Landmarks / Museums

ELKINS, W.Va. — Historic movie theaters in West Virginia once played a vital role in isolated sections of the Mountain State, says a historian who’s helped breathe new life into these architectural treasures across the region. Now attracting visitors back to historic downtowns, the restoration of these theaters can be expensive, but financing programs and … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Six landmarks across West Virginia have been added to the National Register of Historic Places, highlighting the state’s architectural diversity and rich cultural heritage, according to state officials. The additions were approved by the West Virginia Archives and History Commission at its July 15 meeting and later accepted by the National Park … Read more

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The National Park Service has accepted the nomination of historic stone walls in Morgantown, West Virginia, to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing their enduring craftsmanship, cultural significance, and contribution to the city’s Depression-era landscape. The efforts of the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia resulted in a successful nomination, which highlighted … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials at the W.Va. Department of Tourism are celebrating autumn with three new Almost Heaven Swings in Calhoun, Ritchie, and Wetzel counties. The scenic additions bring the statewide total of Almost Heaven Swings to nearly 50, giving travelers even more ways to experience the Mountain State’s most picturesque views. Installed in time … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Motorists driving along Kanawha Boulevard past the West Virginia Capitol may notice three Civil War monuments prominently arrayed along the lawn. One is of a Union soldier wearing a cap, or kepi, of the kind associated with that uniform. Next is a larger-than-life-size Abraham Lincoln, standing with his head bowed. There’s also … Read more

CLIFFTOP, W.Va. — At first glance, the Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park in West Virginia looks as though it has stood for centuries, its wooden frame weathered to the color of old hickory, its water wheel turning with the steady rhythm of the creek. Featured on postcards, calendars, and guidebooks that promote … Read more

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — For more than a century, Camp Kootaga stood as a summer sanctuary for generations of scouts, a place where leadership, outdoor skills, and camaraderie were passed down along the wooded bluffs of the Hughes River. Now, thanks to a determined group of alumni and community leaders, the camp’s future is secure — … Read more

SARAH ANN, W.Va. — A new entrance to a historic Hatfield Cemetery in southern West Virginia is making it easier for visitors to pay respects at the graves of William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield and his family, a key site for Appalachian history enthusiasts. Once a difficult climb, the cemetery—long a pilgrimage destination for thousands … Read more

ANSTED, W.Va. — The restoration of the Tyree Tavern, a historic landmark near the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia, is now visibly underway in advance of its transition to a museum. The architectural team employed to manage the restoration, technically termed a historical rehabilitation, began replacing the roof this week, marking the first … Read more

EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — Some say that the American West begins at West Virginia— specifically at the tip of its northern panhandle—and there’s a quantifiable reason to support that claim. Somewhere beneath the Ohio River, on what was the river’s north bank before it was dammed, Thomas Hutchens in 1786 established what’s now called the … Read more