Discover one of America’s most groundbreaking historic sites as you step inside the world’s first penitentiary. Eastern State Penitentiary offers students a chance to explore a bold 19th-century experiment in justice reform through guided tours, hands-on exhibits, and interactive programs. Whether you are being guided through Eastern State history or having a virtual discussion in the comfort of your own classroom, the penitentiary has something for everyone to indulge in and enjoy.
Any class studying history, civics, or social justice will want to take a field trip to the Eastern State Penitentiary. The Penitentiary offers guided tours and discussion programs, making it a great field trip for students of all ages. On these tours, educators lead students through the prison’s fascinating history, exploring its role in early justice reform and its connections to today’s social issues. Students are encouraged to ask questions and think critically about justice, fairness, and the purpose of prisons. With programs designed for different grade levels and subjects, from social studies and civics to humanities and law, these tours give students a chance to connect the past to the present in a meaningful, hands-on way.
Eastern State Penitentiary’s workshops give students a hands-on, up-close look at life in one of America’s most famous prisons. Each workshop starts with a 20-minute guided tour of a specific space in the penitentiary, letting students explore the cells, hallways, and artifacts that bring history to life. Afterward, students take part in a 25-minute interactive activity in which they discuss, problem-solve, and delve deeper into the workshop’s theme. Current options include Medical Care in Prison, which examines how inmates’ health was managed; Religion in Prison, which explores the role of faith in daily life behind bars; and Eighth Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment, which prompts students to think about justice and human rights. Every group also gets a self-guided handout to help connect what they see to the bigger questions about history, law, and society. These workshops are perfect for school trips because they combine exploration, discussion, and hands-on learning, making history engaging, thought-provoking, and memorable.
Eastern State Penitentiary offers live, interactive virtual field trips that bring the prison’s history directly into the classroom. Led by knowledgeable educators, students can explore the prison’s architecture, hear the stories of those who lived and worked there, and dive into topics such as justice reform and daily life behind bars. These sessions are discussion-based, so students can ask questions, share their thoughts, and think critically about fairness, human rights, and the role of prisons in society. Like the in-person tours, the virtual experiences can be adapted for different grade levels and subjects, from social studies and civics to history and law, making them an engaging, flexible way to experience this powerful piece of American history from anywhere.
The Penitentiary offers an abundance of knowledge for everyone in the classroom. Educators will be glad that they picked this informative and engaging field trip, as it not only brings history to life but also encourages students to think critically about justice, human rights, and the role of prisons in society.
