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.
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — The eastern panhandle of West Virginia reaches more than 100 miles across the eastern U.S. from the quiet springs of the Potomac River in central West Virginia to the urban edge of Washington, D.C. How did this oddity come to be? More than anything else, according to a resident historian of the … Read more
WEIRTON, W.Va — West Virginia’s remarkable shape is partly defined by its odd northern panhandle, a finger of land that extends northward more than 60 miles from the central region of the state. The early history of the northern panhandle of West Virginia Home to its first capital, at Wheeling, the origins of the northern … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — August in West Virginia is a time of celebration. Its hills and hollows awaken to a season steeped in rituals of music, harvest, craft, and community. Old‑time Mountaineers historically marked August as a time of summer’s end and a season of festivals, fairs, and regional traditions passed down through generations. Summer’s Yield: … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia will make history in 2025 when it becomes the first U.S. location to host the Spartan Trifecta World Championship, a world-renowned endurance event that challenges elite athletes and weekend warriors alike. The two-day event will take place September 6-7, 2025, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve on the edge of the … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Mountain State is a land stitched together by rugged mountains, close-knit towns, and a complicated economic past. Yet for generations, one thread has consistently united its people—basketball in West Virginia. The legacy of Jerry West and basketball in West Virginia From the dusty courts of coal camps to the polished hardwood … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Heavy rain can quickly turn West Virginia’s normally quiet creeks and rivers into destructive torrents, a danger that again confronts parts of the Mountain State as flash flooding threatens communities this weekend. The danger is hardly new. West Virginia’s steep mountains, narrow valleys and dense network of streams have produced some of … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Long before Interstate 77 became the modern four-lane highway travelers know today, state troopers and maintenance workers along the West Virginia Turnpike were telling some remarkably strange stories. One officer described a glittering object hovering above the mountains. A maintenance supervisor who insisted he didn’t believe in ghosts recalled an antique military … Read more
FAIRLEA, W.Va. — The State Fair of West Virginia is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and proponents say there’s never been a better time to attend the August 7-16 celebration. From humble agricultural roots to an entertainment-packed event that draws more than 200,000 visitors annually, the fair stands as a cherished tradition, uniting generations of families, … Read more
ALDERSON, W.Va. — Perhaps few people could have predicted that one of the most electrifying figures of the Jazz Age would emerge in a quiet valley in West Virginia, a seeming world away from the glitz and glamor of Paris and New York City. But that’s exactly what became of Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise … Read more
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — On December 1, 1859, abolitionist John Brown, having been convicted and sentenced to death for planning and executing an uprising in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, delivered a final statement to his jailer that he wished to be shared with the public: The final hours of abolitionist John Brown “I, John Brown, am … Read more
