‘Penitentiary’, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
by Debbi Nelson
Today, tourists can buy a ticket and stroll the deserted and creepy grounds of Eastern State Penitentiary. The paint is peeling, the iron on the doors is rusted, and there is a cold, moldiness about the dark halls. Hollywood has filmed here. Ghost Hunters has spent time here. But even in its decrepit, haunted state, there’s something beautiful about it. Maybe it is the way light filters through openings. Maybe it is the muted colors that refuse to fade or the textures that keep visitors wanting to feel the walls. Maybe it is the iron doors that can still be heard slamming somewhere in the echo of our minds.