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.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Among the stories handed down from West Virginia’s frontier, few are stranger than the tale of Crock Face, an Indigenous warrior who was said to have hidden in plain sight by disguising himself as a scarecrow while waiting to ambush an early settler. The story sounds almost tailor-made for folklore—a lonely frontier … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Some of West Virginia’s best meals this fall won’t be served in city restaurants. Instead, they’ll be prepared by state park chefs using fresh ingredients from nearby farms and enjoyed against the backdrop of forests, lakes and mountain landscapes. The annual Farm-to-Table Dinner Series returns to W.Va. State Parks beginning Aug. 21, … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — By the final days of 1862, President Abraham Lincoln faced one of the most unusual decisions of his presidency. The Civil War had entered its second winter, Confederate armies still occupied much of the South, and the Union’s future remained uncertain. Yet waiting on Lincoln’s desk was legislation unlike anything any previous … Read more
WHEELING, W.Va. — For travelers looking for an easy weekend getaway from Pittsburgh, Columbus or Cleveland, downtown Wheeling offers more than historic streets and riverfront views. This week, one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals is adding another reason to make the trip. Oglebay Institute‘s Parcel Players will present Guys and Dolls Aug. 6-9 at Towngate … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Long after the last whitewater rafts are pulled from the New River and winter quiet settles over the nation’s newest national park, one Fayette County town hopes artists will keep visitors coming. The community of Fayetteville, perched on the edge of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, is best known … Read more
GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Most West Virginians know the stories of Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster. Far fewer have heard of Wood Mountain, a ridge adjoining the New River Gorge that has quietly accumulated its own reputation for unexplained lights and mysterious objects. The stories have never produced a national sensation, nor have they inspired … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Most Americans know there is a Virginia and a West Virginia, but far fewer know why. The answer is not simply that the Civil War divided the nation. It also divided Virginia, producing the only permanent change to the map of the United States during the conflict. Before the war began in … Read more
MARLINTON, W.Va. — The annual Perseid meteor shower arrives during one of the busiest travel months of the year, and for millions of people across the eastern United States, one of the best places to experience it may be hiding in plain sight: the mountains of West Virginia. While much of the East Coast contends … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In one of the strangest episodes in American political history, half of the West Virginia state Senate fled the state Capitol, boarded a train to Ohio, and effectively shut down state government. They weren’t prompted by war, natural disaster, or criminal charges. It was political. For more than a week in 1911, … Read more
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia’s food scene has entered a period of national recognition, but many travelers outside Appalachia still think of its cuisine in terms of old stereotypes rather than contemporary excellence, according to Chef Matt Welsch. Welsch, owner of Vagabond Kitchen in Wheeling, said the most significant change isn’t what’s being served in … Read more
