A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future

In the early days of our nation, the idea for Eastern State Penitentiary—the nation's first penitentiary—emerged as a bold initiative to reform the criminal justice system. Framed in 1787 by a group of notable Philadelphians including Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Benjamin Rush, just 11 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Eastern State Penitentiary was built on a radical belief in human dignity and our capacity for change.  

With the help of an NEH grant, the Eastern State Penitentiary historic site created a yearlong initiative to help celebrate America's 250th anniversary, A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future. Free public programs invite visitors to understand the evolving meanings of liberty, justice and freedom.

Throughout the year, visitors can enjoy family-friendly festivals, panel discussions with scholars and leaders, community workshops, and pop-up exhibitions drawn from Eastern State Penitentiary's archival collections. New online learning resources are in progress to expand the experience to classrooms nationwide.