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.
A team of horses races across winding mountain roads, urged onward by the crack of a stage driver’s whip. Inside the coach, six weary passengers started their two-day journey at 1 p.m. that afternoon. They are tired and hungry and are eagerly awaiting their next stop, where they can disembark, stretch their legs, get some … Read more
Think you know West Virginia history? Then it’s time to put that knowledge to work and help save some of the state’s historic buildings.Historic buildings in West Virginia are getting a big boost from a new emergency fund that provided more than $20,000 to rescue initiatives in 2020.Organizers are kicking off a campaign to double … Read more
When you think of the arts, you might not first think of West Virginia, but the state is an ideal destination for musicians, according to the executive director of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.Despite what many aspiring artists have heard, it’s possible to pursue a rewarding career in music in West Virginia, says … Read more
The tale of the Flatwoods Monster has attracted the curious to West Virginia since 1952 after rumors of an alleged encounter with an alien exploded across the national airwaves. And interest in the tale has never quite died down.According to the legend, on a September evening in the hills above Flatwoods, West Virginia, a group … Read more
The Civil War center at Shepherd University is hosting a series of free programs online beginning April 17 to help inform, educate, and entertain during the COVID-19 outbreak.Dr. James Broomall, director of the university’s George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, said the eight-program evening series has been a pleasure to … Read more
(Editor’s Note: Ever think of writing poetry? We’ve asked Marc Harshman, the poet laureate of West Virginia, to provide a few tips to help new poets move forward. As the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic is leading many people to isolate, we thought it might be an ideal time to help nurture the poet in each of … Read more
West Virginia State University is celebrating Arbor Day with a Facebook-based art project designed to encourage children isolated by the COVID-19 outbreak to create tree-themed posters. Hosted by the university’s extension service, “ABCs of Trees” online art project is open to children ages 3 to 18, and participating is simple, says extension agent Liz Moss. … Read more
Two renowned architectural firms based in Virginia and West Virginia have announced a merger that will provide integrated design services across both states.Charleston, W.Va.,-based ZMM Architects & Engineers and Blacksburg, Va.,-based OWPR Architects have joined forces to create a regional design firm that employs more than 50 highly-skilled professionals.The expanded firm will blend the experience … Read more
Home-made soap was universally used in West Virginia before the commercial product became available in the 20th century, and spring was ultimately soap-making time.Soap was made with pork fat, beef tallow, or mutton fat, and lye—ingredients that were generally available in good measure by the end of winter.After butchering season in autumn, the fat and … Read more
Author and engineer Homer Hickam says he trusts that the native bravery he knew growing up in West Virginia will help others weather the troubles that result from the 2019-2020 coronavirus outbreak.Hickam, who famously preserved a glimpse of life in the state’s southern coalfields in his book “October Sky,” is reading selections from his works … Read more
