This October, dive into the haunting history of Philadelphia’s most infamous prison with historian Dr. Paul Kahan in a special two-part Halloween series.

Part I: Spooky Stories & Haunted History - Oct 20th @ 3pm in the Room 304
In the first session, Dr. Kahan will share eerie legends and spine-tingling lore from Eastern State Penitentiary, once the most famous prison in the world. Alongside the ghost stories, he’ll shed light on the prison’s historical role in punishment and reform, showing how fact and folklore became forever intertwined.

Part II: Walking the Haunted Halls - Oct 27th @ 1:45pm, Eastern State Penitentiary - $5
Later in the month, the history lesson moves beyond the classroom with a daytime guided tour of Eastern State Penitentiary. Students will step inside the prison’s abandoned cellblocks and echoing corridors, seeing firsthand the spaces that inspired centuries of ghost stories and chilling myths.

NOTE: *Students who attend PART I will receive a free ticket and SEPTA pass to PART II, which includes the tour of Eastern State Penitentiary* Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, October 21 at 10am. **CLICK HERE**

Directions from Penn (by SEPTA) to Eastern State Penitentiary (2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA):

• From Penn, take the SEPTA Route 49 bus at 33rd & Spruce (by Franklin Field). Ride about 18 stops (~25–30 minutes) toward Brewerytown and get off at 20th & Fairmount Avenue. From there, it’s just a 2–3 minute walk east along Fairmount Avenue to the penitentiary entrance. The fare is $2.50 with a SEPTA Key card or cash.

Meeting Point & Time:
Please meet the Penn Graduate Center Fellow outside the main entrance archway of Eastern State Penitentiary (on Fairmount Avenue) at 1:45 PM sharp.
Arrive a little early so we can gather as a group before going inside.