‘America’s Most Historic Prison’ Names Gateway Its Ticketing Solution Provider

Gilbertsville, PA (April 6, 2017) – Once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, Eastern State Penitentiary now operates as a museum and historic site. Last year, the Philadelphia-based nonprofit attraction sought a new ticketing system to more efficiently admit its 240,000 annual daytime tour visitors.

Eastern State Penitentiary conducted a Request-for-Proposal (RFP) to find a robust point-of-sale/inventory management system to enable the selling of tickets and merchandise at the same time. Additionally, the solution needed to sell tickets online and accommodate daytime prison tour visitors and daytime group tours. They selected Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc.

Eastern State Penitentiary is “America’s most historic prison” and is situated in Philadelphia.

“Gateway’s solutions and services provide us tremendous flexibility in how we do business with them and operate efficiently,” says Brett Bertolino, Vice President, Director of Operations, Eastern State Penitentiary. “Though Gateway is a global company, we’re excited that we’re doing business with another Pennsylvania-based company. It makes the relationship that much more special.”

“Eastern State Penitentiary is awe-inspiring and being able to work with them on crafting the right solution for their needs was a pleasure,” says Jamie Elswick, Business Solutions Architect at Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc. “As a fellow Southeastern Pennsylvania business, we appreciate the area’s deep historical roots and organizations like ESP who work to keep that history alive for us and our children.”

About Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP)

Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of prisoners. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is located at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, just five blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The penitentiary is open seven days a week, year round. Admission includes “The Voices of Eastern State” Audio Tour, narrated by actor Steve Buscemi; Hands-On History interactive experiences; history exhibits; and a critically acclaimed series of artist installations.