Culture

West Virginia culture is a captivating blend of rich Appalachian traditions and vibrant high culture infused with the jazz of surrounding U.S. cities like Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The state is renowned for its deep-rooted Appalachian heritage, which is showcased through folk music, storytelling, and traditional crafts such as quilting and woodcarving. Visitors can experience this authentic culture at local festivals and heritage museums throughout the Mountain State. At the same time, West Virginia also embraces high culture, with world-class performances at the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, acclaimed theater productions at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and art exhibitions at the Huntington Museum of Art. This unique mix of mountain traditions and refined artistic offerings makes West Virginia a true cultural gem in the heart of Appalachia.

The Greenbrier rises above the grounds at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., in this historic photograph. The resort traces its origins to 1778 and has played roles in American history ranging from the Civil War to World War II and the Cold War. (Courtesy West Virginia & Regional History Center, WVU Libraries)

The Greenbrier is back in the national news. Here are five remarkable facts from its 248-year history

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The Greenbrier is entering another chapter in its remarkable history after Friday’s completion of a $500 million joint venture that gives a New York investment firm a controlling interest in the historic West Virginia resort. Kennedy Lewis Investment Management will hold a 51% controlling interest in The Greenbrier, while the … Read more

The ruins of William “Coin” Harvey’s Monte Ne resort stand along the shore of Beaver Lake in Arkansas, remnants of the ambitious community he developed in the Ozarks in the early 20th century.

The West Virginian who ran for president—and built a pyramid for the end of civilization

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — One hundred seventy-five years ago this week, a boy was born along the Kanawha River in Putnam County who would become a bestselling author, a nationally known economic crusader, a presidential candidate, and, eventually, the architect of an extraordinary concrete monument intended to explain to people in the distant future why American … Read more

Former West Virginia Gov. William Wallace Barron became the central figure in one of the state’s most extraordinary political scandals after his 1968 acquittal on federal conspiracy charges was followed by revelations that the jury foreman had been bribed. The illustration combines archival images of Barron with imagery recalling the federal trial in Charleston.

The West Virginia governor who was acquitted—then admitted the jury had been bribed

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fifty-eight years ago this week, one of the most extraordinary political corruption cases in West Virginia history began in a federal courtroom in Charleston, where a former governor and five other men stood accused in a conspiracy involving state contracts, secret payments and money moving through corporations hundreds of miles away. The … Read more

The midway comes alive after dark at the State Fair of West Virginia in Lewisburg, where carnival rides, games, food vendors and crowds have long been part of one of the state’s most enduring summer traditions. (Photo courtesy Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau)

101st State Fair of West Virginia opens Thursday for 10-day run

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The State Fair of West Virginia will open Thursday for its 101st year, beginning a 10-day run of concerts, carnival rides, livestock competitions and agricultural exhibits that annually draw visitors to the Greenbrier Valley from across West Virginia and surrounding states. The fair will run Aug. 13–22 at the State Fairgrounds in … Read more

Fresh vegetables are harvested at a West Virginia farm. Locally grown produce from farms across the Mountain State will headline the 2026 West Virginia State Parks Farm-to-Table Dinner Series, where park chefs create seasonal menus showcasing regional ingredients. (Getty Image)

West Virginia state parks farm-to-table dinners return with local chefs, Appalachian flavors

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Some of West Virginia’s best meals this fall won’t be served in city restaurants. Instead, they’ll be prepared by state park chefs using fresh ingredients from nearby farms and enjoyed against the backdrop of forests, lakes and mountain landscapes. The annual Farm-to-Table Dinner Series returns to W.Va. State Parks beginning Aug. 21, … Read more

Cast members from Oglebay Institute's Parcel Players perform in Guys and Dolls at Towngate Theatre in downtown Wheeling. The summer youth theater production runs Aug. 6-9 and features performers ages 13-21.

Classic Broadway musical gives travelers one more reason to discover historic Wheeling

WHEELING, W.Va. — For travelers looking for an easy weekend getaway from Pittsburgh, Columbus or Cleveland, downtown Wheeling offers more than historic streets and riverfront views. This week, one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals is adding another reason to make the trip. Oglebay Institute‘s Parcel Players will present Guys and Dolls Aug. 6-9 at Towngate … Read more