History / Prehistory

ARTHURDALE, W.Va. — The Kingwood Pike climbs slowly from the valley of the Monongahela River at Morgantown into the Allegheny highlands atop the Chestnut Ridge. There, travelers are provided with eastward vantage points across the open farmlands of Preston County, long renowned as the heart of West Virginia’s Buckwheat Belt. To the southeast of the … Read more

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — At the corner of Logan and Wayne streets on the north side of town sit two nondescript buildings, one brick and one concrete. They are not much to look at. Some might call them neighborhood eyesores. But these two properties are linked to a fascinating story of perseverance and prosperity during the … Read more

LYNCO, W.Va. — Scientists studying ancient carvings in West Virginia say stories that propose a non-native origin for prehistoric landmarks ignore evidence and may dishonor Native American heritage. Mysterious though the carvings are, officials with the A detailed view of the petroglyphs at Lynco is outlined in chalk.[/caption] Archaeologist and council spokeswoman Charity Moore wrote … Read more

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — After learning about my series of articles on West Virginia prehistory in West Virginia Explorer Magazine, Olivia Jones, an adjunct anthropology instructor who recently joined the museum’s archaeological staff, suggested that we work together to address common misconceptions about “giant” Native Americans interred in West Virginia’s burial mounds. What is the “giant” myth? … Read more

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Settlers who pushed westward across the Alleghenies in the 1700s engaged in a deadly gamble. Despite the threat of attack by the Shawnee, the daring few who took the risk to settle in that wilderness felt the promise of land was worth the danger. Such was the case with Andrew Donnally, who … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Great Seal of West Virginia may be as fascinating to some West Virginians as the U.S. dollar bill is for other Americans. It’s full of symbolism, the origins of which continue to be examined. Some of its symbols are mysterious, while others are likely more obvious. What is a state seal? … Read more

ANSTED, W.Va. — Historians investigating the history of a landmark tavern in southern West Virginia have uncovered evidence that explorer William Clark, of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, lodged there in the 1820s. While it is known that many famous travelers sought accommodations at the Tyree Tavern, or Halfway House, developers restoring the property as … Read more

THURMOND, W.Va. — Victims of a smallpox pandemic that swept through the New River Gorge in the late 1800s may have been buried in a remote cemetery on what many now call the ‘Island of the Dead.’ Though remote, the island is accessible during low water in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. … Read more