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.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia can be a snowy place. Though not nearly as snowy as Maine or Alaska, it snows much of winter, and winter storms have shaped its culture. This is especially so it the lofty Allegheny Mountains where most of its ski resorts are located. Several key moments, both natural and human-made, … Read more
STANAFORD, W.Va. — No marker commemorates the tragedy, few locals know of the matter, and historians are not fully in agreement about what transpired. Yet, as many as 11 people lost their lives that frigid morning in 1903 in what’s now called the “Stanaford Massacre” or the “Battle of Stanaford.” “No one even bothered to … Read more
ANTIOCH, W.Va. — Throughout the history of Appalachia, one may encounter the legend of The saddle in New Creek Mountain appears in the distance from near Skyline, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy Rick Burgess)[/caption] The Devil’s Saddle Sally Cooper tended the ancient hopvine That darkened her shutterless windows and covered The clapboard roof. Years of tilling … Read more
HINTON, W.Va. — The tale of Mary Draper Ingles—of her escape from Shawnee captors and her return through the mountains—is the ideal American frontier story in many senses. It’s a tale of endurance and indomitable spirit. And, because her adventures led through the valley of the New River, it has a unique appeal to residents … Read more
JANE LEW, W.Va. — It’s widely accepted that Tecumseh was born in what’s now Ohio, but a handful of historians contend that one of the most influential Native Americans in history was born in what’s now West Virginia, where a statue, now missing, was once raised in his honor. “There’s evidence he was born here … Read more
HURRICANE, W.Va. — Early research on a Civil War engagement in West Virginia at Hurricane Bridge underestimated the number of soldiers involved. This led historians to mislabel the “battle” as a “skirmish,” according to historian Philip Hatfield, Ph.D. “A skirmish implies this small, sort of insignificant affair, but there were many more troops involved,” says … Read more
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is hosting an early December weekend of historical Christmas events and demonstrations that bring to life the holidays in 1864 when the U.S. Army transformed the town into a major supply center. The park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. … Read more
MARLINTON, W.Va. — Skiing, hiking, biking, and other outdoor pursuits in the West Virginia highlands can work up monster appetites. That’s why the travel bureau in Pocahontas County, where those pursuits are chief, is celebrating its diverse restaurants. “After a big day on the slopes and trails, there’s nothing like a big meal,” says Jake … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Think there’s too much government? As complex as politics get in West Virginia, there was a time in the late 1800s when the Mountain State had four governors at one time. As baffling as that might seem, the matter is a remarkable demonstration of conflicting state laws and legal opinions. During that … Read more
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha Valley in western West Virginia once had the highest concentration of burial mounds in North America, though most were destroyed. According to the late archaeologist Darla Spencer, author of Woodland Mounds of West Virginia, more than 400 mounds have been recorded in West Virginia, and their presence was once … Read more
