Spring 2025 Preview

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Announces Spring Programming Lineup Centered on Civic Engagement, History, and Hope

March 20, 2025

Philadelphia, PA (March 20, 2025) -- Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESPHS) presents an ambitious slate of new public programs for spring 2025, including a book launch event, several educational programs, a week of sports-themed spring break activities, and a new slate of evening programs at the historic site. Featuring partnerships with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), FAMM, the Pennsylvania Prison Society, the Office of Reentry Partnerships, Worth Rises, and QISM Consulting and Staffing, ESPHS’s spring 2025 programming offers myriad ways to engage in civil dialogue around the timely and important topic of justice, including themes of civic engagement, history, and hope.

“We are excited to embark on a new season of programs at Eastern State, with so many creative ways for people to engage in civil dialogue around prescient topics from our shared past and present,” says Dr. Kerry Sautner, President and CEO. “This spring and beyond, we hope to draw from Eastern State’s historic past to engage with the current moment, promoting deeper cultural understanding and strengthening our communities. We invite people across the nation to learn and engage with us on these critical issues that impact us all.”

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site’s Spring 2025 Programming Preview:

March 27, 5:30 p.m. – Justice 101: The History and Legacy of Women in Prison
Free. Advance registration required.
Hybrid event: In person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site; online via Zoom.

Participants can join in person or online to explore the often-overlooked history of women in the American prison system, including how the incarceration of women has evolved as well as the powerful stories and legacy of women who fight for justice every day. This discussion features Assata Thomas, Executive Director of the Office of Reentry Partnerships, and Kirstin Cornnell, Family and Community Support Director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society. Moderated by Eastern State President and CEO Dr. Kerry Sautner.

April 10, 5:30 p.m. – Official Book Launch: The Prison Industry: How it Works and Who Profits
Free. Advance registration required.
Hybrid event: In person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site; online via Zoom.

Piper Kerman, author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Orange is the New Black, moderates a fireside chat between Worth Rises Executive Director Bianca Tylek and Abolitionist Law Center Executive Director Robert Saleem Holbrook, to celebrate the release of The Prison Industry: How It Works and Who Profits, the highly anticipated book written by Bianca Tylek and Worth Rises and published by The New Press.

In addition to this powerful conversation, guests attending in person enjoy food, drinks, and the opportunity to explore the historic site after hours. Copies of The Prison Industry are available for purchase.

April 11 through 20 – Spring Break: Sports & Recreation
In person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.
Included with general admission.

Visitors explore the profound impact of sports and recreation on prison life through engaging talks, family-friendly activities, and interactive experiences, including:

Mini Exhibit: Sports & Recreation — Ongoing. — Visitors get a closer look at rarely-seen artifacts including historic photographs and recovered athletic equipment. Plus, visitors can try their hand at some of the games that people incarcerated at Eastern State Penitentiary once played, like dominos, checkers, chess, and cards.

Sports & Recreation Scavenger Hunt — Ongoing. — This sports-themed scavenger hunt is designed with kids and their caregivers in mind. Visitors who complete the scavenger hunt receive an exclusive sticker prize!

Guide-Led Tour & Discussion — Daily. Select Times. — This small group tour invites visitors to consider Eastern State Penitentiary’s history and how it relates to modern-day incarceration. Tours during Spring Break will feature additional content about sports & recreation. Limited capacity and subject to availability.

Mini Tour: Race, Baseball, & The Legend of Charles "Jack" Blackburn — Daily. Select Times. — This 10-minute tour shares the fascinating story of a renowned Hall of Fame boxer turned Eastern State Penitentiary baseball player.

Baseball Pop-Up Talks & Home Run Hits – Daily. 3:00 pm. — Visitors can meet on the penitentiary's historic baseball field to learn more about the impact of baseball in prisons, past and present, and step up to the "plate" and see how far they can hit a wiffle ball toward the historic site's tall perimeter wall.  

Sports & Recreation Trivia – April 19. 2:00 pm. — Visitors can test their knowledge about sports in prison. Prizes awarded.

More info at EasternState.org.

April 26, 11:30 a.m. – Justice 101: Reentry Simulation
In person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.
Included with general admission, subject to capacity. Purchase tickets online in advance.

Through this hands-on experience, participants learn about and reflect on some of the many structural challenges people face when returning home from prison. Participants are assigned a fictitious back story and persona. Through the lens of a recently incarcerated person, participants encounter simulated scenarios that mirror real-life tasks like finding a job, attending treatment, and paying bills. At the end of the activity, participants debrief their experiences and discuss the criminal justice system and complexities of reentry. Led by Ryan Hall (Education Manager, Eastern State) and M.Q. Jones (President and CEO, QISM Consulting and Staffing), this reentry simulation is an eye-opening opportunity to understand systemic barriers, legal rights, and the urgent need for reform.

Wednesday Evenings, May 7 through July 2 – Wednesday Nights at the Penitentiary
NEW! In person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.
Separate admission.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site opens its gates for all-new Wednesday Nights at the Penitentiary, offering immersive experiences, interactive events, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to one of Philadelphia’s most unique historic landmarks. Themed events provide a social yet meaningful night out—combining history, culture, and entertainment in an atmospheric, adults-only setting.

The Fair Chance Beer Garden, operated by Triple Bottom Brewing, is open to historic site guests each evening, offering local brews and a relaxed space for reflection and conversation.

Each Wednesday Night offers unique opportunities for engagement, with themes like Sports Night, Open Mic Night, Quizzo, Movie Night, and more. More details to be announced soon at EasternState.org.

May 14, 11:30 a.m. – Justice 101: The History of Solitary Confinement in America
Free. Advance registration required.
Online via Zoom.

Participants take a deep dive into the origins of solitary confinement at Eastern State Penitentiary — a practice originally intended to encourage reflection and repentance — and how it became a widespread and controversial punishment. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at the historic site archives and other powerful spaces not typically open to the public.

About Eastern State:
Eastern State preserves America’s first penitentiary, advancing public understanding of the criminal justice system and its impact on the lives of those affected by it, to inspire a more just future.

For more information, visit EasternState.org and follow Eastern State on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

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@EasternState presents an ambitious slate of new programs for the spring, including a book launch, panel discussions, sports-themed spring break, and more - all centered on themes of civic engagement, history, and hope. Learn more: EasternState.org

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