Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world and ran from 1829 to 1971 when it closed. It 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 convicts. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including bank robber 'Slick Willie' Sutton and Al Capone. Tours today include the cellblocks, solitary punishment cells, Al Capone's Cell, and Death Row. A critically-acclaimed series of artists' installations is free with admission. .

The prison is currently a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which is open to the public as a museum for tours seven days a week, twelve months a year 10 am to 5 pm. It is just five blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

We received our penny machine in early April of this year, 2012. It has four designs available for squishing pennies; It's quite a hit with our visitors!

Machine 1 All have Eastern State Penitentiary' on them. The machine is in the gift shop at the cash register. Designs are:
1) Al Capone,
2) Pep the Dog,
3) An aerial view of the radial plan
4) A picture of the façade of the building.
Rear- 'Eastern State Penitentiary America's Most Historic Prison',

Retired 2: 1) Frank the Gargoyle, 2) Prison façade, 3) Terror Behind The Walls logo, 4) Terror Behind The Walls entering the prison
Rear- 'Terror Behind The Walls, Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, PA',

10/9/2024: Spoke to staff, machine 2 has been retired.

10/12/25: Machine1 still in gift shop and working nicely!

07/17/26 - located in gift shop. Coins only, 51 cents. All designs rolling well. They let security escort me in to use the machine without paying for the museum. They no longer sell any penny books.