"Stepping Back in Time" Built in 1715, the original White Horse Tavern of East Whiteland was one of the first licensed public houses in America. As strong liquors were thought to be "the best antidote against any or all diseases indigenous to the new country", the White Horse quickly earned its popularity. Originally the tavern, situated on a small footpath, was deemed to be in the wilderness. This footpath was later to become Swedesford Road, a major artery from Philadelphia to the West. The White Horse soon enjoyed a reputation as one of the most famous Inns in the state. It has fed and sheltered Indians, traders, pioneers, revolutionaries, and loyalists. On September 16, 1777, Washington ordered his troops into the hills surrounding the White Horse to halt the advance of the British. As Washington's troops both outnumbered the Tories and held an advantageous position, many historians believe the "Battle of the Clouds" could have been a decisive victory for the continental army. Their gunpowder was rendered useless, however, when a terrific thunderstorm soaked both armies. After the war, the Tavern's business prospered and the damages caused by plundering British soldiers were quickly healed by profits. Stage wagon travel began in earnest and the roads were slowly widened and improved. Conestoga wagons, famous in the area, frequently rested here on the long journey West. One clergyman related his 18th century travels from Philadelphia to the White Horse with great relish: "The horses could only walk most of the way, the stage wagon was in frequently to the axletree, and I had no sooner recovered from a terrible plunge on one side then there came another in the opposite direction, and confounded all my efforts to preserve a steady sitting. I was the only passenger and it took four horses with the empty wagon, seven hours to go twenty-three miles." The trip cost twenty shillings from Philadelphia to Lancaster, approximately thirty-five cents today. A stop at the White Horse certainly must have been much anticipated! The historic old Inn served its patrons well for nearly 150 years before closing its doors. The advent of Lancaster Pike, a wider road built nearly parallel to Swedesford Road, diverted the majority of traffic away from the Tavern. In 1763, only a stone's throw from the original "sign of the White Horse", Robert Graham laid the foundation of this building you are in today. With only one room per floor it was a simple two-story structure. In 1825, after Lancaster Pike became a well-traveled route, the building was enlarged to almost its present size. As the Lancaster Pike toll station sat nearby, this structure became a common stopping place for all those who waited to forge their way westward. In the 1870's, Washington Baker built a general store adjacent to this house. It later became the town post office and a center of activity. In the 1930's the store was converted into the popular Glen Lincoln Tavern to satisfy the neighboring communities. Mrs. Johns then bought the original Graham structures and created a small antique business in her new home. Mrs. Johns' home and the Baker general store have now been carefully joined and restored to house the White Horse Tavern. The spirit of this era is brought to life once again. The excellent service that has been the standard in these businesses has continued for nearly three centuries. The White Horse is following in this tradition. We at the White Horse Tavern would like to rejuvenate the history of our namesake. A local tradition such as the White Horse must certainly be preserved! These historic rooms have been carefully renovated to exhibit the same warmth and welcome of bygone days. The food and drink are still fresh and plentiful, so relax and enjoy the White Horse while you become a part of its ongoing history.
The Mütter Museum is a medical museum located in the Center City area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It contains a collection of medical oddities, anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment. The museum is located at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia The original purpose of the collection, donated by doctor Thomas Dent Mutter in 1858, was medical research and education. According to a special that aired on The Travel Channel, this place is listed as #7 in the Top Ten Creepiest Destinations on Earth.
The museum is best known for its large collection of skulls and anatomical specimens including a wax model of a woman with a human horn growing out of her forehead, the tallest skeleton on display in North America, a 5'-long human colon that contained over 40 pounds of fecal matter, and the petrified body of the mysterious Soap Lady, whose corpse was turned into a soapy substance called adipocere. Many wax models from the early 19th century are on display as are numerous preserved organs and body parts. The museum also hosts a collection of teratological specimens (preserved human fetal specimens), a malignant tumor removed from President Grover Cleveland's hard palate, the conjoined liver from Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker, and a growth removed from President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
There are five separate prison themed haunted attractions in the eleven acre prison complex, which guests go through in a linear fashion. Intake - An indoor/outdoor haunted attraction with theming based on the prisoner processing experience. Lock Down - Introduced in 2007, this is the newest of the haunted houses. Lock Down, which is located in the three-story Cellblock 12 built in 1911, and is themed as an electrified prison cellblock. 13 Rooms - The theming revolves around various work in a prison, such as the mess hall, laundry room, and morgue. The Experiment (in 3-D!) - A 3-D haunted house, based on the idea of a "prison doctor's," experiment gone wrong. Although The Experiment dates to 2003, Terror Behind the Walls has featured a 3-D haunted attraction every year since 2000, making it the first 3-D haunted house in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Night Watch - Introduced in 2006, a haunted house where the only lighting is provided by flashlights carried by guests, and is currently one of only two indoor haunted houses in the United States to feature this unique form of lighting.  Special Guided Tours A Special guide-led tours will await the Eastern Haunters Convention patrons. This tour is a hands-on, interactive experience, designed for visitors age seven and up. The tour last about thirty minutes, and are meant to supplement the "Voice of Eastern State" Audio Tour which is narrated by actor Steve Buscemi, this tour includes Surveillance Hub, restored cells, the solitary confinement yards, the baseball diamond, Death Row and Al Capone's Cell.
Fright Factory is entering its 7th season and it's scarier than ever! Fright Factory features three terrifying haunted attractions - The Asylum, Village of the Damned, and Horror High. In 2006, Fox 29 Philadelphia selected Fright Factory as the scariest haunted attraction in the Philadelphia area. The Travel Channel featured Fright Factory as one of the eight scary haunts in the country in their special "America's Scariest Haunted Attractions". Fright Factory...where SCREAMS are made!
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