MOUNDSVILLE – A landmark in West Virginia’s history has become a tourist attraction.

The former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville was built shortly after the Civil War and was modeled after the prison at Joliet, Ind., but only at about half the size. The prison was built of stone in the Gothic architectural style and included turrets and battlements much like a castle.

The penitentiary opened in 1876 and housed West Virginia’s most dangerous felons until 1995 when the Mt. Olive Correctional Center was opened. About 100 prisoners were executed either by hanging or the electric chair at Moundsville where they lived in 5-by-7 foot cells.

Among the most notable events was the November 1979 prison break when 15 inmates escaped, including Ronald Williams, who was serving life without parole for the murder of a Beckley police officer. An off-duty West Virginia State Trooper, Philip S. Kesner, was driving by the prison with his wife and attempted to stop the inmates.

The prisoners pulled Kesner from the car and Williams shot him. Despite the wounds were mortal, Kesner returned fire at the fleeing inmates.

Williams remained at large for about 18 months. He was placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list and was implicated in crimes and murders in Arizona, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

The prison is open for tours and is open April 1-Nov. 30.

Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors 55 and older, $6 for kids 6-16 and free for children under 5.

Tickets are available in the main lobby and gift shop during business hours and are not available for purchase online. Tours leave every hour on the hour.

The schedule is:

June, July and August: Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every day.

September and October: open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. It will close 3 p.m. Sept. 17 for the Zombie Walk and 3 p.m. Sept. 20 for Dungeon of Horrors RIP Night!

Sept. 23-Oct. 8: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Oct. 9-31: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Closed Mondays.

November: tours are 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Tours leave on the hour 11-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed on Thanksgiving and closed on Mondays.

Group tours are 90-minutes long and consist of at least 20 people. A reservation must be made at least a week in advance by calling 304-845-6200 or email tours@wvpentours.com.

History Mystery Monday tours are held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays during summer in June, July and August.

Photography tours are 10-2 p.m. third Mondays April-November and cost $100 per person. It is not a guided tour and photographers roam the facility at their own pace.

Three-hour Thriller Thursday tours will be held 9 p.m.-midnight June 16, July 21 and Aug. 18. Cost is $30 per person.

Among events at the penitentiary are the Moundsville Zombie Walk 6 p.m. Sept. 19. The walk begins in front of the prison.

Kids’s Night will be held 6-8 p.m. Oct. 28 for children ages 1-6. Cost is $5 a child and adults are free.

The trick-or-treat style event will be held in the Moundsville Training Center located through the North Wagon Gate. Children will gather treats and be involved in games, pictures on a fire truck and face painting.

Family Night at the Dungeon will be held 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27 for kids 7-12. Cost is $10 for a family of four and $5 for each additional person. The event is a scaled-down version of the haunted house and is designed for younger children that might not be ready for the full dungeon.

The Dungeon of Horrors starts 7 p.m. Sept. 25, Sept. 26, Oct. 2, Oct. 3, Oct. 9, Oct. 10, Oct. 16, Oct. 17, Oct. 18, Oct. 23, Oct. 24, Oct. 25, Oct. 29, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Cost is $20 to $28, depending on date attended.

The North Hall Walk is scheduled the same days. Cost is $15 to $18.

North Hall housed the most dangerous inmates.

Zombie Paint Ball will be held from 7 p.m. until close on Sept. 26, Sept. 27, Oct. 3 Oct. 4, Oct. 10, Oct. 11, Oct. 17, Oct. 18, Oct. 19, Oct. 24, Oct. 25, Oct. 26, Oct. 30, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Cost is $10 for 100 balls, $17 for 200 balls and $24 for 300 balls. Ticket sales begin 7 p.m. inside the South Wagon Gate and are not available online and can not be purchased in advance.

The facility is operated by the Moundsville Economic Development Council, 818 Jefferson Ave., 304-845-6200.

For general information, info@wvpentours.com; day tour/group information, tours@wvpentours.com; ghost hunting, paranormal@wvpentours.com; Moundsville Center rental, moundsvillecenter@wvpentours.com; Dungeon of Horrors, dungeonofhorrors@wvpentours.com; Elizabethtown Festival, festival@wvpentours.com.