of the nation’s most historic prison.
For more information, visit EasternState.org and follow Eastern State Penitentiary on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, and Tik Tok.
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Spend Spring Break at @EasternState to learn about the history of sports in prison and their enduring legacy in correctional facilities today. Try your hand at wiffle ball, chess, sports trivia, and other interactive activities, included w/ admission. EasternState.org/SpringBreak
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