Ok, Friday in Philly... I went to the Eastern State Penitentiary. This is an old prison, one of the oldest in the United States. Actually THE oldest Penitentiary in the United States.... Here's a link to the site for it....CLICK .
It was very interesting... Was actually created in the early 1800's. By the Quakers, the fundamental behind it was Quaker actually... that is where the word penitentiary comes from, serving "penance".
It is in the middle of a city, was open until the mid to late 1900's. And, when it was closed it was considered to be a wretched place. Actually it makes me kind of sad. It was put out there as a positive fix for a penal system that was non-existent. And it seemed to me that instead of trying to improve on the concept, the concept was exploited. Can't explain it right now (pressed for time), but it just seems that things were always the same, just in a lesser degree, somewhat.
It seems we have always been a throw away society. We either are throwing away things, or people. Or... maybe I am a hopeless optimist, idealist, romantic.
Anyway... I took some pictures, and you can probably see more on the website linked about, but here are mine.
Just some info... Al Capones cell. It is believed that at times it wasn't even locked. Also, there is a picture of what the cells looked like when the prison was first built, a cross section of the prison cell lay out with the individual excercise yard. And, last but not least, the statues of the cats (white), that are a memorial to the cats that inhabited the Prison after they closed it down. That is a neat story also...
I would recommend this attraction to anyone who goes to Philadelphia. It is in walking distancee of the downtown area, it is not expensive, and it is very interesting....
Ok, can't upload pictures again!!!
I will try when I get home... sorry! OK, as a side note... I could only upload 2 pictures... to this post. Sorry.. go to the website and you will see more...
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