West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville has a dark history, so it’s no surprise that there might be some residual energy hanging around. The prison now offers tours and ghost hunts for visitors that are interested in exploring its disturbing past.
West Virginia State Penitentiary was an infamous prison that operated from 1876 to 1995.
West Virginia Penitentiary/Facebook
Conditions were initially good in the prison, but had deteriorated significantly in the prison’s later years.
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Due to overcrowded conditions, there were riots, escapes, and murders throughout the prison’s history.
Instagram/wvpen 36 homicides took place in the prison.
94 men were executed in the prison.
Instagram/wvpen Nine men died in this electric chair, which was built by a prisoner. The rest died by hanging. Executions were public until one prisoner was accidentally decapitated during his hanging.
With all of this disturbing history, it’s not surprising that many believe that ghosts still wander within these walls.
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Many of the cells still contain reminders that the inmates longed to be anywhere else.
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Some experts say that there are over a hundred ghosts still roam the prison.
West Virginia Penitentiary/Facebook People have seen strange figures, heard footsteps, and experienced disembodied voices talking to them. There are rumors of a shadow man who walks the prison.
The Penitentiary now offers historical tours and opportunities for ghost hunting.
Instagram/wvpen You can even have the experience of being locked inside a 5 x 7 foot cell like many of the prisoners were.
The very brave or enthusiastic ghost hunters can buy tickets to spend the night exploring the prison.
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Would you dare to discover this prison’s dark secrets?
West Virginia Penitentiary/Facebook
The address for West Virginia State Penitentiary is 818 Jefferson Ave, Moundsville, West Virginia. For more information about the current tours and events, you can visit their website.
West Virginia Penitentiary/Facebook
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36 homicides took place in the prison.
Nine men died in this electric chair, which was built by a prisoner. The rest died by hanging. Executions were public until one prisoner was accidentally decapitated during his hanging.
TripAdvisor/LJ K
People have seen strange figures, heard footsteps, and experienced disembodied voices talking to them. There are rumors of a shadow man who walks the prison.
You can even have the experience of being locked inside a 5 x 7 foot cell like many of the prisoners were.
For another one of West Virginia’s most haunted places, take a look at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
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