Eastern State Penitentiary was first established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1829 as the premiere authentic modern “big house” on Earth. So much was put into its construction that was once the largest and most costly building anywhere. While designed to be a rough and tough place for the most hardened criminals, the key aim was tough love to get them to feel some sense of regret or rue for their heinous acts. Solitary confinement was the norm. By all outward appearances, it was basically a stone fortress, similar to a castle, with separate wings for those incarcerated. Paranormal lovers and fans know all too well that such harshness and brutality can lead to a location becoming notoriously haunted, and Eastern State is no exception. Even gangster Al Capone himself claimed to be tormented by an evil spirit named Jimmy. There was virtually no freedom or interaction among the criminals, which clearly is a precursor to outright going insane. These conditions now could be the source of ghostly hooded and robed figures and apparitions routinely witnessed there. Negativity permeates the air throughout the facility, especially in the cellblocks. Ghost enthusiasts often flock to this former prison while it’s open for business, and it’s no wonder why. Personally, I have never toured the building, but I did briefly pass by it on the road, and it definitely looked very imposing, even from a distance during the daytime. Halloween tours are commonplace and get packed crowds to explore a piece of dark history. Jails are infamous for negative energy, and this one really sets the bar quite high for those that came after it.
Haunted Prison in Philadelphia
