Eastern State Penitentiary Hosts Alumni Reunion Saturday, May 9

PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern State Penitentiary will host its annual Alumni Reunion on Saturday, May 9 with hour-long Q&A sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Each year, former inmates, corrections officers, and administrative workers return to the abandoned cellblocks of Eastern State to share their stories and to answer questions from the public.

Many of Eastern State's former inmates and staff enjoy returning to the cellblocks to remember old times. They will gather with the public for an informal roundtable discussion about daily life at the penitentiary, which closed in 1971 and is now open year-round as a historic site. Previous discussions have addressed work details, recreation, and race relations within the 186-year-old penitentiary complex.

This event is included with standard admission to the penitentiary.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at easternstate.org/tickets or at the door subject to availability.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true "penitentiary," a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and Al Capone.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is located at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, just five blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The penitentiary is open seven days a week, year round.  Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students and children ages 7-12. (Not recommended for children under the age of seven.)  Admission includes "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour, narrated by actor Steve Buscemi; Hands-On History interactive experiences; history exhibits; and a critically acclaimed series of artist installations. 

For more information and schedules, the public should call (215) 236-3300 or visit www.easternstate.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150423/201284

SOURCE Eastern State Penitentiary

Related Links

http://www.easternstate.org