West Virginia became a state June 20, 1863. The prison construction began in 1866, with inmates providing much of the labor. The prison was closed by court order on March 27, 1995 after it was determined by the court that the small 5x7 cells were too small and the living conditions were inhumane. Your guided tour is a walking through the major living and working areas of the prison, including the North Hall lockup areas, both the North and South yards, plus “New Wall”. You will also see the electric chair, and numerous paintings and works of art produced by the inmates. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes and we encourage you to ask any questions.