Phantasmagoria Photography Prints 
Instantaneous Photographs of Things Unseen
Captured and processed by S.M. McClure
 
Chapel in the yard of the penitentiary.
Captured 7/6/2018 at the West Virginia Penitentiary, Moundsville, WV.
 
History:
The West Virginia Penitentiary, located in Moundsville, West Virginia, was operational from 1876 to 1995 and is one of the most infamous prisons in the United States. Built in a Gothic Revival style, its castle-like appearance belied the harsh conditions within. The prison was initially designed to house 480 inmates, but overcrowding led to severe deterioration, with populations reaching nearly 2,400 prisoners at its peak.
 
Life inside the penitentiary was notoriously brutal. Executions by hanging took place until 1949, followed by electrocutions in the "Old Sparky" electric chair until capital punishment was abolished in the state. Over 90 inmates were executed, and many more were murdered or died under harsh conditions. Riots, including the deadly 1986 riot, further cemented the prison’s violent reputation. Eventually, due to poor living conditions and human rights concerns, the prison was officially closed in 1995.
 
With its long history of violence, death, and suffering, the West Virginia Penitentiary is considered one of the most haunted locations in the United States.