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.
Wandering an old cemetery, Shirley Stewart Burns considers the stories that headstones tell. And it occurs to her that birth and death dates aren’t as important as the days between—represented by a line drawn between the dates. And that becomes a song. The Line There’s a line that’s etched in granite With two dates on … Read more
On May 9, Wheeling Heritage will host an opening reception for “Learning to See,” an exhibit featuring the works of artist Rosalie Haizlett, whose watercolor paintings focus on various aspects of nature. This exhibit features pieces she has painted throughout the last year, including plants and wildlife from the Kanawha County in West Virginia the … Read more
The Easter Bunny will work overtime Sunday morning in Weston hiding more than 12,000 eggs on the lawn of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, a museum and tourist attraction that’s gained national notoriety as a classroom for the history of U.S. healthcare. More than 400 children from six states are expected to attend the 12th annual … Read more
The organizer of one of West Virginia’s longest-running outdoor-recreation festivals says the Mountain State is an ideal travel destination and is encouraging its communities to explore tourism as an economic option. Wayne Lesperance, a veteran marketer from Harrisburg, Pa., who’s organizing the 20th annual “Waynestock” in Fayetteville, says West Virginia has everything it needs to … Read more
Fans of a solitary nanny goat that’s become a celebrity in central West Virginia are concerned about its apparent absence and are hoping someone can provide clues as to its whereabouts. Anne Johnson, a writer and photographer who’s become one of the goat’s best known protectors and devotees, spent Friday afternoon roaming the summit of … Read more
Children raised in rural West Virginia have advantages that many others may not. Strong familial units and low-crime are commonly accounted for, but they also have the advantage of access to nature. Richard Louv, 2008 Audubon Medal Recipient and author of “Last Child in the Woods,” says children who spend time in nature demonstrate improved … Read more
Is your organization sponsoring a ramp feast or festival in 2019? More than 30,000 readers used West Virginia Explorer’s 2018 guide to ramp feasts to locate ramp-dinner locations in West Virginia in 2018 Traffic is expected to double in 2019 as the site’s staff reaches out to more potential customers, according publisher David Sibray. “We’re … Read more
Rural West Virginia will be an ideal place from which to observe the largest super-moon of 2019 — the Snow Moon, which on Feb. 19 will bring the moon closer to Earth than it will be all year. If you missed January’s remarkable Wolf Moon (which featured an eclipse that appeared to turn the moon … Read more
Bacontown, Battleship, Black Oak Bottom — though they no longer exist, these vanished communities are among nearly 300 towns that historian Carl Wolfe has cataloged in Raleigh County. And he’s asking past and present county residents to help find more. Having witnessed the boom-and-bust economy of coal mining, Raleigh County, in southern West Virginia, is … Read more
Few hills and hollers in West Virginia exist without a ghost around to haunt them. Mountaineers love their lore and find plenty of places for restless spirits to walk. Many such tales are based on real events, others on traditions handed down, and Susanna Connelly Holstein, of Jackson County, has collected as many as she’s … Read more
