We will be taking the Amtrak from NYC to Philly and would like to see the Eastern State Penitentiary. How do we get from the train station to the Penintenaiary? Thank you.

Easy: kill somebody on that train.

D Faina!

And don't forget to sing "I was drunk the day my mama got out of prison..."

Lee Ann

ROTFL!!! I assume, and hope, that the Eastern State Penitentiary is a tourist site as the former Alcatraz Prison in the SF Bay is? Inquiring minds want to know.

Reply to FainaAgain,"penintenaiary" has already been slaughtered>

Actually you will see it outside your window as your train glides by if I remember correctly.

Anyway here's some help.
http://www.easternstate.org/
http://www.easternstate.org/visit/index.html

Just out of curiosity, of all the possibilities in Philadelphia, why do you want to go to the pen?

I guess you'd take a taxi from the station, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to get one once you've done your tour (our your time?).

Now a serious reply, here is the website (interesting history place by the way! I'd definitely go there) and if you scroll down it has "public transportation"

http://www.easternstate.com/visit/index.html

If you click on SEPTA it takes you to another website where you can go to "plan my trip"

Eastern State is no longer being used as a prison, but it is open for tours. When it was used the concept was that each prisoner was alone in his cell without any human contact so he could think about and attone for his crimes. It wasn't a successful strategy - not that our current system does anything rehabilitation-wise, either. The prison was abandoned and empty until it was opened for tours.

Tours are fascinating - the place is falling apart and you have to wear a hard hat to wander around. I think it's worth a visit - it sure beats the Liberty Bell, especially if you've seen the Bell already.

To answer your original question, I'd take a cab. I'm sure there's some public bus route that goes nearby, but I have no idea how to direct you. Cabs aren't super expensive in Phila, and you'd save a lot of time. But I'm not so sure how'd you get back - I don't think Fairmount Ave. is a haunt of cab drivers looking to pick up a fare, so you might have to ask your cab driver on the ride over for the number of a cab company to call when you're through.

What day/time are you going? It can't be more than a 25 min walk. You can walk to the Art Musuem from 30th station in 15-20 min tops. You could take a cab or the Philly Phlash (sp?) I think makes a stop there, the trolley is like a buck to get on. You may want to look up the stops or check septa for bus routes.

http://www.gophila.com/phlash/
http://www.septa.org/maps/click_map.html

Although many of the responses to this question were humorous, I want to thank those who provided answers to my question. My husband is interested in history and this was one of the sites he was interested in seeing while we were visiting Philly. Thank you.