Welcome to the paranormal deep dive from real ghost stories online and the grave talks.

Picture this 1829 Philadelphia.

We're walking down the street and suddenly this massive gothic style prison looms up in front of you,

gargoyles, towering walls, iron gates, you'd think it was something out of a horror novel,

but this is Eastern State Penitentiary and trust me, the reality of this

place is way more intense than any fictional story.

It's true. Eastern State has a reputation and for good reason.

Today we're going deep, and I mean deep,

into the history of Eastern State Penitentiary.

We're not just talking about ghost stories here,

though there are plenty of those.

We're uncovering the whole philosophy behind this place, the good intentions, the dark consequences.

It's a wild ride. It really is.

Eastern state forces us to confront some uncomfortable truths about punishment, reform, and the legacy we leave behind.

And to guide us through this journey, we have an expert who knows this stuff inside and out.

Happy to be here.

Eastern State is one of those places that just gets under your skin.

So let's rewind back to 1829. Architect John Haviland designs this imposing almost

fortress-like structure. What was he going for? What was the thinking behind such a dramatic design choice?

Well you have to remember prisons in the early 19th century were very different.

We're talking overcrowded, filthy, often inhumane.

Eastern state, believe it or not, was actually seen

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