Did Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis secretly meet in West Virginia?
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Did Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis secretly meet in what is now West Virginia just days after the first land battle of the Civil War? It is a question that’s lingered for more than a century and a half, whispered in local lore, debated by historians, and preserved in the…
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Morrisey awards $2.1 million for business-ready sites in 23 W.Va. counties
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Ahead of the start of the 2026 legislative session, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has awarded $2.1 million in grants aimed at preparing…
West Virginia trout stocking Jan. 5: biologists stock 46 waters statewide
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources in Charleston announced that hatchery crews stocked trout in 46 lakes and…
Jan. 15 marks Midwinter Day, but the most wintry weather is ahead in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — By mid-January, many West Virginians will notice a subtle but welcome change: daylight is beginning to stretch a little longer…
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How to research historic homes in West Virginia: Free state webinar offers tools
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Homeowners, local historians, and community members interested in historic homes in West Virginia will have an opportunity later…
West Virginia trout stocking resumes in lakes and streams statewide
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Trout stockings have resumed in select lakes and streams across West Virginia, the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources…
Vape shops and gray-area drugs put West Virginia towns at a regulatory crossroads
BECKLEY, W.Va. — They’re hard to miss in downtowns and along highway strips in West Virginia with their neon-bright window graphics, flavor…
Huntington children’s museum harbinger of growth in West End
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Western West Virginia’s new children’s museum is expected to contribute to revitalizing Huntington’s West End and benefit families in an area where such advantages were traditionally few. Tosha Pelfrey, president of the board of the…
Mannington, state expand outdoor recreation at Dents Run
MANNINGTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has entered into a long-term agreement with Mannington, West Virginia, to allow public hunting, fishing, and trapping on nearly 114 acres in Marion County. The property has been incorporated into the…
Summersville Lake to become newest state park in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On the north shore of Summersville Lake, West Virginia will soon open its 36th state park. Summersville Lake State Park will transform the northern shore of the state’s largest lake into an outdoor adventure park. The park is a 15-minute drive by…
Davis & Elkins unveils plans for historic Graceland mansion
ELKINS, W.Va. — Davis & Elkins College has announced plans to partner with regionally renowned chef Dale Hawkins and Fish Hawk Hospitality in the operation of Graceland to ensure the continuity of the landmark property. The partnership will preserve the landmark…
West Virginia State Parks enters agreement with Buckskin scouts
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia and the Buckskin Council of the Boy Scouts of America have signed a memorandum that will allow scouts to use state parks for activities while encouraging them to contribute to park conservation and preservation through service…
West Virginia seeks public input for statewide river otter project
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources has launched a citizen science project to identify the distribution of river otters across West Virginia and is asking members of the public to report sightings through an online survey. The survey can…
Peregrine chicks take flight at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — According to National Park Service officials, three peregrine falcon chicks have successfully taken their first flights from the cliffs of Maryland Heights at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia. This is the third consecutive…
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center hosts native orchid tour
MARLINTON, W.Va. — Officials at the Monongahela National Forest are inviting the public to visit the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center for its annual Native Orchid Tour Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program begins at the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center…
Monongahela National Forest to begin trout, bridge, bike projects
The Monongahela National Forest has received $1,092,000 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act to support three projects in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia. According to Kelly Bridges, spokesperson for the Monongahela, the three…
“Almost Heaven” swing attracting unusual traffic to Bluestone Lake
HINTON, W.Va. — A single swing placed on an overlook along Bluestone Lake in southern West Virginia is significantly impacting tourism at the popular fishing and boating lake. One of a growing number of swings installed statewide at scenic locations by the West…
“100 Things” author reveals her favorite West Virginia destination
CHARLESTON, W.V. — Travel writer Melody Pittman, co-author of 100 Things To Do In West Virginia Before You Die, has explored as much of the Mountain State as anyone, but it didn’t take her long to come up with her favorite travel destination when pressed….
Celebrate Scenic Drive Day June 4 at Cranberry Mountain Nature Center
RICHWOOD, W.Va. — Officials with the Monongahela National Forest in eastern West Virginia are inviting motorists to explore the forest highlands during National Scenic Drive Day on June 4 at the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. Off the Highland Scenic Highway near…
Wildflower event April 12 explores history of St. Albans, West Virginia
SAINT ALBANS, W.Va. — Four prehistoric trails once converged where the Coal River joins the Kanawha River, and this lesser-known fact helps set the stage for the 11th annual wildflower walk at Saint Albans City Park. Long ago, Native American warriors and, later,…
Spring’s pink-flowering redbud trees guided early West Virginia settlers
HINTON, W.Va. — Blossoming across the eastern U.S. in spring, redbud trees were notably important during the settlement of the Appalachian Mountains, where they indicated the presence of some of the best soil for farming. Today, the pink-blooming trees, which also…
W.Va. Historic Preservation Conference set for May 1-3
WHEELING, W.Va. — Hosted by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, the West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference, to be held May 1-3 in Wheeling, will feature tours, speakers, demonstrations, and educational sessions designed to help community leaders,…
Five spring wildflowers you’ll likely encounter in West Virginia
LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The West Virginia woodlands burst into color in spring. During that brief period, wildflowers put on a colorful show, attracting bees and butterflies before the trees leaf out and the sunlight dims. Native plant specialist Barry Glick has identified…
Two “irreplaceable” historic buildings in West Virginia are threatened
ELKINS, W.Va. — Two “irreplaceable” historic buildings in West Virginia are facing the possibility of demolition, which the state’s preservation board is working to prevent. The towering middle school in Mannington and the courthouse annex in Roane…
West Virginia creates new online tourism education program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced the creation of “Tourism Works,” an online education program designed to enhance hospitality skills and training among the state’s tourism workforce and everyday West Virginians. The announcement was made at…
Wife demanded millionaire husband build apartments at Bramwell, W.Va.
BRAMWELL, W.Va. — Tired of entertaining, the wife of a West Virginia industrialist in the late 1800s demanded her husband limit the number of out-of-town guests parading through their home. To please her, he built the commercial row with opulent apartments that takes…
Biologist suggests origin for strange name of this West Virginia stream
COVEL, W.Va. — From high among the peaks of Great Flat Top Mountain in southern West Virginia, there descends a stream that bears a unique name—Gooney Otter Creek. But what is a “gooney otter?” The strange name appears nowhere else in the world, but a…
Digital groundhog from W.Va. set to overtake end-of-winter tradition
PAX, W.Va. — While the U.S. and Canada turn to the groundhog on February 2 for an end-of-winter forecast, a new online tool created in West Virginia is poised for a stand-off with the scrappy rodent. Created by West Virginia developer Jonathan Moore, the “Early…
Historic Middleway, West Virginia, endangered by bottling facility
ELKINS, W.Va. — The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is adding the Middleway Historic District in Jefferson County to the West Virginia Endangered Properties List. The measure highlights the risks that could result from the construction and operation of the…
WVU program to help pay fees, tuition for West Virginia students
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University is launching a new program that will provide funding to cover the costs of tuition and university fees for qualifying incoming and current West Virginia students beginning in fall 2025 fall. The program is open to resident…
Expanding W.Va. theater trail continues boosting economic growth
ELKINS, W.Va. — Four theaters in West Virginia have been added to the state’s historic theater trail, established in 2010 to boost cultural and economic growth in Mountain State downtowns and rural areas. The Elk Theater in Sutton, the Granada Theater in Bluefield,…
Tale of Rich Mountain Ghosts recalls early Civil War battle in West Virginia
RICH MOUNTAIN, W.Va. — Every summer, thousands of Civil War buffs travel to the summit of Rich Mountain near Beverly, West Virginia, in Randolph County, to explore the remains of the small Rich Mountain Battlefield. Here in a mountain pass on July 11, 1861, George B….
Grants available for coal heritage projects in southern West Virginia
OAK HILL, W.Va. — A new round of grant funding is available for coal heritage projects in the southern West Virginia, provided through the National Coal Heritage Area Authority. Linda Hawkins, a spokesperson for the authority, said the agency is seeking proposals for…
Yankee Sullivan fought 1847 match near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — The month of May marks the beginning of West Virginia’s rainy season, the time of year when storms build quickly over her mountain forests and come bearing down on her valleys. It was during one such deluge that infamous Irish…
West Virginia settlers survived harsh winters through mutual support
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Winter in the rugged mountains of what is now West Virginia could be perilous. An overnight snow squall or a sudden drop in temperature often turned life-threatening without warning. How did settlers endure such harsh conditions? Historians suggest…
Wolf Moon of January recalls West Virginia as last domain of wolves
BECKLEY, W.Va. — January’s Wolf Moon harks back to a time when the haunting howl of wolves echoed across the Mountain State, the final stronghold of Canis lupus in the eastern United States. According to historical accounts, the last eastern wolf prowled the remote…
Here are the most extreme cold events recorded in West Virginia history
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia has weathered many extremely cold winter events, due in part to its mountains and position in the interior mid-Atlantic region. Its terrain actually amplifies the impact of cold waves, especially in rural areas. Particularly around…
Here are the top 10 winter snows that shaped West Virginia history
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia can be a snowy place. Though not nearly as snowy as Maine or Alaska, it snows much of winter, and winter storms have shaped its culture. This is especially so it the lofty Allegheny Mountains where most of its ski resorts are located….
Coal mining massacre near New River Gorge in W.Va. largely lost to history
STANAFORD, W.Va. — No marker commemorates the tragedy, few locals know of the matter, and historians are not fully in agreement about what transpired. Yet, as many as 11 people lost their lives that frigid morning in 1903 in what’s now called the “Stanaford…
Devil’s Saddle poem tells of girl’s meeting with W.Va. “granny witch”
ANTIOCH, W.Va. — Throughout the history of Appalachia, one may encounter the legend of granny witches—solitary women believed to possess uncanny powers. Many served in very real capacities as midwives in remote mountain areas where physicians and hospitals were…
What historians get wrong about frontier heroine Mary Draper Ingles
HINTON, W.Va. — The tale of Mary Draper Ingles—of her escape from Shawnee captors and her return through the mountains—is the ideal American frontier story in many senses. It’s a tale of endurance and indomitable spirit. And, because her adventures led through…
Historian says Tecumseh may have been born in West Virginia, not Ohio
JANE LEW, W.Va. — It’s widely accepted that Tecumseh was born in what’s now Ohio, but a handful of historians contend that one of the most influential Native Americans in history was born in what’s now West Virginia, where a statue, now missing, was…
Historian reclassifies Civil War “skirmish” in W.Va. as all-out battle
HURRICANE, W.Va. — Early research on a Civil War engagement in West Virginia at Hurricane Bridge underestimated the number of soldiers involved. This led historians to mislabel the “battle” as a “skirmish,” according to historian Philip…
W.Va. buck firearms season harvest up 18 percent in 2022
The buck firearms season harvest in West Virginia was up 18 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, thanks to the weather and food availability, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The division reports that hunters harvested 49,662 bucks during the…
2022 fall turkey harvest increased by almost 46 percent
FARMINGTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s 2022 fall turkey harvest increased by almost 46 percent over last year’s harvest, according to preliminary results released by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Fall turkey hunters harvested 1,012 birds this past…
Muzzleloader deer hunting season 2022 opens Dec. 12
West Virginia’s 2022 muzzleloader deer-hunting season will be open Dec. 12-18, and hunters who want to harvest an additional deer are reminded to buy appropriate stamps before the season starts. Holly Morris, an assistant district wildlife biologist for the West…
W.Va. hunters, anglers again eligible for lifetime licenses
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced today that the West Virginia Division of Natural Resource’s lifetime license giveaway is back for the fourth year. Hunters and anglers who purchase an annual 2023 hunting, trapping or fishing license in…
December deer, bear hunting seasons in W.Va. to begin
SUTTON, W.Va. — Beginning this week, hunters will have several opportunities to target deer and bear in December 2022. The next segments of West Virginia’s antlerless deer and bear firearms seasons are set to open early in the month. The next segment of West…
Hunters in Barbour, Jackson, Mason, Upshur must bring deer to stations
FARMINGTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is reminding hunters that they must bring deer harvested in Barbour, Jackson, Mason, and Upshur counties on Nov. 21-22 to a biological data collection station for carcass examination. Assisting in a…
W.Va. hunters must buy stamps for buck firearms season by Sunday
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s two-week buck firearms season will open Nov. 21, 2022, and hunters who want a chance to harvest an extra buck must purchase their specialized stamps before the season starts. Resident hunters must purchase their Class RG, and…
West Virginia bear firearms season to open Nov. 21
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The next segment of West Virginia’s 2022 firearms season for hunting black bears opens Nov. 21 in 36 counties and parts of six other counties. The season runs concurrently with the buck firearms and antlerless deer seasons through Dec. 4. Only bear…
Autumn 2022 wild boar firearms season to open Oct. 22
The first segment of West Virginia’s wild boar firearms season will take place from Oct. 22-29 in Boone, Logan, Raleigh and Wyoming counties, according to Colin Carpenter, project leader for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Carpenter said hunters…
West Virginia hiking blogger says New River Gorge tops inquiries
GRANDVIEW, W.Va. — Though travel to West Virginia is increasing statewide, a blogger best known for helping families with children find good hiking options says she’s fielding more inquiries about the nation’s newest national park. Ruthie Witmer, who…
West Virginia’s antlerless deer firearms season opens Oct. 20
SHADY SPRING, W.Va. — The first segment of West Virginia’s antlerless deer firearms season is set to open for four days on Oct. 20 in the state’s 51 counties open to deer firearms season. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Director Brett McMillion said the…
WVU Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative celebrates new trails
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University (WVU) Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative is a few steps closer to delivering trail access within a mile of every home in Morgantown. This week marks the official opening of the initial three…
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WVU: Federal funding could lower bills, boost winter energy resilience in West Virginia
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Winter in West Virginia can be unforgiving, especially for households and businesses already struggling with high utility bills and the threat of losing heat when ice storms, extreme cold, or surging demand strain the electric grid. West Virginia…
The quiet vision of Morris Harvey, an early West Virginian who bet on education
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In the late 19th century, as West Virginia was still defining itself as a young state, Morris Harvey placed his faith not in coal seams or rail lines, but in education. A descendant of one of the region’s first families, he may be best…
Doctor urges West Virginia to use opioid settlement funds for new state hospital
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia physician and former law-enforcement officer is urging state leaders to invest in a chronic care hospital aimed at treating the mentally ill, drug addicted, and homeless. “This is not only a West Virginia issue, but a national one,…
W.Va. a top state for inbound moves as Americans seek affordability, outdoor living
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is emerging as one of the nation’s top destinations for inbound moves, according to new data from United Van Lines, underscoring a broader shift toward smaller states, outdoor access, and affordable living. United Van Lines, in its…