Many visitors with special needs visit Eastern State Penitentiary every year. That said, the Penitentiary complex is not fully ADA compliant. The building is nearly 200 years old, and is a National Historic Landmark. Sections of it may never be fully accessible.
There is a small exhibit and gift shop which is only accessible by a set of 3 steps. This section of the Penitentiary can easily be bypassed. The rest of the tour route is equipped with ADA compliant ramps and meets most ADA guidelines.
Guide dogs, service animals, or service animals in training are welcome. All other animals are prohibited.
The digital equipment used for "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour includes special features for those with sight, hearing and mobility impairments. These special features include raised dots that indicate the number five on the keypad, color-coded and shaped control buttons, compatibility with hearing aid T-switch, lightweight design with comfortable carrying strap and telephone-style keypads with backlit buttons.
Large print scripts of "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour are available free of charge in Admissions. Audio Tour scripts are also available in French and Spanish (audio is English only).
Our tour staff is available to assist all guests.
If you have additional concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact our administrative offices at info@easternstate.org or (215) 236-5111 x210.
