Eastern State Penitentiary has a rich and fascinating history. Built in the 1820s as a place to reform criminals, it saw an increase in violence over the decades before finally closing in 1971 as a working prison. It now operates as a history museum. Among the more notorious inmates was Willie Sutton, who was involved in the most famous escape in the prison’s history, and Al Capone.
My guest is historian Paul Kahan, author of “Eastern State Penitentiary: A History”. He talks about the prison’s history and explains the current museum’s more nuanced approach towards the topic of incarceration.
More information about Paul and his work can be found here.
