Eastern State Penitentiary's Hospital Block Opening To Public​ In May

If you've ever been to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site in Philadelphia's Fairmount section, you know how much history is inside those boding walls. But one section that was never open to the public is set for public tours this year.

Cellblock 3, better known as the Hospital Block, will open to the public on May 5, Eastern State officials announced recently.

Since the former penitentiary opened as a historic site 20 years ago, few people have seen the hospital block.

The decaying cellblock underwent stabilization efforts, making it now safe for public tours.

Guests at the penitentiary will be able to take 15-minute guided tours offered several times a day to see inside the once off-limits cell block.

"They will see Eastern State’s operating room, laboratories, pharmacy, X-ray lab, hydrotherapy rooms,
psychiatric department, and a solarium for treating tuberculosis patients," a press release said of the new tours. "A number of medical artifacts remain in place,despite decades of abandonment and decay."

The new tours will be included with regular admission.

To learn more about East State Penitentiary Historic Site, including pricing, times, and more, visit the penitentiary's website here.

Photo by Jeremy Powlus for Google+, via Eastern State Penitentiary