As Halloween gets creepily close, the season for famous haunts is heating up. Recently, I took a trip – my second one actually – to Eastern State Penitentiary, a historic landmark in Philadelphia that was, in its prime, the world’s first actual Penitentiary.

If you’re into famous haunts, I recommend Terror Behind the Walls, a haunted house event at Eatern State Penn that runs now through November 7. guaranteed you’ll have a good time. 🙂

But, if you’re really interested in the real, genuine spookiness of this place, then you might want to take a day tour, which is offered daily, year-round. The concept of this place of rehabilitation was straightforward and earnest, but its history leaves a lot to wonder, as does the creepily dilapidated nature of the structure as it stands today.

Many a photographer has tried to capture the true, haunting nature of this place.  Now, it’s my turn to try.  The gallery of photos for Eastern State Pen appears after the cut: