List of museums in West Virginia facts for kids
Welcome to a list of awesome museums you can visit in West Virginia! Museums are special places where people collect and take care of interesting things. These things can be about history, art, science, or culture. They show them to everyone so we can all learn and explore. This list doesn't include museums that are only online.
Contents
Museums to Explore in West Virginia
- Adaland Mansion (Philippi): This is a beautiful mansion from the 1870s that you can visit.
- Adam Stephen House (Martinsburg): Also known as General Adam Stephen House, this historic home is right next to the Triple Brick Museum.
- African-American Heritage Family Museum (Ansted): Learn about African-American heritage here.
- Alexander Campbell Mansion (Bethany): See the early 19th-century home of Alexander Campbell, who founded Bethany College.
- Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museum (Webster): This is the home where Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day, was born.
- Ansted Culture and Heritage Museum (Ansted): Discover the local history and culture of Ansted.
- Antioch Baptist Church Museum (Ansted): Explore local history at this museum.
- Art Museum of West Virginia University (Morgantown): This art museum is part of West Virginia University.
- The Arts Centre (Martinsburg): This center has an art gallery with different exhibits.
- Avampato Discovery Museum (Charleston): Part of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, this museum has fun science exhibits, an art gallery, and a planetarium!
- Babcock State Park (Clifftop): Visit the Glades Creek Grist Mill here.
- B & O Museum of Wheeling (Wheeling): This museum, part of West Virginia Northern Community College, shows items from the B & O Railroad and glass pieces from the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company.
- Barbour County Historical Museum (Philippi): Learn about local history in Barbour County.
- Beauchamp-Newman Museum (Elizabeth): This museum is run by the Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter Daughters of American Pioneers.
- Beckley Exhibition Mine (Beckley): Explore a coal mine town, the mine itself, and a museum. The Youth Museum of Southern WV is also here.
- Belle Boyd House (Martinsburg): This was the family home of Belle Boyd, a famous spy during the Civil War.
- Beverly Heritage Center (Beverly): This center uses four historic buildings to tell stories about the Battle of Rich Mountain, the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike, and daily life in the 1800s.
- Bice-Ferguson Memorial Museum (Shinnston): See period rooms and old telephones at this museum.
- Birke Art Gallery (Huntington): This art gallery is part of Marshall University.
- Blenko Glass Visitor Center and Museum (Milton): The visitor center includes a museum about decorative glass.
- Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park (Parkersburg): Visit the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History and a rebuilt 19th-century mansion on the island.
- Brooke County Historical Museum (Wellsburg): Learn about local industry, early education, and pioneer life.
- Bulltown Historic Area (Bulltown): Explore the 1863 battlefield of the Battle of Bulltown. There's a visitor center with exhibits and old log homes.
- Caboose Museum (Mullens): Discover local history at this museum.
- Campbell-Flannagan-Murrell House Museum (Hinton): Visit this historic house.
- Canyon Rim Visitor's Center (Fayetteville): This center for New River Gorge National River teaches about the area's nature and culture.
- Capon Bridge Museum (Capon Bridge): Learn about the local history of Capon Bridge.
- Carnegie Hall, Inc. (Lewisburg): This cultural center has three art galleries.
- Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park (Summersville): The 1850s Patterson House Museum has items from the Battle of Carnifex Ferry.
- Cass Scenic Railroad State Park (Cass): Enjoy a heritage railroad, a museum, train shops, and a recreated 1940s logging camp.
- Cedar Creek State Park (Glenville): See the Pine Run One Room School here.
- Central West Virginia Genealogy and History Library and Museum (Weston): Learn about history and family trees.
- Ceredo Museum (Ceredo): This museum is run by the Ceredo Historical Society.
- Chief Logan State Park (Logan): The Museum in the Park has changing art and history exhibits.
- Children's Museum of the Ohio Valley (Wheeling): A fun museum just for kids!
- C & O Depot Museum (St. Albans): Explore railroad history here.
- Coal Heritage Museum (Madison): Learn about the history of the coal industry in the area.
- Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center (Bramwell): Discover West Virginia’s coal history.
- Contentment Historical Complex (Ansted): Visit a mid-19th-century home, a schoolhouse, and a museum with old household items.
- Cook-Hayman Pharmacy Museum (Morgantown): See a historic pharmacy display at West Virginia University Medical Center.
- Country Store and Museum (Glenville): This general store has antiques and old shop items.
- Craik-Patton House (Charleston): This mid-19th-century home is operated by the Colonial Dames of America.
- Daughters of the American Revolution Toll House Museum (Barboursville): Learn about local history.
- Davis History House (Romney): This 19th-century log house is operated by the Hampshire County Public Library.
- Daywood Gallery (Philippi): This art gallery is part of Alderson-Broaddus College.
- Doddridge County Museum (West Union): Explore local history in Doddridge County.
- Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park (Hillsboro): This museum has history and items from a Civil War battle fought here.
- Eckhart House (Wheeling): Visit this Victorian period house and tea room.
- Fenton Art Glass Museum (Williamstown): See beautiful art glass pieces.
- Fort Ashby (Fort Ashby): Explore a mid-18th-century fort built during the French and Indian War.
- Fort Edwards (Capon Bridge): The visitor center museum has exhibits about this 18th-century frontier fort and the French and Indian War.
- Fort New Salem (Salem): See 19th-century log structures in this open-air museum.
- Fort Randolph (Point Pleasant): Visit a reconstructed fort from the American Revolutionary War era.
- Fostoria Glass Museum (Moundsville): See glass pieces made by the Fostoria Glass Company.
- Gauley Bridge Historical Museum (Gauley Bridge): Learn about local history.
- Gorby's Vintage Instrument Museum (South Charleston): See rare and unique musical instruments by appointment.
- Graham House (Lowell): This 18th-century house includes the Saunders One Room School House Museum.
- Greatest Generation Exhibit (Rowlesburg): See items from World War II and learn about home life during that time.
- Green Bank Science Center (Green Bank): Enjoy interactive science exhibits and tours of the giant Green Bank Telescope.
- The Greenbrier - The Bunker (White Sulphur Springs): Explore a secret emergency center from the 1950s.
- The Greenbrier - Presidents' Cottage Museum (White Sulphur Springs): Learn about the history of the Greenbrier and its presidential visitors.
- Greenbrier Military School Memorial Museum (Lewisburg): Discover the history of the Greenbrier Military School.
- Grave Creek Mound (Moundsville): The Delf Norona Museum has items from this prehistoric mound.
- Hamilton Round Barn (Mannington): A historic farm building.
- Hancock County Museum (New Cumberland): This Victorian house displays local history.
- Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (Harpers Ferry): This park has many museums and historic sites to explore.
- General Thomas M. Harris School Museum (Harrisville): Operated by the Ritchie County Historical Society.
- Henry Cooper Log Cabin Museum (Parkersburg): See pioneer items here.
- Heritage Farm Museum and Village (Huntington): This open-air museum includes a Museum of Progress with home displays from different eras, a transportation museum, and a country store museum.
- Hinton Railroad Museum (Hinton): Learn about railroad history.
- Historic Shepherdstown Museum (Shepherdstown): Discover local history.
- History House Museum (Terra Alta): Operated by the Preston County Historical Society.
- Huntington Museum of Art (Huntington): Enjoy various art exhibits.
- Huntington Railroad Museum (Huntington): Operated by the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society.
- International Mother's Day Shrine (Grafton): Learn about the history of Mother's Day.
- Jackson's Mill (Weston): This open-air museum includes the Jackson Family Mill Museum, Blaker Grist Mill, and historic cabins.
- Jefferson County Museum (Charles Town): Explore local history in Jefferson County.
- Jenkins Plantation Museum (Lesage): Visit the historic home of Confederate Brigadier General Albert Gallatin Jenkins.
- John Brown Wax Museum (Harpers Ferry): See wax figures telling the story of John Brown.
- Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum (Wheeling): This museum has toys, model trains, and a miniature model of downtown Wheeling.
- Lighthorse Harry Lee Cabin (Mathias): This historic cabin is located in Lost River State Park.
- Lemuel Chenoweth House & Museum (Beverly): A mid-19th-century period house.
- Lost River Artisans Cooperative and Museum (Lost River): See furniture, tools, textiles, and photographs.
- Lost World Caverns (Lewisburg): Take a cave tour and visit a museum with fossils, rocks, and minerals.
- Madie Carroll House (Huntington): A 19th-century period house.
- Mansion House Museum (Point Pleasant): Located in Tu-Endie-Wei State Park.
- Marion County Historical Museum (Fairmont): Learn about local history in Marion County.
- Marshall County Historical Society Museum (Moundsville): Discover local history.
- Matewan Depot Replica Museum (Matewan): A replica of the historic train depot.
- Mercer County War Museum (Princeton): Also known as Those Who Served Museum, this museum focuses on military history.
- Mesaros Galleries (Morgantown): Art galleries that are part of West Virginia University.
- Monongalia Arts Center (Morgantown): An art and culture center with two galleries.
- Monroe County Historical Society Museum (Union): Explore local history in Monroe County.
- Morgan’s Kitchen Plantation Museum (St. Albans): A historic kitchen operated by the St. Albans Historical Society in the summer.
- Morgantown History Museum (Morgantown): Learn about the history of Morgantown.
- Mothman Museum (Point Pleasant): A museum about the famous book and movie The Mothman Prophecies.
- Mountaineer Military Museum (Weston): Explore military history.
- Museum of American Glass in West Virginia (Weston): See beautiful decorative glass pieces made by local manufacturers. It also includes the National Marble Museum.
- Museum of Radio and Technology (Huntington): Discover historic radios and equipment.
- Museum of the Berkeley Springs (Berkeley Springs): Located in Berkeley Springs State Park, this museum shares local history.
- Museums of Oglebay Institute (Wheeling): Includes the Mansion Museum with decorative furnishings and local history, and the Glass Museum with Wheeling glass and china.
- New Deal Homestead Museum (Arthurdale): Learn about this Depression-era project with local history and period displays.
- New Era School Museum (Mineral Wells): Visit an 1884 one-room schoolhouse.
- North House Museum (Lewisburg): Operated by the Greenbrier Historical Society, this museum features decorative arts and local history.
- Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center (Wheeling): A center for performing and visual arts.
- Oil & Gas Museum (Parkersburg): Learn about the oil and gas industry in West Virginia and Ohio.
- Old Hemlock (Brandonville): A 1782 log house and nature preserve, open for special events.
- Old Mill at Harman (Harman): A working grist mill.
- Old Morgantown Glass Collectors' Guild Glass Museum (Morgantown): See decorative glass pieces.
- Old Stone House Museum (Pennsboro): Operated by the Ritchie County Historical Society.
- Parkersburg Art Center (Parkersburg): Enjoy art exhibits.
- Pearl S. Buck Birthplace (Hillsboro): Visit the 1892 home of writer Pearl S. Buck.
- Pennsboro B&O Depot (Pennsboro): Operated by the Ritchie County Historical Society.
- Pocahontas County Museum (Marlinton): Operated by the Pocahontas County Historical Society.
- Point Pleasant River Museum (Point Pleasant): Learn about river life and businesses on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, including floods, boats, and river disasters. It has a pilot house simulator and a fish aquarium!
- Prabhupada's Palace of Gold (New Vrindaban): A beautiful memorial shrine built by Hare Krishna followers.
- Prickett's Fort State Park (Fairmont): Explore a reconstructed 1770s log fort with living history demonstrations and the 19th-century Job Prickett House.
- Princeton Railroad Museum (Princeton): See over 100 railroad lanterns and other railroad items, artworks, and photos.
- Raleigh County Veterans Museum (Beckley): Learn about veterans from Raleigh County.
- Randolph County Museum (Beverly): This 1828 store has tools from early settlements, Civil War items, and belongings of early citizens.
- Rehoboth Church and Museum (Union): Visit a 1780s log-cabin style church and an adjacent museum.
- Rowlesburg B&O Depot and Museum (Rowlesburg): Learn about railroad history.
- Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum (Morgantown): Part of West Virginia University, this museum explores the history of coal, oil, and natural gas industries in West Virginia.
- St. George Academy (St. George): A historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Samuel Shrewsbury, Sr. House (Belle): An early 19th-century house and local history museum.
- Sandstone Visitor's Center (Sandstone): One of the visitor centers for New River Gorge National River, focusing on the river's cultural and natural history.
- Scott's Run Museum (Osage): Learn about local history.
- Seneca Rocks Discovery Center (Seneca Rocks): Operated by the US Forest Service, this center has exhibits on natural and local history, including the mid-19th-century Sites Homestead.
- South Charleston Museum (South Charleston): Features local history, culture, and art exhibits.
- Swiger Run History Center & Museum (Doddridge County): Explore local history.
- Taggart Hall Civil War Museum (Romney): Includes Civil War items and Fenton glass.
- Thurmond Depot Visitor's Center (Thurmond): One of the visitor centers for New River Gorge National River.
- Top Kick's Military Museum (Petersburg): Explore military history.
- Triple Brick Museum (Martinsburg): Located next to the Adam Stephen House, this museum shares local history.
- Twin Falls Resort State Park (Mullens): Includes a nature center and Bowers Ridge Pioneer Farm, a restored 1830s mountain homestead.
- Tyler County Museum (Middlebourne): Operated by the Tyler County Heritage and Historical Society.
- Upshur County History Center (Buckhannon): Operated by the Upshur County Historical Society, this center focuses on local history.
- US Navy Poster Museum (Point Pleasant): See US Navy recruiting posters from the last 100 years.
- Veterans Museum of Mid Ohio Valley (Parkersburg): Learn about veterans.
- Veterans Museum of Southern West Virginia (Hinton): Explore military history.
- Victorian Wheeling Landmarks Foundation (Wheeling): Offers guided tours of historic Victorian homes like the Hess House.
- Watters Smith Memorial State Park (Lost Creek): A late 19th-century homestead and farm museum.
- Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center (Weirton): Learn about local history and culture.
- West Augusta Historical Society Museum (Mannington): Focuses on local history.
- West Virginia CCC Museum (Quiet Dell): Learn about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps in West Virginia.
- West Virginia Governor's Mansion (Charleston): The historic home of West Virginia's governor.
- West Virginia Independence Hall (Wheeling): Discover the history of West Virginia becoming a state.
- West Virginia Railroad Museum (Elkins): A heritage railroad and museum are being planned here.
- West Virginia State Capitol (Charleston): Learn about the history of the state capitol building.
- West Virginia State Cultural Center (Charleston): Explores West Virginia's art, culture, and history.
- West Virginia State Farm Museum (Point Pleasant): See historic buildings, log cabins, tools, and an old farmhouse. It also has a blacksmith shop and old doctor's and newspaper offices.
- West Virginia State Museum (Charleston): This museum covers West Virginia's history, culture, art, paleontology, archaeology, and geology.
- West Virginia State Penitentiary (Moundsville): Explore this former prison.
- Wheeling Artisan Center (Wheeling): Includes Wymer's General Store Museum, an art gallery, and local history exhibits.
- Whipple Company Store & Museum (Scarbro): A historic coal camp company store.
- Wildwood House Museum (Beckley): A historic house museum.
- Williamson Area Railroad Museum (Williamson): Learn about railroad history.
- Wyoming County Historical Museum (Oceana): Explore local history in Wyoming County.
- Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia (Beckley): A museum just for kids, part of the Beckley Exhibition Mine.
- Z. D. Ramsdell House (Ceredo): A 19th-century historic house.
Museums That Are No Longer Open
- Buddy's Country Store & Museum, Bluewell: This historic coal camp company store closed in 2014.
- Grafton B & O Railroad Heritage Center, Grafton
- Marx Toy Museum, Moundsville: This toy museum closed in 2016.
West Virginia Regions
The West Virginia Association of Museums has divided West Virginia into these tourism regions:
Eastern Panhandle
Counties: Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan
Potomac Highlands
Counties: Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker
North-Central West Virginia
Counties: Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor
Northern Panhandle
This region includes cities like Wheeling and Moundsville. Counties: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler, Wetzel
Mountain Lakes
Counties: Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Upshur, Webster
Metro Valley
This region is around the cities of Charleston and Huntington. Counties: Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam, Wayne
Mid-Ohio Valley
Counties: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, Wood
New River/Greenbrier River Valleys
This area includes most counties in Southern West Virginia. Counties: Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming
See also
- Botanical gardens in West Virginia (category)
- Observatories in West Virginia (category)
- Nature Centers in West Virginia
- List of museums in the United States