Eastern State Penitentiary: A history of Solitary confinement

Eastern State Penitentiary (1998)

While Eastern State Penitentiary was originally built for men, women were also incarcerated here until 1923. Today, the historical record reveals very little about the women who lived inside the prison. Aside from occasional mentions in the Warden’s Daily Journal or the Descriptive Registers, their experiences were rarely documented. Throughout March, explore Women and the Justice System at Eastern State through a Women’s History self-guided tour or public tour and learn more about the challenge