Passyunk Square in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Moyamensing Prison

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 26, 2025

1. Moyamensing Prison Marker

Inscription. Opened in 1835, Thomas U. Walter designed it with elements of Egyptian Revival style and following the revolutionary principle of isolated confinement. With later additions, it could house nearly 5000 inmates - African Americans and women in separate wings. H. H. Holmes, considered Americas first serial killer, was executed here. The last hanging in Pa. took place here in 1916, soon replaced by electrocution. Closed in 1963, it was razed in 1968.

Erected 2011 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Law Enforcement • Women. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. 39° 55.912′ N, 75° 9.667′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Passyunk Square. It is on S. 10 Street. The marker is at the corner of Passyunk Square at Reed Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 S 10th Street, Philadelphia PA 19147, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Trial of Hester Vaughn (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rosary and Saint Pio Prayer Garden

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(about 500 feet away); "Pat's King of Steaks" (about 800 feet away); Twin Smoke Shoppe (approx. 0.2 miles away); Joey Vento (approx. 0.2 miles away); Police Department Philadelphia (approx. 0.2 miles away); Federal Street Burial Ground (approx. ¼ mile away); Bardascino Park (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . . Engraving of Moyamensing Prison - Wikipedia. (Submitted on May 21, 2015, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

2. Moyamensing Prison Marker

This is an image of the marker before its restoration.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 26, 2025

3. Moyamensing Prison Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

4. Moyamensing Prison Marker

1838 engraving (by J. C. Wild) of the Moyamensing Prison. image. Click for full size.

Public Domain US-PD, 1838

5. 1838 engraving (by J. C. Wild) of the Moyamensing Prison.

Former location of the prison is now occupied by an Acme Market grocery store.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,059 times since then and 128 times this year. Last updated on April 13, 2024, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on November 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on May 20, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on November 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on May 20, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 5. submitted on January 10, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.