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.
CAMP CREEK, W.Va. — Only a few local historians may remember the obscure and chilling tale of Charles Anderson Mills, more infamously known in the neighborhood of Nubbins Ridge in Mercer County as “Likker Charlie.” A ruthless moonshiner who, on his deathbed, confessed to the violent murders of dozens of victims, Mills and two of … Read more
MASONTOWN, W.Va. — The strange story of “the day they knocked a hole in the Cheat River” has been passed down for more than a century and is one of northern West Virginia’s obscure but enduring legends. Some historians have questioned whether the tale out of Preston County is historical or just astonishingly good. The … Read more
PADEN CITY, W.Va. — Able to produce upwards of a million marbles a day, Marble King has been a staple of industry in northern West Virginia since it was formed in 1949, and it remains the only domestic marble manufacturer in the nation. According to president and CEO Beri Fox, with 28 full-time employees, it … Read more
COTTAGEVILLE, W.Va. — Tales of legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyon might seem far removed from West Virginia, but it turns out there’s a long-established link between the folk hero of the American-Canadian border country and the Ohio Valley in West Virginia.As to when Paul Bunyon left his mark in West Virginia, none now know, but by … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — After a five-year pause, the outdoor drama “Honey in the Rock” is returning to the stage at the Cliffside Amphitheatre at Grandview as part of an initiative to reach national park visitors and dedicated local patrons.According to general manager Gayle Oaks, along with “Hatfields & McCoys,” the musical drama will be performed … Read more
COWEN, W.Va. — Cowen today is a sleepy town of 500, perhaps best known for its location near a quiet lake. It was hardly so in 1900 when railroads were first being extended into the dark interior of the Allegheny Mountains. One of the last ancient forests in the eastern U.S. was being timbered, and … Read more
SCARY, W.Va. — Though nothing remains on the battlefield along the Kanawha River today, the Battle of Scary Creek was one of the most significant engagements in what’s now West Virginia during the Civil War. Fought in 1861 near Saint Albans, West Virginia, it was also one of the first battles in the war and … Read more
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — For pioneers in western Virginia, life was complicated enough without talk of “witches.” Any interruption in the business of avoiding hunger and disease might prove deadly. A blighted harvest, a twisted gun, or a broken limb could swiftly doom a settlement. But then there were witches. According to superstitious settlers, they lurked … Read more
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Stored for years in an old barn, the creations of a rural mad scientist, the hardened cadavers known as the “Philippi Mummies” are as grotesque as anything you might imagine, and they’re attracting tourists to this quiet river town in the shadow of the Allegheny Mountains. Everything you’ve heard about them—it might … Read more
SPENCER, W.Va. — Before commercial dyes became readily available to mountain people in West Virginia, homespun yarn was colored with natural materials that could easily be obtained in the woods near any farm. The hulls of walnuts and butternuts were perhaps the most common. Both yielded a dark brown color, which could be rendered almost … Read more
