Culture

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.

Telescopes at Green Bank, WV, Pocahontas County, Allegheny Highlands Region

West Virginia observatory monitors signals from distant galaxy

Scientists working with the remote National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, have detected repeating radio signals being emitted from a dwarf galaxy three billion light-years away. Astronomers dedicated to finding signs of intelligent alien life recorded 15 repeating fast radio bursts on August 26, according to an August 30 Newsweek article. The … Read more

Queen Store in West Virginia

Alliance seeks funds to support three W.Va. preservation organizations

The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is seeking contributions to help support three state historical-development organizations for which funding has been cut or is in decline. Donations, which may be processed online (below), will match funds required to employ AmeriCorps members that support the three organizations, providing each member a modest living allowance during his … Read more

Memphis Tennessee Garrison House

Foundation to establish black history museum in Huntington

The Huntington home of one of West Virginia’s pioneer black educators and civil-rights activists is being developed as a museum, according to officials at the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Foundation. The former home of Memphis Tennessee Garrison at 1702 10th Avenue has been stablized since being purchased in 2007, and foundation members are now seeking … Read more

Hitchhikers at WVU, c. 1970s

New podcast series revisits gruesome murder of WVU co-eds

Even after half a century, new information is coming to light regarding the gruesome murders of two hitch-hiking students who disappeared from the campus of West Virginia University in 1970. Morgantown-based Kromatic Media today announced the release of the first three podcasts in the series “Mared and Karen: The WVU Coed Murders,” which explores the kidnapping, murder, … Read more

Wendy Perrone cares for raptors

Birds of Prey summer program returns to W.Va. State Parks

Three Rivers Avian Center will present its popular “Wings of Wonder – Birds of Prey” program at 12 West Virginia state parks in summer 2017, introducing audiences across the Mountain State to live birds of prey. The avian center’s programs have been park favorites for more than 20 years, said Sissie Summers of the Parks and Recreation Section of … Read more