Eastern State January 2026 Programs: Why January hits different
Every January, Philadelphia starts talking about resolutions, reinvention, and what we want this next chapter to look like. This year, I’m putting Eastern State January 2026 Programs on the calendar because they’re built around something more meaningful than “new year, new me”—they’re about civic responsibility, civil rights, and the uncomfortable (but necessary) work of accountability. The programming is designed to help visitors examine how the past still shapes our present, and it does it in a way that feels accessible, engaging, and genuinely human.
As Dr. Kerry Sautner, President & CEO of Eastern State, puts it: “January at Eastern State centers on the power of accountability, civic action, and the individuals who have challenged systems of injustice.” That line lands because it frames the month as something active—not passive history, but lived values in motion.
Eastern State January 2026 Programs: Justice 101 and the Civil Rights Lens
If you want a powerful, brain-on afternoon that feels relevant to real life, start with Eastern State January 2026 Programs through Justice 101. On Wednesday, January 14, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern State’s Center for Justice Education presents Justice 101: The Civil Rights Movement: Finding Justice and Calling on the Declaration of Independence, streaming online via Zoom and YouTube.
The featured guest is Dorothy E. Roberts, J.D., a legal scholar and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, in conversation about civil rights movements inside the justice system and the long struggle toward a fair and humane criminal legal system in America. It’s moderated by Dr. Sautner, and it’s positioned as a civic-education-forward discussion that connects big national ideals to the realities of how justice has been fought for—and withheld—behind prison walls. Registration is free, which makes it one of the most valuable “you should actually do this” events on the month’s schedule.
Eastern State January 2026 Programs: Finding Justice Weekend and MLK Day
The heart of Eastern State January 2026 Programs is The Civil Rights Movement: Finding Justice Weekend, running Saturday, January 17, through Monday, January 19. If you’re the type who wants to walk through history, not just read about it, this is the weekend to do it.
A major anchor is the Finding Justice Self-Guided Tour, offered Friday, January 9 through Wednesday, January 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Tuesdays). The experience traces how civil rights struggles reached Eastern State Penitentiary, pairing the words of prominent civil rights leaders with the voices of incarcerated people—then widening the lens to connect those stories to the broader movement for equality. It’s included with admission, so you can build it into a daytime visit without needing a separate ticket.
During the MLK weekend dates, Eastern State also layers in a Finding Justice Guide-Led Tour & Discussion with expanded Civil Rights Movement content. It’s included with admission, but capacity is limited, so the “timed ticket” detail matters if you’re planning your day with friends or family.
And because not every meaningful experience should feel like a lecture, Eastern State January 2026 Programs includes hands-on, drop-in activities from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. across January 17–19. Visitors can create Freedom Poetry inspired by Langston Hughes and other Civil Rights poets (and poems written by people incarcerated at Eastern State), add a personal response to the “Promises of Freedom” Wish Wall in partnership with Made By Us, and settle into a Family Story Station with children’s books tied to Civil Rights themes. All supplies are provided, and it’s designed for all ages, which makes this especially strong for multi-generational outings.
One of my favorite details is the Drop-In Art Activity with artist Mark Loughney on Saturday, January 17, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.—a focused, family-friendly hour that invites visitors to explore transformation through art and leave with something they made. That’s the kind of creative entry point that helps big themes stick.
Finally, the signature moment: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., available in person and online via Zoom and YouTube. It’s framed as an immersive two-hour experience that challenges America to live up to its founding promise of equality, with music from the Black Breath Collective plus storytelling and readings that bring forward voices of those who fought for civil rights. Tickets are included with admission, and you can choose the in-person or online route depending on your schedule.
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