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. — The release of the trailer for a comedy film debuting next week in West Virginia may catch some viewers off guard. Though filmed in West Virginia and starring West Virginia natives, the movie “Ambrosia!” is a high-style, polished affair that may seem more appropriate to affluent New England. Co-director David Gravely says … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — According to its producers, the premiere of the comedy film “Ambrosia!” is being extended into a second night at the Raleigh Theatre & Playhouse to accommodate the demand for tickets. Filmed principally in Beckley, the production will launch September 27 but will play again on September 28 due to high interest. After … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — The producers of the West Virginia-made comedy film Ambrosia! have announced a September release that will be followed by a series of statewide and national screenings. Afterward, the feature-length independent film will be released on streaming platforms globally, though producer Saja Montague says those details are still being established. “We’ve had many … 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
MERCER SALT WORKS, W.Va. — The legend of the lost Mercer Saltworks near the New River in West Virginia may be remembered now by only a few locals and adventurers, and its ruins may be known to even fewer. Accessible by a rough trail, it was once among the most important landmarks in the valley … Read more
PAX, W.Va. — Tales of roadside ghosts account for many of the most famous ghost stories in West Virginia, according to the publisher of the Mountain State’s popular website for the paranormal, West Virginia Ghosts. Jonathan Moore, who has been publishing first-hand tales of the supernatural submitted to the website by visitors since 1999, says … Read more
Photographer O. Winston Link may best be known for his ties to Virginia, home of the O. Winston Link Museum at Roanoke, but museum manager Lynsey Allie says his ties to West Virginia are strong, though fewer people know of them. “O. Winston Link has fans all over the world,” Allie says. “They come here, … Read more
SUTTON, W.Va. — Many West Virginians have heard of a mysterious incident in Braxton County that involved a possibly celestial creature known as the Flatwoods Monster. It was alleged to have appeared in the darkened woods behind the local grade school in 1952, only moments after a “flying saucer” had been sighted scooting over the … Read more
LIBERTY, W.Va. — Eighteenmile Creek wanders quietly through the low hills of northern Putnam County, revealing not in the least any potential for tragedy along its banks. Yet, tragedy visited a group of hunters camping one night in a cave in the early 1800s. Where precisely this horrific incident occurred is not widely known, though … 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
