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Haunted PlacesMoundsville, West Virginia, USA3 min read

West Virginia Penitentiary: The Shadow Man of Moundsville

An 1876 Gothic prison of riots and executions — now home to the legendary "Shadow Man."

West Virginia Penitentiary: The Shadow Man of Moundsville — Moundsville, West Virginia, USA
Photo: Rhonda Humphreys · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

A century of hard time

This Gothic prison operated from 1876 to 1995 and saw riots, executions, and brutal conditions across its long history.

The hauntings

Now a museum, it's known for the "Shadow Man" figure, cold spots in the cellblocks, and activity near the old execution chamber.

Visit

The penitentiary offers history tours, overnight ghost hunts, and a haunted house each fall.

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