Al Capone's Cell at ESP

by ELDavis Photography

Title

Al Capone's Cell at ESP

Artist

ELDavis Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

This is the prison cell once occupied by Chicago gangster Al Capone for approximately nine months beginning in May 1929. The Eastern State Penitentiary, also known as ESP, is a former prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was operational from 1829 until 1971.

Following the closing of the prison, the City of Philadelphia purchased the property with the intention of redeveloping it. During the abandoned era (from closing until the late 80s) a "forest" grew in the cell blocks and outside within the walls. The prison also became home to many stray cats. In 1988, the Eastern State Penitentiary Task Force successfully petitioned the city to abandon plans for redevelopment.

The facility was kept in a �preserved state of ruin�, meaning no significant attempts had been made at renovations or restoration until 1991, when funding was provided to begin stabilization and preservation efforts.

The prison was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1965. In 1994, Eastern State Penitentiary opened to the public as a museum for tours seven days a week, twelve months a year. Visitors are allowed to walk into several specially marked solitary confinement cells, but most of them remain off limits, still filled with original rubble and debris from years of neglect. Only a few of the 15 cellblocks are open to the public.

Uploaded

November 11th, 2014

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