Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Inc.

Filing Period

Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2012

Signed

Sep 24, 2013

Return Version

2012v2.1

Gross Receipts

$5,814,350

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Historic Preservation:After the last prisoners left Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP or the penitentiary) in 1971, the prison stood for over twenty years, untouched, with no maintenance or care, causing the buildings and structures of this National Historic Landmark to fall into a state of severe deterioration. The site's condition threatened both its structural and educational future, prevented or drastically hindered public tours of the grounds and prohibited interpretation of the site's place in American history; thus, stabilization and preservation of the entire site and all of its structures and buildings was, and continues to be, of vital importance. ESPHS's restoration activities provide visitors with a clear understanding of the prison's history, its design and use, and how the site changed and evolved over time. In 2012, in addition to the $531,347 of expenses allocated and spent on general maintenance, ESPHS completed $2,072,468 of leasehold improvements, and accrued $2,180,245 in ongoing restoration projects. Leasehold improvements and ongoing projects included restoration of two of the prison's cellblock roofs (Cellblocks 8 and 9), substantial work toward the completion of three other cellblocks (Cellblocks 2, 10 and 11), and demolition of existing roofing material in preparation for new roofing on Cellblock 13, 14 and 15. Other leasehold improvements included making electrical upgrades to add lighting for an expanded tour route; making life-safety masonry repairs to the perimeter walls and making infrastructure improvements in preparation for the conservation of the interior murals in the penitentiary's Catholic Chaplain's office building.

Activity 3

Exhibits:ESPHS presented a mix of eight art installations and two history exhibits in 2012. Seven of the eight art installations continued from previous years and ESPHS introduced one new art installation. All ESPHS's 160,719 daytime visitors had an opportunity to view and enjoy these exhibits during their tour and the installations provided all of the visitors with the opportunity to experience a different perspective of the penitentiary's history and architecture, as well as an introduction of broader themes related to criminal justice. Greg Cowper's installation named "Specimen" displayed insects collected at ESP and recalls the collection of 18 species of butterflies assembled by an inmate in the 1890s. Karen Schmidt's installation "Cozy" covered an entire cell, walls, floors and furniture with knitted yarn that created a warm inviting effect in stark contrast to the typical cold, crumbling cells throughout the prison. In contrast to Karen Schmidt's "Cozy," Jordan Griska's installation "Separate System" covered an entire cell in plate steel, creating a cold, claustrophobic effect that served both as a counterpoint to ESP's crumbling walls and to "Cozy" located in the opposite cell. Michelle Handelman's installation "Beware the Lily Law" projected a video on a cell wall and shared monologues based upon the experiences of real transgendered men and women who are incarcerated. Throughout the site there are small exhibits illustrating or expanding upon aspects of the penitentiary's history. These small exhibits include Al Capone's cell, which portrays Capone's special treatment during his incarceration. Another exhibit portrays a typical cell from the 1830s, providing visitors with the ability to visualize the inmate's accommodations in ESP's early years. The exhibit called "Tower Cam" relates the history of ESP's observation towers, and uses high definition cameras and TV screens to give visitors a birds-eye view of the site similar to that afforded the guards in the Central Guard Tower when ESP operated as a prison. Lastly, an exhibit on Jewish life in the penitentiary adjoins the Synagogue.

Filer

EIN

31-1627155