Exploring a Huge 184 Year Old Haunted Prison [Photos]

This past weekend I got to explore one of the locations that I've been itching to ghost hunt for years.

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia has been one of the world's most notorious prisons since it was opened in 1829. It was closed in 1971 and then abandoned until the late 80s. It was opened to the public as a "preserved ruin" about 20 years ago. You can tour "ESP" during the day, and it's spooky enough then. But if you're lucky enough to find yourself there after dark, it takes on a whole new character.

With cell blocks spiderwebbing off of central hubs, it's easy to find yourself confused as you wander past scores of decaying doorways - some still enclosed with rusted iron bars, others with rotten wooden doors, and yet others open to the hallway as if a prisoner could dart out at any moment.

On this particular night, the bone chilling cold of the November air added to the desolation of the endless dark hallways. Some are multiple stories and feel almost as huge and open as airplane hangars, others are small and claustrophobic.

From a paranormal investigation standpoint, I certainly felt chills and the hair stand up on the back of my neck, but I can't say that I had any specific personal experiences such as being touched, seeing anything unusual, or hearing anything I couldn't explain. It felt creepy, that's for sure.

I do have plenty of audio recordings to review, however, and I'll update if I find anything unusual. In the meantime, please enjoy the photo gallery from my visit.