Pa. prison offers 'love' tours

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A former prison in Philadelphia is offering special Valentine's Day tours themed around "love stories throughout the prison's history."

Officials said Eastern State Penitentiary, which operated as a prison from 1829 until 1971, will offer romantic Winter Adventure Tours Feb. 14-17 with a focus on the love stories from the years of the prison's operation.

"During these four days, visitors can experience the history of Eastern State with an added focus on love stories throughout the prison's history," the attraction's website said.

The love stories detailed on the tour will include the stories of Elizabeth Velora Elwell and Albert Green Jackson, inmates who exchanged letters and met secretly in the prison's cellar, and inmate Sydney Ware, who married socialite Ella Hershey before she secured his pardon.

Tickets for the tours are being sold as buy one, get one free to encourage visitors to bring their significant others.