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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.

Culture

Historic West Virginia heat waves and how the state can recover its coolness

July 30, 2025 by Bianca Bosworth

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While known for its forests and cool mountain air, West Virginia has nonetheless endured its share of blistering summer heat. The following is an overview of its most significant heat waves and an examination of how West Virginia can benefit economically from investing in its traditionally cool summer temperatures. Early 20th Century … Read more

Culture

West Virginia to host first-ever Spartan Trifecta World Championship in the U.S.

July 29, 2025 by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia will make history in 2025 when it becomes the first U.S. location to host the Spartan Trifecta World Championship, a world-renowned endurance event that challenges elite athletes and weekend warriors alike. The two-day event will take place September 6-7, 2025, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve on the edge of the … Read more

Culture

From Jerry West to Best Virginia, basketball in West Virginia is a unifying force

July 28, 2025 by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Mountain State is a land stitched together by rugged mountains, close-knit towns, and a complicated economic past. Yet for generations, one thread has consistently united its people—basketball in West Virginia. The legacy of Jerry West and basketball in West Virginia From the dusty courts of coal camps to the polished hardwood … Read more

Culture

The five worst floods in West Virginia history: A Chronicle of Disaster

July 27, 2025 by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Shaped by rugged mountains and winding rivers, West Virginia has endured some of the most catastrophic floods in American history. Its five worst floods—measured by lives lost, destruction caused, and lasting impact—include the Buffalo Creek Disaster of 1972, where a coal slurry dam failure killed 125 people; the Election Day Floods of … Read more

Culture

Appalachia’s haunted highway: legends of West Virginia Turnpike ghosts

July 25, 2025 by David Sibray

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Completed in 1954, the West Virginia Turnpike, twisting like a ribbon through 88 miles of the Appalachian Mountains, is not just a feat of 20th-century engineering; it’s one of the most important interstate corridors in the eastern U.S. And when night falls, it turns eerily haunting, especially along those mountain stretches where … Read more

Culture

From Greenbrier Valley to global fame, the defiant jazz legacy of Ada “Bricktop” Smith

July 24, 2025 by David Sibray

ALDERSON, W.Va. — Perhaps few people could have predicted that one of the most electrifying figures of the Jazz Age would emerge in a quiet valley in West Virginia, a seeming world away from the glitz and glamor of Paris and New York City. But that’s exactly what became of Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise … Read more

Culture

100 Years of Tradition: Celebrating the centennial of the State Fair of West Virginia

July 24, 2025 by Clyde Craig

FAIRLEA, W.Va. — The State Fair of West Virginia is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and proponents say there’s never been a better time to attend the August 7-16 celebration. From humble agricultural roots to an entertainment-packed event that draws more than 200,000 visitors annually, the fair stands as a cherished tradition, uniting generations of families, … Read more

John Brown ascends to the gallows at Charles Town.

Culture

Remarkable encounter: John Brown’s final moments witnessed by Stonewall Jackson

July 22, 2025 by William Kerrigan

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — On December 1, 1859, abolitionist John Brown, having been convicted and sentenced to death for planning and executing an uprising in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, delivered a final statement to his jailer that he wished to be shared with the public: The final hours of abolitionist John Brown “I, John Brown, am … Read more

Culture

The writer who captured Appalachian tragedy—and couldn’t escape it

July 21, 2025 by Cody Straley

MILTON, W.Va. — Breece D’J Pancake soared like a meteor through the American literary universe in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Kurt Vonnegut wrote of him, “I give you my word of honor that he is merely the best writer—the most sincere writer I’ve ever read.” Who was Breece D’J Pancake? A rising voice … Read more

Devil Anse Hatfield headstone at Hatfield Cemetery at Sarah Ann, West Virginia.

Culture

How Devil Anse Hatfield became a bold symbol of change in Appalachia

July 21, 2025 by Clyde Craig

LOGAN, W.Va. — By the time the world would come to know him as “Devil Anse,” Anderson Hatfield had already left a significant mark on West Virginia—not for bloodshed or bullets, but for business. Long before the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud erupted into violence, Hatfield was a man caught between two worlds—the self-reliant, traditionalist Appalachia of … Read more

Iconic “Almost Heaven” swing added to Cedar Creek State Park in central West Virginia

Monongahela National Forest seeks conservation proposals in five West Virginia counties

Seneca Rocks draws excited new crowds to West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest

Partnership to enhance more than 500 miles of Monongahela National Forest trails

West Virginia experts say tourist towns lose money when businesses close on Sundays

WVU School of Nursing to host to free day camp for high school students

Vision impairment can be manageable, says a West Virginia University professor

Applications open for West Virginia First small business growth program

Hidden healing spring on historic Pence Springs resort grounds draws new interest

Origin of the name “Pickle Street” remains a central West Virginia mystery

49th annual Vandalia Gathering celebrates old-time and bluegrass music at state capital

Few may recall 1779 Pauley massacre fought in the shadow of East River Mountain

Here’s why fishing records are being broken more often now in West Virginia

South Branch ends mourning dove permits; controlled hunt begin at Stonewall Jackson

John Terry catches record-breaking tiger trout in lake at Seneca State Forest

Gravel, bikepacking network connects towns across Monongahela National Forest region

Culture

Historic West Virginia heat waves and how the state can recover its coolness

West Virginia to host first-ever Spartan Trifecta World Championship in the U.S.

From Jerry West to Best Virginia, basketball in West Virginia is a unifying force

The five worst floods in West Virginia history: A Chronicle of Disaster

Appalachia’s haunted highway: legends of West Virginia Turnpike ghosts

From Greenbrier Valley to global fame, the defiant jazz legacy of Ada “Bricktop” Smith

100 Years of Tradition: Celebrating the centennial of the State Fair of West Virginia

Remarkable encounter: John Brown’s final moments witnessed by Stonewall Jackson

The writer who captured Appalachian tragedy—and couldn’t escape it

How Devil Anse Hatfield became a bold symbol of change in Appalachia