November 2010

Housed in the 1908 Tyler County High School building (first county high school in West Virginia), the museum offers 16 rooms of historic artifacts and items related to the history of Tyler County, WV. Researchers will find a Genealogy Department and an Alumni Room full of historical items from the history of the school. Located on Dodd Street in Middlebourne, WV.

Plaza Ferdinand VII, named for the King of Spain, was the center of Pensacola town life during the Colonial era and is home to the bronze bust of Andrew Jackson that marks one of Pensacola’s historical turning points. The cession of west Florida to the United States from Spain occurred at the Plaza on July 17th, 1821. General Jackson made a speech to the citizens, declaring that the land was now the Florida Territory and that Pensacola would be the capital of the west half of the territory. Jackson was sworn in as the first Territorial Governor in Plaza Ferdinand, beginning his brief tenure as Florida’s first military governor. The Jackson monument stands at the site of his inauguration in the historical heart of Pensacola.

The Greenbrier is an award-winning resort located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. As a National Historic landmark, The Greenbrier's classic architecture, exquisite interior design, carefully sculpted landscape, impeccable service and outstanding amenities have hosted distinguished guests from around the world since 1778.

The Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts, Inc. was established as "an educational institution whose general nature and objective will be to render constructive, educational, and cultural services to the community through collection, preservation, conservation and exposition of objects which are the cultural heritage of this community. Particular emphasis shall be directed to vital programs that enrich the lives of the youth of this community. To achieve this purpose, a settlement has been created for the benefit of the public to house and maintain collections, exhibits, a reference library, and facilities for research and teaching." Furthermore, these programs shall encourage the common man to express and experience his artistic urges and to fulfill the needs of thousands who might not otherwise be involved in the arts, and to admire the arts of their past. The warm nature of folk artists, the friendly atmosphere of the Settlement site and staff, and the non-intimidating programs should encourage youth, the elderly, minorities and the handicapped to become involved in the Settlement's many cultural heritage activities.

Housed inside the historic LaBelle Theatre along with the South Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the museum features historical artifacts, documents, early photographs and items related to the cultural heritage of South Charleston and the Kanawha Valley. Located at 311 D Street in South Charleston, WV.

The museum educates locals and tourists on the history of Pensacola.

The first floor of the Pensacola Historical Museum, located in the Arbona building, displays exhibits that change every six months. The second floor houses the permanent collection, including the Army/Navy Gallery, the Maritime Gallery, the Multicultural Gallery, the Native American Gallery, and the Forts/Civil War Gallery.*

Newly-arrived pioneers organized a Methodist church in the vicinity of Union in late 1784. Working together, they built the church in 1785 on the land of Edward Keenan, who had been a leading part of the construction effort. Keenan donated the land both for the church and for its graveyard. The building was dedicated in 1786 by Francis Asbury, the first Methodist bishop in the United States. After its construction, the church was a center of Methodism: Asbury returned at least three times in the next ten years to lead Annual Conferences at the church.

The five-acre site contains the original structure and furnishings, Edward Keenan's tombstone, and a museum that contains displays regarding Rehoboth and Methodism in West Virginia.

Both the reconstructed fort and the Job Prickett House are open for public tours from mid-April through October, with a living history style interpretation. Visitors enjoy seeing costumed artisans at work weaving, blacksmithing, cooking, and building muzzleloader firearms. A dozen or more special events are conducted annually.

The reconstructed Fort covers a 110 by 110 foot square, with 12-foot-high log walls and blockhouses at each corner. Lining the weathered stockade walls are 14 tiny cabins, some with earthen floors. A meetinghouse and a storehouse fill the common. When the threat of Native American uprisings occurred, up to 80 families from the surrounding countryside would hurry to the Fort. They would stay as long as the threat existed, from days to weeks. "Forting up" was simply tolerated by settlers. Life in the cramped quarters could be unpleasant, but such sacrifices were necessary for survival on the dangerous frontier of the late 1700s. Today's Fort still speaks eloquently of that life and time.