West Virginia is celebrating 153 years as a state! The Mountain State is full of amazing history. Here are a few stops off the main path where you can discover stories about our past.

West Virginia Independence Hall, Wheeling

WikiMedia Commons/Nyttend This is where our state began! This was the site of the Wheeling Conventions during the Civil War, which ultimately led to West Virginia being formed as its own state. You can tour the building now and see many artifacts from West Virginia’s history.

Grave Creek Mound, Moundsville

WikiMedia Commons/Tim Kiser This is the largest surviving burial mound made by the Adena culture. The Delf Norona Museum is also at the site, and displays other artifacts from the Adena people.

W.H. Smith Hardware Company Building, Parkersburg

WikiMedia Commons/Nyttend This historic commercial building from 1899 now houses the Oil and Gas Museum.

The Capitol Theatre, Wheeling

WikiMedia Commons/Carol M. Highsmith This stunning theatre cost a million dollars when it was built in 1928. It was important to the musical history of West Virginia. The theatre hosted live music and broadcasted Jamboree USA, one of the longest-running radio shows in the country.

Cranberry Glades, Pocahontas County

WikiMedia Commons/Forest Wander The Holocene glacial retreat 12.000 years ago helped to form the Cranberry Glades into what they are today. The unusual plants seen in the bogs descend from seeds scattered from that era, and include several species of carnivorous plants.

Mail Pouch Barns

WikiMedia Commons/Jarek Tuszynski From 1890 to 1992, the West Virginia Mail Pouch chewing tobacco company out of Wheeling, WV painted businesses and barns with their advertisements. In the beginning owners were paid just 1-2 dollars per year for the space, but more importantly, their barns got a fresh coat of paint every year. These barn are now designated as historical landmarks. They extend into 22 states.

Haynes Cave, Monroe County

WikiMedia Commons/ Daderot Haynes Cave served as an important saltpeter mine, and was the site of the discovery of the Giant Ground Sloth. The sloth has since been designated as the state fossil of West Virginia. The fossil was once thought to have been found in Organ Cave, but recent evidence now points to Haynes Cave.

Philippi B & O Railroad Station, Philippi

WikiMedia Commons/Brian M. Powell This station built in 1911 served as a stop on the historic B & O railroad. It now holds the Barbour County Historical Museum. The museum is home to civil war artifacts and the Philippi Mummies. The mummies’ creator was trying to unlock the secrets of mummification in Egypt. He never revealed his formula.

Old Sweet Springs Resort, Monroe County

WikiMedia Commons/Brian M. Powell The remains of this old luxury resort have sat abandoned since 1993, but it is now beginning to be renovated and may have a future for visitors. West Virginia was once home to many spa towns that surrounded its natural springs, but now only a few remain.

The Bunker at the Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs

The Greenbrier/Facebook The Greenbrier is one of the resorts that is still standing, but it has some surprising history as well. Beneath the luxurious hotel is a bunker that was intended to house Congress in the event of a nuclear war. Its existence was kept secret for 30 years.

Thurmond, Fayette County

WikiMedia Commons/ Brian M. Powell Thurmond was once a prosperous coal town, but now has a population of just 7 people. The railway station shown here still serves passengers, and also functions as a visitor’s center with information about the town and local history.

These are just a few of the historical treasures in West Virginia. Where is your favorite place to discover history?

WikiMedia Commons/Nyttend

This is where our state began! This was the site of the Wheeling Conventions during the Civil War, which ultimately led to West Virginia being formed as its own state. You can tour the building now and see many artifacts from West Virginia’s history.

WikiMedia Commons/Tim Kiser

This is the largest surviving burial mound made by the Adena culture. The Delf Norona Museum is also at the site, and displays other artifacts from the Adena people.

This historic commercial building from 1899 now houses the Oil and Gas Museum.

WikiMedia Commons/Carol M. Highsmith

This stunning theatre cost a million dollars when it was built in 1928. It was important to the musical history of West Virginia. The theatre hosted live music and broadcasted Jamboree USA, one of the longest-running radio shows in the country.

WikiMedia Commons/Forest Wander

The Holocene glacial retreat 12.000 years ago helped to form the Cranberry Glades into what they are today. The unusual plants seen in the bogs descend from seeds scattered from that era, and include several species of carnivorous plants.

WikiMedia Commons/Jarek Tuszynski

From 1890 to 1992, the West Virginia Mail Pouch chewing tobacco company out of Wheeling, WV painted businesses and barns with their advertisements. In the beginning owners were paid just 1-2 dollars per year for the space, but more importantly, their barns got a fresh coat of paint every year. These barn are now designated as historical landmarks. They extend into 22 states.

WikiMedia Commons/ Daderot

Haynes Cave served as an important saltpeter mine, and was the site of the discovery of the Giant Ground Sloth. The sloth has since been designated as the state fossil of West Virginia. The fossil was once thought to have been found in Organ Cave, but recent evidence now points to Haynes Cave.

WikiMedia Commons/Brian M. Powell

This station built in 1911 served as a stop on the historic B & O railroad. It now holds the Barbour County Historical Museum. The museum is home to civil war artifacts and the Philippi Mummies. The mummies’ creator was trying to unlock the secrets of mummification in Egypt. He never revealed his formula.

WikiMedia Commons/Brian M. Powell

The remains of this old luxury resort have sat abandoned since 1993, but it is now beginning to be renovated and may have a future for visitors. West Virginia was once home to many spa towns that surrounded its natural springs, but now only a few remain.

The Greenbrier/Facebook

The Greenbrier is one of the resorts that is still standing, but it has some surprising history as well. Beneath the luxurious hotel is a bunker that was intended to house Congress in the event of a nuclear war. Its existence was kept secret for 30 years.

WikiMedia Commons/ Brian M. Powell

Thurmond was once a prosperous coal town, but now has a population of just 7 people. The railway station shown here still serves passengers, and also functions as a visitor’s center with information about the town and local history.

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