In 1863, the newly formed West Virginia lacked a state Penitentiary to house convicted felons.
With an extensive history of violence, the prison was ranked on the Department of Justice s Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Faci.
The infamous and foreboding West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville was known as one of the bloodiest institutions in the United States.
As a result, construction began in July 1866 on the West Virginia Penitentiary, the second public building constructed in the state.
In 1863, the newly formed West Virginia lacked a state Penitentiary to house convicted felons