Eastern State Penitentiary - 2025

Eastern State Penitentiary, which opened on October 25, 1829, 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 prisoners. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held nearly 85,000 people over its long history, including "Scarface" Al Capone. The prison closed in January 1971.