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.
MINNORA, W.Va. — In a wooded gap along a rural road near Minnora, two graves have long fascinated local residents and students of West Virginia history. Known collectively as the Mike Fink grave site, the burial ground marks the location of a deadly frontier encounter that occurred during the turbulent years when Native Americans and … Read more
HINTON, W.Va. — The New River Gorge Historical Society will celebrate a cherished tradition of life in southern West Virginia with a community fish fry and historical program on Saturday, June 13, at the Summers County Memorial Building in downtown Hinton, West Virginia. Inspired by the annual “Miners’ Vacation” once observed throughout the New River … Read more
RICHWOOD, W.Va. — West Virginia has long served as a place of retreat. The wealthy have sought refuge at its mineral springs, the devout have embraced its solitude for reflection, and free spirits have been drawn to the independence afforded by its forested hills. Among the most celebrated of those free spirits were two twentieth-century … Read more
PENCE SPRINGS, W.Va. — Historians in West Virginia’s Greenbrier Valley are searching for answers about a little-known healing spring hidden on the grounds of the famed Pence Springs Hotel, a once-renowned mineral resort now on the market. While the sulfur-rich waters that made Pence Springs famous were widely promoted and carefully documented, far less is … Read more
PICKLE STREET, W.Va. — Of all the odd community names in West Virginia, “Pickle Street” may rank among the oddest. Why this hamlet in Lewis County bears the name “pickle” is as much a mystery as why it is termed “street.” There is little street-like about rural US-119, which wanders the valley of Leading Creek … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Now in its 49th year, the Vandalia Gathering—West Virginia’s signature celebration of folk music, arts, and heritage—returns May 22–25 to the grounds of the state capitol in Charleston. The free, public event attracts more than 10,000 visitors and participants each year. The free, public event features live music and dance events, storytelling … Read more
OAKVALE, W.Va.— Motorists traveling along US 460 east of Autumn at Brush Creek Falls in Mercer County near the Bluestone National Scenic River.[/caption] The incident, remembered as the Pauley Massacre, was among many deadly clashes that marked the struggle for control of the Appalachian backcountry during the Revolutionary War era. Much of the conflict pitted … Read more
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — At least two mysteries tangle in the tale of the Neerly house. What happened to the house? What happened to “old man Neerly? And where did the late folklorist Ruth Ann Musick encounter the legend? The following version of the West Virginia tale appears in the West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, edited and … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — To help promote National Safe Boating Week, officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources and its law enforcement section are reminding boaters about the importance of boating safety and wearing life jackets. Observed this year from May 16-22, National Safe Boating Week marks the start of the summer boating season and … Read more
MONTGOMERY, W.Va. — If you grew up in southern West Virginia, you might have heard old-timers speak of the mysterious stone walls on Armstrong Mountain, strange ruins hidden in the woods just beyond the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Handed down as fireside tales, stories of their construction and purpose may have become … Read more
