Moundsville in Marshall County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

West Virginia Penitentiary Moundsville-1866

Photographed by Bradley Owen, March 31, 2026

1. West Virginia Penitentiary Moundsville-1866 Marker

Inscription.
This property has
been placed on the
National Register
of
Historic Places
by the United States
Department of Interior

Erected 2021 by Moundsville Historic Landmark Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.

Location. 39° 55.006′ N, 80° 44.58′ W. Marker is in Moundsville, West Virginia, in Marshall County. It is on Jefferson Avenue just north of 10th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 812 Jefferson Avenue, Moundsville WV 26041, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Northern Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker: Grave Creek Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); West Virginia Penitentiary (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named West Virginia Penitentiary (about 400 feet away); The First Christian Church (about 600 feet away); Moundsville Historic Commercial District (about 700 feet away); St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church (about 800 feet away); Kirkside (about 800 feet away); Marshall County Commemorates Service Men and Women (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moundsville.

Also see . . .
1. West Virginia Penitentiary Wikipedia Page.

The West Virginia Penitentiary is now a withdrawn and retired gothic-style prison that operated from 1866 to 1995. The site is now being maintained as a tourist attraction, museum, training facility, and filming location. The Penitentiary was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 19, 1996.

(Submitted on April 7, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.)

2. West Virginia Penitentiary National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.

The West
Photographed by Bradley Owen, March 31, 2026

2. West Virginia Penitentiary Moundsville-1866 Marker
Virginia State Penitentiary was built on the edge of Moundsville in 1866, where it soon became surrounded by the town. The twenty-four foot stone walls created an impression of a stone Gothic fortress with the crenellated facade and towers. At one time the prison housed over 2,000 inmates, and had both men and women until 1947. After serving the state for 129 years, the penitentiary was closed in 1995, when a new facility was constructed in Mount Olive, Fayette County. The multiple buildings of the West Virginia Penitentiary complex occupy a 19 acre site. The focus of the complex is the walled rectangular enclosure of the prison. The two-story wall both encloses the prison yard and forms the outer wall of the main prison building which runs the length of the west facade. The line of this elevation is interrupted by a four story block which steps out from the main wall between small corner towers.

(Submitted on April 7, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 7, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.