Historic landmarks and museums in West Virginia offer visitors a fascinating journey through the state’s rich Appalachian heritage, Civil War history, and cultural traditions. From exploring the preserved streets of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to touring the West Virginia State Museum in Charleston, travelers can discover artifacts, stories, and exhibits that bring the past to life. Other must-see sites include the elegant Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, the iconic Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and numerous local museums that celebrate coal mining, railroads, and Appalachian folk art. Whether you’re a history buff or a curious traveler, West Virginia’s historic landmarks and museums provide unforgettable insights into the people and events that shaped the Mountain State.
GREENVILLE, W.Va. — I rarely have the opportunity to show my daughters a back-road attraction in West Virginia that they haven’t seen before. They’ve joined me on hundreds of adventures to remarkable places both on and off the beaten track. Each carries a W.Va. Gazetteer in her car and is usually up for a day … Read more
POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Two million lights will twinkle at the West Virginia State Farm Museum December 5-20, 2022, to celebrate Christmas, though volunteer groups and individuals are being sought to adopt buildings to decorate, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “This light show is one of the best in the state and a … Read more
MATEWAN, W.Va. — The first of two monuments commemorating the Battle of Blair Mountain in West Virginia will be installed this weekend in Logan and Kanawha counties, acknowledging a history that state schools long worked to suppress, say organizers. Commissioned by the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, located on the Kentucky border at Matewan, the … Read more
PINEVILLE, W.Va. — What did an authentic Appalachian pioneer farm of the 1800s look like? Perhaps there’s no better place to find out than in a remote corner of field and forest at Twin Falls Resort State Park in southern West Virginia. In the 1960s, while building the park, former superintendent Morris E. “Smokey” Harsh … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va.—In search of funding for a historical tourism project? Two West Virginia agencies are working together to help tourism initiatives fund historic preservation projects. The West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office and the West Virginia Department of Tourism will host a webinar on August 18 for owners and administrators of privately and publicly-owned historic … Read more
RALEIGH, W.Va.—A landmark industrial building near Beckley, West Virginia, has been determined to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The former powerhouse for the Raleigh Coal & Coke Company—perhaps best known for the swastika motif that decorates its trim—was found eligible based on its architectural and industrial importance, according to Cody Straley … Read more
Editor’s Note: If you’re familiar with the outdoors in West Virginia, you’ve likely seen rocks piled in what might seem “the middle of nowhere.” Many were stacked by settlers and farmers, but others are prehistoric and sacred, according to archaeologist Charity Moore, who’s cataloging their forms and locations. During a routine archaeological survey in Doddridge … Read more
A room built from a boat. Folk art from the Civil War. A carving that appears to predate all else by a century. The Tyree Tavern is full of mysteries, and author and historian David Sibray is welcoming scholars to investigate while the landmark is on the market. In addition to engaging some of the … Read more
All it took was a spark to ignite an explosion that sent hurricane-force winds tearing through mines beneath the mountains near Montcoal in southern West Virginia. The Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, as it came to be known, killed 29 miners and injured another two on April 5, 2010, though it would be days before … Read more
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the construction of the Big Bend Tunnel in southern West Virginia—the enterprise that legendarily took the life of folk-hero John Henry, believed by many to have been a flesh-and-blood railroad worker. According to most versions of the tale, Henry was employed to help dig the tunnel for … Read more
