The next morning we set out for a tour of the West Virginia Penitentiary and the Grave Creek Mound right across the street from the penitentiary. I’ll start with the mound. “Mound Builders” were prehistoric Indians that were around from 3500 BC to the 1500’s who lived mostly throughout the Midwest from the Great Lakes region down to the Gulf of Mexico. They built these mounds as a way to bury their dead during religious ceremonies. There are about 25 mounds throughout the mid United States.

The penitentiary was built in 1876 and was in operation until 1995, when it was closed due to over crowding and deterioration. From 1899 to 1959 94 men were executed there. 85 by hanging until 1949 then 9 by electrocution until 1965 when the state abolished capital punishment.

Many movies and tv shows have been filmed at the prison since it’s closing and it’s also used for law enforcement training. Along with the regular tours they have night time paranormal tours and even an overnight! We didn’t do those, lol.

Fun fact, Charles Manson was from West Virginia and in 1983 he wrote the warden and requested a transfer to this prison to be closer to his family. The warden told him to take a hike.

Opening and closing of the prison doors. An eerie experience