Culture

Praise the Lord, and pass the rattlesnakes! West Virginia’s fading snake handling tradition

History / Prehistory David Sibray - August 18, 2025

JOLO, W.Va. — On a warm Sunday in late May 2012, a locally well-known Pentecostal pastor named Mack Wolford invited friends and family to...

McKinley Rock: The eerie stone face watching over Thurmond, West Virginia

Lore and Legend David Sibray - August 14, 2025

THURMOND, W.Va. — High above the abandoned rail town of Thurmond, West Virginia, a weathered stone face gazes silently across the New River Gorge....

The Bustle Flag: How Martinsburg’s Unionist women defied the Confederacy

History / Prehistory William Kerrigan - August 13, 2025

MARTINSBURG, W.Va — The prosperous manufacturing town of Martinsburg in Berkeley County, West Virginia, was thrust into turmoil at...

National Hunting and Fishing Day returns to Stonewall resort Sept. 6

Festivals / Events Will Reedy - August 12, 2025

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — National Hunting and Fishing Day 2025, the state’s largest annual celebration of hunting, fishing, and outdoor...

Monument to coal baron in W.Va. hidden deep within New River Gorge

History / Prehistory Cody Straley - August 12, 2025

QUNNIMONT, W.Va. — The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia is a treasure trove of...

The captivating West Virginia legend of Kanawha Falls and her daughters

Lore and Legend David Sibray - August 9, 2025

GAULEY BRIDGE, W.Va. — Though beautiful, the following tale of Kanawha Falls in West Virginia may not have originated...

The Pickens Leper: a tragic journey into isolation in the W.Va. mountains

Lore and Legend David Sibray - August 8, 2025

PICKENS, W.Va. — In the remote Allegheny Mountains of northern West Virginia lies a solitary grave, marked only by...

Jackson’s Mill Jubilee set to crown best homemade pie in West Virginia

Festivals / Events David Sibray - August 4, 2025

WESTON, W.Va. — Nothing speaks to West Virginia tradition quite like a homemade pie, and this year’s jubilee at...

West Virginia Explorer Webzine is an online publication that celebrates the Mountain State's rich culture and natural beauty. Readers enjoy travel tips, hidden gems, outdoor adventures, local lore, and community news. For more than a quarter century, we've been the No. 1 trusted guide for exploring West Virginia.

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