Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | Find Us
Is the Eastern State Penitentiary Haunted?
Is the Eastern State Penitentiary haunted? The Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) is considered one of the most haunted places on earth. Inmates were left in constant solitary confinement to “help” them repent for their crimes and rehabilitate them, but more often it drove them mad. Have some of them returned to haunt this place? Listen and vote!
Listener Survey
Complete our listener survey to help us out and a chance to win a T-shirt: https://ghostlypodcast.com/listener-survey/
Questions Explored in this Episode
Where is Eastern State Penitentiary and when was it built? Who had the idea for this new type of prison and why did they think it would succeed in rehabilitating convicts? Who were some of its most famous inmates? Did any of them escape? What torture was used on the prisoners? Have any of them stayed around to haunt the place? What have people seen in Cellblocks 12, 6, and 4? Is this penitentiary haunted?
Vote on the Episode
Done listening to this episode? Go vote on what you think at ghostlypodcast.com/polls. #TeamBeliever #TeamSkeptic
Listener Mail
This week’s listener mail is about a grandparent visitation. Have a spooky story or question of your own (or someone you know)? Send your story or question to info@ghostlypodcast.com and we might read it on the podcast. You could be on a future episode of Ghostly!
Lithograph by P.S: Duval and Co., 1855.
Eastern State Penitentiary
History of the Eastern State Penitentiary
Pat explores the history of ESP and its designer John Haviland. The idea for the penitentiary was conceived at a meeting in Benjamin Franklin’s house in 1787. This neo-gothic prison was designed for extreme solitary confinement to allow the inmates to repent their crimes to God. After years of abuse, the prison was finally closed in 1971.
The Debate
Pat and Rebecca debate if ESP is haunted. Footsteps and screams are just the start of the paranormal activity experienced at this abandoned prison. A locksmith reportedly saw a shadow figure cross the hallway before him and those that worked for the Halloween haunted house attraction report odd noises and ghostly figures.
Video of Locksmith telling his story: https://nypost.com/2015/12/21/ghost-hunting-at-americas-most-haunted-prison/
Video from Ghost Hunters: https://ghost-hunters.fandom.com/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary
Poll Results
Listen to learn if listeners thought the Lee Family was cursed. Want to listen to our previous episodes? Check them out here.
Done Listening to the Episode?
Please subscribe to Ghostly and give us a rating on iTunes, Spotify or any podcast app where they let you. Tell your friends! Then you can debate the truth yourselves. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to grow our audience, so we can do all the amazing things we have planned for this year. And be sure to find us on all social media at Ghostly Podcast.
Patreon and GhostlyX
Also consider joining our Patreon for all sorts of great extra Ghostly, including our new show, GhostlyX, which comes out on the opposite weeks of Ghostly. We talk about listener comments, share paranormal news, and talk to interesting guests about our favorite paranormal topics. You can also get early access to Ghostly episodes, Rebecca’s creepy bedtime stories, and a monthly AMA with Pat and Rebecca! Join today: ghostlypodcast.com/support/
Visit our website, www.ghostlypodcast.com, to learn more about Ghostly, and, of course, give us your opinion on our polls.
Support Ghostly
How can you help support Ghostly?
- Leave us a rating and a review.
- Support us on Patreon! Check out all the rewards of becoming a Patreon supporter of Ghostly, including our new show, GhostlyX!
- Ghostly Gear right on our website at ghostlypodcast.com/store! T-shirts, Hoodies, Masks and more.
Ghostly Book Club
Interested in joining our Ghostly Book Club? If you want to read spooky books and talk about them with fellow Ghostly listeners, sign up at ghostlypodcast.com/book-club. Our next book club will be in July.
We want to hear from you! We want your ghost stories! Email us at info@ghostlypodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast.
Sources for this Week’s Episode
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Haviland
Eastern State.org: https://easternstate.org/nighttours
NPR: https://www.npr.org/2013/10/24/232234570/is-eastern-state-penitentiary-really-haunted
History is Weird: https://historyisweird.com/is-the-eastern-state-penitentiary-haunted/
Ghost City Tours: https://ghostcitytours.com/philadelphia/haunted-philadelphia/eastern-state-penitentiary/
Adventure.com (Beautiful Photos): https://adventure.com/eastern-state-penitentiary/
iHorror: https://ihorror.com/haunted-history-eastern-state-penitentiary/
Homespun Haints: https://homespunhaints.com/famous-haunted-places
NYPost: https://nypost.com/2015/12/21/ghost-hunting-at-americas-most-haunted-prison/
Ghost Hunters Fandom: https://ghost-hunters.fandom.com/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary
Metro Philadelphia: https://metrophiladelphia.com/is-eastern-state-penitentiary-really-haunted/
Paranormal Milwaukee: https://paranormalmilwaukee.com/locations/eastern-state-penitentiary/
Mysterious Facts: https://mysteriousfacts.com/prisoners-haunting-eastern-state-penitentiary/
Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-its-like-to-be-a-haunted-house-worker-inside-a-real-prison
New Hampshire Public Radio NHPR: https://www.nhpr.org/national/2013-10-24/is-eastern-state-penitentiary-really-haunted
Thought Catalog: https://thoughtcatalog.com/jeremy-london/2018/09/eastern-state-penitentiary/
Calculated Traveller: https://www.calculatedtraveller.com/blog/eastern-state-penitentiary-philadelphia/
Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers
Intro: “III. Allegro moderato from Gargoyles” by Lowell Liebermann
Outro: “Dream Images (Love-Death Music)” by George Crumb
Bumper: “Ghost Waltz” by Lowell Liebermann
“Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo
“Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com