Exploring Abandoned Maximum Security Prison With A Dark History
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- In today's video, we got permission to explore the huge abandoned Western State Penitentiary Prison in Pittsburgh. This prison was built in 1826 and housed up to 1500 inmates at one time including some Civil War Prisoners. Inmate abuse was a huge issue for a very long time at Western State. In the 1980's there was a riot that resulted in the police setting part of the facility on fire to try and control the inmates. This massive prison with a dark history now sits completely abandoned with so many untold stories.
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I could tell quite a few stories about that place (The Wall, Western State Pennitentury, SCI Pittsburgh). The name changed but that didn't change that it was the zenith of every negative emotion, bad behavior, & depravity. Dude didn't exaggerate about swords. This camp had the tag plant (license plates) so you could make just about anything you wanted out of metal. Other camps considered a six inch blade big while inmates in the Wall had battle axes. It's been known to happen that limbs were severed & entrails would hit the ground. It was a terrible place.
Also, the video would've been better if they had someone who knew what they were talking about with them. Even better if they did time in SCI Pittsburg. Homeboy outside could tell them about busting the windows out because it was so hot. Then lighting fires in the winter because it was freezing. The concrete floors were crumbling to the point in certain places you could hand your downstairs neighbor a cup of coffee through the hole in the floor/ceiling. You don't have to be a veteran of the Wall necccessarily, any exinmate should be able to explain things like the "dog cages". Funny, they're called dog runs. There (the Wall) they weren't much of a run but at least got to go outside. Why did dude think that was a movie set? What did I miss that indicated a set? Why was the host thinking kids? She sees iron bars, concrete, & razor wire so her mind goes to kids? Maybe because the cells were kinda small in the old jail. The new construction had much more comfortable cells. I think the cells in the old jail were 5×10×8. That isn't much smaller than average. The place was a mad house for sure.
20 years ago I was there. Damn seems like a dream how time flies.
How long did you spend there?
I was too I got my number Nov 2000
I did 11 years in that shithole. My DOC number was P5295. I hated that joint.
i was there to you should know names than you know me
@@kizzy0197 considering the condition of the prison is in I don’t think anyone in their right mind would want to work there let alone get arrested there
I live right up the hill from SCI Pittsburgh. The Warden's House between the prison and the river walk is amazing.
I did 15 months in that tourist attraction. It was a couple years before they closed down. It was a foreboding place when you 1st walked in. But it was pretty easy time. Level 2 meant lots of freedom. Biggest bummer was only the senior yard (for older inmates) had grass. The whole place is packed inside except that small yard.
EZ-5833, C-block- riverside, tier 4.. peace brother, stay free
loved your video!! i was an inmate in this prison for a few years and it was hell!! alot of good and bad memories..i was in the yard on the phone when my mom told me she found my wife dead..there was nothing i could do i just had to stay in that yard and mope around..thanks for this video!! great work!!
Thanks for watching! The female in this video Rebecca was my girlfriend and passed away about a year after making this video. It was extremely hard for me to edit this so I know the pain you felt that day.
I forgot about the pay phones in the yard !
Did a 5yrs after my release they closed it dwn
You know when you get called to see the chaplain that is bad news. Lost my brother when I was in.
I was there when they escaped and when everyone had civilian clothes. That was a city within a city. Watching this made me sick to my stomach. They actually went up to Deathrow. A building was ALWAYS flooded and had both cellies on the top bunk staying dry. Yea i did some art too. Steeler and Penguin work for the guards just to leave me alone.
Sad part I spent 5 years of my life in this jail
That must of been rough
@@abandonedcentral that’s a yes and a no in the winter it’s wild I was on riverside there are no windows so when that wind hit u feel coming out the shower
13:05 That is the cage they place you when you are getting stripped searched. Behind that Satellite Clinic door was a supply closet with two chairs myself and an other inmate would chill. We would listen to music ,read and take back extra trays to sell. I have seen many inmates get sprayed with OC for not complying. I myself have been in that cage. I was onced drugged for days in that place. All of Pennsylvania was locked down due to drugs being smuggled via the mail. Many people including staff got really sick. It created hallucinations,delirium for days. They used to blast music for days in the whole on those blocks above GA and GB. They used to starve people for 7 days or less for fun, I experienced this. When we moved from this jail to another, nothing was done for us, nothing for our time. We just continued as if nothing happened. Spent time from 2014 to 2018 Sci Pittsburgh....
i was there myself for 10yrs i was there from 1992 till 2002 than i went to summerset
Very interesting always wanted to see the inside. My grandfather was incarcerated there from 1929 -1939.
Western Pen was built in the 1880's. No civil war prisoners at the Woods Run facility. This building was a replacement for an older prison that was where the Aviary is today. That was the "Western Pen" that held Civil War prisoners.
This is so well done
I loved hearing everyone's perspective
It was a really nice touch to add the news stories as well
Thanks for your feedback Claire, glad you liked the video!
@@abandonedcentral awww you are very welcome!!!
Really awesome explore. Happy New Year 🎆. Hope you have an awesome 2021😃👍
Thanks JD! Happy New Year to you as well!
You should see Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. After the upper tier was built, it was cold in the winter and hot in the summer at the end of each floor. They had a hub in the front. It was like a wheel. They flushed the sewage system once a week.
I think jigsaw puzzles are generally a crowd favorite in prison . Things that take a long time to complete.
The former West Virginia State Prison not far from Pittsburgh in Moundsville West Virginia built in the 1860s that closed in the 90s is now a museum and a thriving tourist destination,this one in Pittsburgh would definitely make an interesting museum,I know it's up for auction,it's a sad side of history like war is ,but it's history.
I'm done eight years in moundsville
Aww #bwordliveson
Very cool. Next level editing. Nice work, guys.
Much appreciated man! A lot of work went into this one. Thanks for watching!
I want to get old prison guards together and tell you guys some stories about the prison. Cause once we are gone the storys of what went on are gone.
😞 sad that she is no longer with us. I, just recently started following you. She was amazing to watch in the previous videos. I,seen her in. Beautiful in and out.
She really was. I still have some cool videos with Becca in them I'll be releasing throughout this year.
14:39 We used to spend time out here when a therapist would hold an activity for one hour a day. We would go over Cognitive behavioral therapy and focused group discussions. I remember coming out in the morning by myself when it was 40 degrees out to hear the birds and to get some quiet... Such a beautiful bitter flashback. Now I am here, looking at where I used to be, and now I am working for home in Florida.....This is difficult to watch.
I remember going to visit my older brothers Dad as a kid..he's been serving a life sentence since 1967..he's down in Fayette now
He's been in prison for 55 years?!!?
@@simonyip5978 IN PENNSYLVANIA LIFE IS UNTIL U DIE
I was an inmate twice there
"Incredible" is not a word for a Prison.
I LOVE THE FUNCTION OVER THE FORM. A PRISON OR A POWERPLANT. THE DESIGN NEEDS TO ACCOUNT FOR MANY THINGS… BUT IT’S “ARTISTIC VALUE” IS NEXT TO WORTHLESS. THE BEAUTY AND THE “FORM” COME FROM AN EXCELLENT DESIGN. EVEN IF IT IS AN INDUSTRIAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
I'm curious as to how you got access to the inside of this prison. Well done!
she said in the beginning of the video that they had permission
All the snitches got stabbed. At this point even the way he chews gum let's me know he's a REAL OG.
Sick bro! Been looking into this for years. Never got to it. Dope video.
Lol hey there
Thanks Joey! It's def a good one for sure.
Work there from 1991 to 2005 transfer to Fayette. Got a part in Escape at Dannemora im the tower officer shooting tear gas in the riot scene.
You have any crazy stories from SCI Pittsburgh you can tell? Is Fayette still active today?
Oh you were one of the saditic CO's?
@@ChiTownGuerrilla could be if needed.
@@abandonedcentral yes and yes
Great video bro.
bword 🙏🏻
Thanks Rodrick! You better go get that spot done 👊
@@abandonedcentral this week 😆
I've been inside there & trust me at that time you wouldn't want to have done time there. The 00G was absolutely on point, he's probably a little younger than me & he's right, you live with that place till death. 😡
I painted a lot of the stuff in there it was actually a job an they did it to make it look good for outsiders
To the people that made this video....awesome video! Seeing everything in this video, drastically brought back so many memories that my friends and I made, during our stay at this God forsaken prison. I've been out since June 2016, shortly before it closed down and just last year completed my sentence while on parole. So, for the ignorant people that stereotype inmates, label us as no good or worthless scum criminals, or whatever, fuck yinz. I been a tax paying, productive member of society a month after I was released and still runnin strong. AND walked off 4 years of state parole. Thanks for the video guys!
Weren’t u on PC the whole time? 😂😂😂
I feel you. I was there April 2013 to April 2014. Brings back so many memories. When you first go home you kind of miss it in all honesty. No one who wasn't incarcerated will ever understand.
They should've called PREA on the CO'S if it was around then
Prea was the result of that.
17:00 Eric Costo's Cell he has a RUclips prison consulting RUclips channel❗💯✌
Those outside cells were just for solitary confinement,, if they got there hour out and wanted to go outside they would put them in the, that menu might of sounded good lol but trust me,, when u seen what it looked liked you'd think otherwise trust me
The dog cages were used all year long that was solitary confinement yard a hour per day an if u went out they wouldn’t allow u back in till the hour was up no bathroom no nothin
I see you guys are in Pittsburgh, you guys could hit us up for some explored as we’re local here and explore all over Pittsburgh and western PA. The whole channel is dedicated to it
This was shot a few years ago but ill check out the videos on your channel! Thanks for watching!
@@abandonedcentral No problem! I read your comment about the 4 years old. Still nice to see what it looks like
You guys did an awesome job with this film!!!! Hit me up if you have any questions!!!
Thanks alot Josh! Im sure this one brought back some memories for you. Probably not the best ones, but we appreciate you watching!
You guys did a great job!!!
I worked here for a while. The building itself is fascinating.
Yes it is
#bwordliveson it was so good to hear her voice and see her today I miss her so much 🖤
We all miss her so much!
@@abandonedcentral how did she die? She was so young & pretty
Wow this is crazy to watch , my fiance spent many years and I spent many days in the visiting room
Alot of storys and yes fayette is open i live 2 miles from it.
I want to do a documentary about the Wall. Telling old stories from staff that worked there.
Despite everything, made me laugh to think how they reacted when ordering pizzas. 😄
" delivered .. where ? "
" yes, the abandoned prison, mate "
😄😄
Hahaha they had to confirm like 3 times that we were at the abandoned prison 😂
@@abandonedcentral 😆😆🤘
I spent years in here an nobody would ever listen to us the man bill u interviewed is like my grandfather he recently passed away but I’m glad you exposed the truth thank you guys
I was there in 2010. Never knew how old the place was, but knew damn well it was really old. In the cell there was no room for anything else but the bed, so I would do my pushups and situps on the bed. Crazy watching this video cause it brings memories.
Just to add, the cells downstars were bigger, and for two people, while my cell upstairs was for a single person, single cell and there was no room to move around. Just a bed and a toilet right next to it.
I just really want to know how permission was obtained to actually get inside and explore the prison. I’m local and really been wanting to shoot a video like this for the channel. Glad to finally see the inside at least
We just contacted the prison directly to get permission.
@@abandonedcentral A security guard at the prison left you in? Or Department of Corrections?
@@philbrenneman753 it was set up through the department of corrections. The security guards there don’t have authority to let anyone inside without waivers signed by the DOC.
@@abandonedcentral That's good to hear, I had the security contract at that time.
@@abandonedcentralhow did you reach out to them ? i'm interested in contacting them to get permission for me and a group of coworkers to explore / document
Were from Pittsburgh,Pa and was just there 1 hour ago and was told I wasn't allowed to post my video and pictures on social media accounts
This video was shot almost 4 years ago.
@@abandonedcentral oh wow awesome video though
@@3SoulsParanormal Thanks for watching! Glad you were able to see it also.
@@abandonedcentral oh jeez, 4 years ago? Why the delay on uploading it now? I wish I could obtain permission this year to document it like you did since I’m also local and preserve history here within the city. At least we get to see it here on video
I did security here up until a few months ago, very strange being there alone for 24 hours
Wish I would of known that, I really want to go back to reshoot a few photos here.
@@abandonedcentral My company no longer does security there anymore! wish I woulda seen this video earlier I would have offered yall to come back :(
I WAS THERE IN THAT BIG BUILDING SHE REFERRED TO 3RD TIER 1997
I was there the haunting is still in my head and heart. It is why I am here
What an amazing memory
Thanks for watching!
At 11:50 that building you are in, that is the hole. The cell block with all the fishes and murals was for the "Mental Health Block" I still have alot of my Sci Pittsburgh passes and paperwork. Place was great but towards the end, when they where shutting it down...It became an abusive place.
I did time there in 2002.Its crazy to look back where I was long ago and who I an today.
Good Stuff Fran
Thanks Curt!
Worked there from 2012 until it closed in 2017... its so cool cause I knew that inmate you interviews very well and and everywhere you toured I remember and and was explaining everything to my wife. Those out door cages where you said it was cold was just an outdoor rec area for the special unit that was up there.
Thats pretty wild that you knew that inmate while working there.
Was the cages the A300 yard on the roof? I was there pretty close same time as you except different circumstances. Pretty sure I played some handball with the dude in the interview but not positive.
I used to work in the hole . I helped pass out Linens, toiletries ,etc. We would be awoken at random times at night to go clean the floods the inmates would create. SO odd seeing you all walk around. The worst place was on the top floors of Block GA and GB. Those small blocks they house mentally violent prisoners. They used to Spray OC alot and leave them to burn for hours. I experienced this by an officer Sydlick .
Did you know Edward Bitter?
They filmed Escape at Dannemora there, Part of season II Mind Hunters, Some of this years Mayor of Kingstown. The hospital was the cancer treatment center for DOC
wow what a life to be able to do this and that building is like a time capsule you can see the 19th 20th and 21 century Architecture as the years went on
When I was a paramedic years ago we used to pick up the WP inmates who “fell down some steps” or “slipped in the shower” and took them to the hospital....
Hell there used to be a public swimming pool right outside of the jail “woods run pool” that we all went to as kids.
Guys.. Next visit.. If there is one.. Check the chapel out.. If it is still there.. When I was incarcerated a lone pine tree grew near the chapel
yo vivo en Pittsburgh y me gustaria saber donde obtener los permisos para ingresar a este lugar, que buen video!!
Was just driving around it the other evening shooting some photos.
One of the best abandoned prisons in the USA by far.
Really nice combined exploring with amazing photos .. also nice tribute to Rebecca.
Rest In Paradise, hopefully her photobook will have a chance to be published.
All the best to you all !
Thanks for watching! This was a hard one for me to edit and thats why it took so long to be released. Her book will be finished in 2020. Sorting through thousands of her photos over a several year span has been extremely difficult to organize and edit by myself. Theres over 300 photos already re edited for it, and I'm only half through all the locations she photographed. It's a long process, but it will get finished this year!
Nice .. i'll try to get one when it's out.
Is Rebecca the girl in the video??? What happened to her if u don't mind me asking
Great video!!!
Thanks for watching Donald!
I was in both Menard CC and Pontiac CC (Unfortunately) in Illinois and they're IDENTICAL to the old main building in the beginning of this video. Illinois still uses them HEAVILY.
Sci Pittsburgh. Was there 2 times. 2000 and then 2012. From there in 2000 to sci graterford then 2012 to sci houtzdale.
Check out Lockdown 23and1 he just did a video with the guy who lived in the cell you thought was a movie scene lol...dude explains his cell
We just figured that since a movie was just filmed at the jail right before we visited it. I'll have to check it out, sounds pretty wild.
Yes that is cuzzo, he has a good stories..
Thats y im here found out through the show
Look up Erick Costco he have a youtube hell yall u every thing abut the cell and staying there
he says it's a nice color blue door it really pop's..LMFAO i bet the inmates thought the same thing doing 60 years..hahaha
Lol yea, to a photographer in an abandoned prison, it's a nice color to photograph. From some older photos I see, the cell doors were white for awhile.
Def loved this video bc you sure didn't blur nothing out 😂😂😂. Salute
That's ERIC COSTO's cell, he just spoke about it on lockdown 23&1
It is not a film set, Eric was just a sick and twisted funny inmate
Just seen lock down and came here to check it out that dude is out of his mind funny as hell
@@MJ-yi5ou Gonna have to give this a watch today! We for sure thought it was made for a movie.
@@abandonedcentral it was homeboy Eric's cell before they shut the prison down he gets into how he made fake blood out of juice packs and used ash to write on the walls definitely not a movie set
@@MJ-yi5ou Just watched that part of his video where he explains it! Pretty awesome he would do it to scare other inmates haha, currently emailing back and forth with him right now!
Great video I liked it
Thanks for watching Bobby!
How did you get permission to explore? A friend of mine is doing a project for this at school and wants to see what it is really like and learn more about it.
You every find out?
Nice place to visit but I wouldn't like to live there.
Great video
Thanks for the visit
Such a great memory made that day #bwordliveson
It really was a great day bro!
Great video guys!!!
Damn!!!!! What a heartbreaker at the end. So sorry to hear she passed away ... So sorry to hear of that.
Rest Eazy young one ... Pray for peace and strength for her family and friend's.
I apologize for the question if it is taken as ignorance. But I have to ask ..... How did she pass if you can let me know.
I was really enjoying her narrative and her shots. Just made me sad to learn of this. She seemed , only for this slight window into who she was, a really cool and caring person.
Was there in the early 2000's and again in in 2014 to 2017, I closed the prison down and the sent us everywhere or paroled us.
so you are another loser
That was dope guys, made it so much better with the dude's story that lived that nightmare. Prison is no place for anyone, it sure as hell ain't no joke.
Thanks for watching!
In a sense your right bout it being cruel but somtimes that was the only way inmates could get fresh air or even get a glimpse of the blue sky. People take alot of stuff for granted til you'll lose everything and your life's run but other people
the new part was the hole !!! that place, there isn't even words that can explain the insanity that went on in there. thanks for my freedom !!! the cells that are outside is where you would go to exercise if you where in the hole
another loser
I was in western 2015-16!! A hole shot then to TC!!!!! Wide open!!!!!
North block in 1992 was a classification war zone i was 19 and i remember they asked me where do you want your body sent if something happened to you
16:50 cell was just interviewed on " Lockdown 23and1 " channel he stabbed himself in the head when he was high on K2
Damn that is crazy. I will have to look that up.
@@abandonedcentral and that's kool aid on the walls. He said he did it bc he thought it was funny and would scare ppl
Eric Costos cell.
Shout out my boricuas 🇵🇷💪🏽
I worked at Western Pen from 1991 until my retirement in 2017. It was widely regarded as the best institution for staff in the entire State. We had one of the strongest locals until the State closed it down temporarily and I had to transfer to SCI-Fayette. The prison was rich with history. I ended up going back to SCIP as an extra for the Ben Stiller directed TV series Escape at Danemorra. At my retirement I was a Sergeant in D-Unit. So many memories both good and bad.
Thanks for sharing that info. I watched that show, it was really good. Share some memories from in the comments, we'd love to hear some of them.
Maybe for your staff in the bubble and admin offices but my son suffered 110 degree heat without air in summers broken windows with snow coming through in the winter legionnaires disease in your water multiple overdoses and drug running like you were the Mexican cartel it is sickening how you continue to hold yourselves up so high when you know the truth God will judge you you had better repent and tell the truth every inmate you dean healthy and in good living conditions blood will be on your hands until you tell the truth
Although it is fantastic to show the general public the inside of the prisons you can really tell with the dialog that these folks have never spent a single day locked up, TG. But some of the ways and things they say such as, The color of the doors are cool and this commissary looks so good, I'm hungry now I found pretty distasteful as a former prisoner. Try not to act like it's a blast to be locked up because you admire how the place is built.
FACTS BRO !!! FACTS BRO!!!! I said the same exact thing!!! SMH !!!!
I got my state number there in 02 before getting shipped to camp hill then somerset.. this place was no joke, and these people talking like its some kinda fun place have never been locked up
Yeah they aren’t shitbags
great video!! ive done a video about this place from the outside looking in.. can you point me in the direction about getting permission myself? I do travel, abandoned, & lil bit of paranormal vlog videos. i live 20 minutes away from that place...
Thanks for watching! I got permission to photograph the prison by the state back in 2018. I don't think they let anyone access with permission since then that I know of. Best bet is talking to the security guard on site and seeing if he can get you in contact with the correct people.
2:15 Why wouldn't they put netting on each floor which would prevent suicides and people throwing each other over the edge?
Metal fence below breaks the fall.
Another dope video!
Thanks for watching Alison!
Damn I was there in the early 2000's on C-block on the 5 tier. Lesson learned 🙏🏾🙏🏾
EZ-5833, C-block-riverside, tier 4. Stay free bro, peace
I spent five days on the 7th tier there because it was a holiday weekend. Couldn't see the judge until Tuesday. Let's just say it was a holiday weekend that's all I'll say about that LOL had a great time best 5 days I could have spent since I'm a history buff
I read an article that stated Bidwell/Manchester Craftsman’s Guild bought it for $1. Anyone know if it’s true?
I was there from 2012 till 2015..it was crazy than.. should of been closed down a long time ago..
You should give the man a sub who’s cell that was “Prison consulting with Eric costo”
I talked with him recently. Trying to get access to the prison again so he can tell his story there. They haven't responded to my email yet.
Read the book "Born to Lose" about the historic Pittsburgh serial killer, Stanley B. Hoss. Probably one of the most infamous inmates to serve time at Western Penitentiary
Will def have to check that out. Wish I knew about it while I was editing this project.
I think Shawshank redemption was film there also.
no. nowhere near dimwit
So why do we have prison overcrowding ?
You can make anything look good on paper....try a few of those tacos with that mystery meat that they feed you.
another loser
@@pinpointismI take it you're a CO? 😂
To the girl filming you was standing in what would be called a day room for the block with all the cells surrounding you I was there in that PRISON in 2012 for just 2 weeks for classification but I was on the old side of the prison by the riverside that was the view we got I was in 314 I believe when I was there ty for showing me this again it's amazing to see from the other side lol
The 6 guards were crazy and evil. Can you imagine how bad it would be to have guards that are more dangerous and more corrupt and more violent and aggressive than the majority of the prisoners?
I bet they have gotten away with murder in the past.