North Wagon Gate

In 1837 the Virginia State Legislature decided the northern part of the state needed a place to hold prisoners.  Once the place was selected prisoners themselves began construction.  The first floor was designed to allow a horse drawn wagon to be completely contained inside the building while it was being loaded or unloaded.  
    Cells were located on the second floor so they could be locked up during the time the wagon gate was open.  There was (and still is) a trap door just beyond the stairs where public hangings were carried out.  The building is 40+ feet at the peak of the roof and made entirely of stone (other than the separation between the two levels).
     The prison was closed in the 1980s and the property taken over by the city.  It's now used for special events, but the housing units are pretty much abandoned.