The history and prehistory of West Virginia reveal a fascinating journey from ancient Native American cultures to its role in America’s story. Prehistoric sites, such as the Grave Creek Mound, showcase the region’s mound-building cultures that left behind impressive burial mounds and earthworks. Later, European settlers ventured into the rugged Appalachian Mountains, forging frontier communities and thriving amidst challenging terrain. During the American Civil War, West Virginia famously seceded from Virginia to remain loyal to the Union, becoming the 35th state in 1863. Coal mining played a vital role in shaping West Virginia’s economy and identity, fueling America’s industrial growth and leaving a lasting legacy in the state’s communities and culture. Today, visitors can explore historic towns, Civil War battlefields, and preserved pioneer homesteads that tell the rich, enduring story of West Virginia’s resilient spirit and deep mountain roots.
GRANTSVILLE, W.Va. — Occasionally, you might hear old-timers speak of a time when herds of wild hogs were hunted in the West Virginia hills. Chances are, they never witnessed such a hunt, as the practice was a tradition so long ago that they likely heard of it from their grandparents. These hunts would have been … Read more
BURNING SPRINGS, W.Va. — On the night of May 9, 1863, a conflagration lit up the skies along the Little Kanawha River at Burning Springs at the site of the famous Rathbone Well, the first major oil well in West Virginia. As part of a Confederate initiative to injure the Union, Brigadier General William “Grumble” … Read more
PIPESTEM, W.Va. — Many of the thousands of people named “Farley” in the New River valley region in southern West Virginia trace their lineage back to one early settler, Drewry Farley. He and his wife, Mary Adkins Farley, established their family in an upland pasture overlooking the New River at the summit of what’s known … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Nationwide prohibition against alcohol consumption was launched in 1919 in the U.S., but West Virginia enacted its ban much earlier, and the results were deadly. In 1913, West Virginia passed the Yost Law, which was implemented on July 1, 1914. It imposed drastic changes in the lives of some West Virginians. On … Read more
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — The Nina Paden and its skipper wheeled beyond the call of duty in ferrying the Ohio River at Parkersburg, West Virginia. Of all the tales of the Ohio, theirs may rank among the most fearless. The following narrative was provided by the late Jim Wallen, a reporter for the Huntington Herald-Dispatch. It … Read more
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Surprising as it might seem, the iconic image of Chef Boyardee that adorns so many food packages worldwide is that of a genuine person. Moreover, Ettore Boiardi worked at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, a luxury resort a seeming world away from the streets of New York City, where he … Read more
LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Of the many historic landmarks in charming Lewisburg, West Virginia, perhaps none is more remarkable than a cross-shaped Confederate grave on a hill above the city’s downtown historic district. According to a prominent West Virginia historian, it may be among the most remarkable burial grounds in the nation. In a shady park … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Winter in the rugged mountains of what is now West Virginia could be perilous. An overnight snow squall or a sudden drop in temperature often turned life-threatening without warning. How did settlers endure such harsh conditions? Historians suggest that cooperation among settlers and a quick adaptation to the unfamiliar Appalachian environment were … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — January’s Wolf Moon harks back to a time when the haunting howl of wolves echoed across the Mountain State, the final stronghold of Canis lupus in the eastern United States. According to historical accounts, the last eastern wolf prowled the remote Allegheny Mountains in east-central West Virginia until 1897, when 17-year-old Daniel … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia has weathered many extremely cold winter events, due in part to its mountains and position in the interior mid-Atlantic region. Its terrain actually amplifies the impact of cold waves, especially in rural areas. Particularly around Davis, Snowshoe, and Canaan Valley, the Allegheny Mountains regularly suffer extreme cold and some of … Read more
