To explore the critical issues of increasing rates of incarceration over the 20th and 21st century, Lecturer, Margee Kerr, accompanied students from SOC100-B and SOC 260 as they toured Eastern State Penitentiary and visited the new exhibit, Prisons Today.
Students from SOC100-B and SOC 260 visited Eastern State Penitentiary to view the new exhibit, Prisons Today. The specially designed tour included information on the early history of corrections, as well as statistics on the rising rate of incarceration, noted on the Site’s Big Graph. Students also learned about Eastern State’s fascinating 142-year history, revolutionary architecture, art installations, notorious inmates and site’s world-wide influence.
An additional visit highlight included a meet up with UC Alum, Amy Hollaman ’05, Assistant Director for Events and Operations and Creative Director for Terror Behind the Walls. Amy accompanied students on a behind the scenes tour of the exhibit, Machine Shop, and reviewed the varous department teamwork that is necessary to create, coordinate and run, Terror Behind the Walls, a well-known Eastern State Penitentiary attraction. Amy also shared specific technical and artistic skills used in the attraction, from set construction to costuming and make up. After the tour, the students were free to explore on their own.
On the return trip to UC students shared their thoughts and favorite parts of the tour, all in all it was a great day!
- Christine Angermeier