Landmarks / Museums

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Rising behind a series of pleasant neighborhoods, one of the largest manufacturing complexes in West Virginia seems to hide in the landscape of the Kanawha Valley. Now known as the South Charleston Industrial Park, a collection of six massive buildings established as the Charleston Ordnance Center, a naval ordnance plant, played … Read more

WHEELING, W.Va. — In a landmark moment for historic preservation, the Warwood Historic District in northern Wheeling has officially become the largest area in West Virginia ever nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. This condensed, working-class neighborhood, which comprises a whopping 1,214 individual buildings and structures, surpasses the previous record holder, the nearby … Read more

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Something about a castle evokes thoughts of murder, mayhem, and mystery. Perhaps it’s the architecture—the stonework and castellated towers. Secrets seem to surround these structures. Berkeley Castle in West Virginia is no exception. Overlooking the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, “The Castle,” as locals call it, boasts a history as … Read more

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — Historians in central West Virginia are preparing to commemorate the mysterious site of the crash of a remarkable military aircraft — a wood-winged bi-plane sent to bomb striking miners during the infamous Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. The plane about which relatively little was publicly known was coincidentally the first U.S. … Read more

EDRAY, W.Va. — Famous for its breathtaking mountain scenery, Pocahontas County offers travelers plenty to admire. Yet, one small landmark sparks more curiosity than most—a charming, cone-shaped structure reminiscent of a gnome’s hat. While the county may best be known for its ski areas, observatory, and scenic railroads, one roadside curiosity often steals the spotlight. … Read more

CHARLESTON. W.Va. — Two-thousand-twenty-four has proven record-breaking for historic preservation in West Virginia. Twenty sites, buildings, and districts were nominated to the National Register of Historic Places—the highest number in 18 years. The listings cover a wide range of historic resources in the state—from farms and cemeteries to monuments and African American sites. According to … Read more

ITMANN, W.Va. — The historic Itmann Company Store complex in southern West Virginia has been purchased by a Texas investor who says he’ll work with state and local officials to develop the landmark. Gary Drabek, of Houston, Tex., closed on the property today in Beckley but has been meeting for months with potential partners to … Read more

BECKLEY, W.Va. — A stone’s throw from one of the busiest traffic centers in West Virginia, a spring house and one-room cabin are all that remains of a farm that was long a favorite stop for 19th-century travelers. Now, its owners are working to preserve the cabin and the bubbling spring that watered countless horses … Read more

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Questions may always surround a mysterious boulder found 200 years ago in southern West Virginia inscribed with the characters “S. Ferguson F. County 1814.” (The numeral “4” is chiseled in reverse.) Ferguson’s Rock has since been the focus of local legends, including tales of a phantom that roams the scene of its … Read more

EASTON, W.Va. — Hidden in a small wooded valley within the busy municipality of Morgantown, West Virginia, the historic steam-powered Easton Roller Mill roars to life on summer Sundays, attracting the attention of all who enjoy gears and pulleys. The mill, which served as a grist mill and lumber mill, was restored by the Monongalia … Read more