National Register of Historic Places listings in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve facts for kids

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia is a super cool place! It's not just about amazing nature like the river and cliffs. It's also home to many important historic spots. These places are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a special list of buildings, sites, and districts across the United States that are worth protecting because of their history.

This article will tell you about nine of these historic places right inside the park. There's also one important site just outside the park that helps manage it. You can even see where these places are on a map if you look up their coordinates!

Historic Treasures of New River Gorge

Bank of Glen Jean

The historic Bank of Glen Jean building.

The Bank of Glen Jean is an old bank building located on Main Street in Glen Jean, West Virginia. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 10, 1983. This bank played an important role in the community of Glen Jean, which was a busy coal mining town. It helped people and businesses manage their money during a time when coal was king in West Virginia. Even though it's now a detached part of the park, it reminds us of the area's rich past.

Kay Moor

The old conveyor system at Kay Moor.

Kay Moor is a historic coal mining area found along the New River, south of U.S. Route 19, near Fayetteville, West Virginia. It was listed on the National Register on November 8, 1990. This site shows what coal mining operations were like many years ago. You can still see old structures and equipment that were used to dig coal out of the ground and transport it. It's a great place to learn about the hard work and history of coal miners in the region.

New Deal Resources in Babcock State Park Historic District

This historic district is located at 486 Babcock Road in Clifftop, Fayette County, West Virginia. It was added to the National Register on March 5, 2020. This area includes buildings and structures that were built during the "New Deal" era in the 1930s. The New Deal was a series of programs created by the U.S. government to help the country recover from the Great Depression. Many of these projects involved building parks and infrastructure, often using local workers. This district shows how these programs helped develop state parks like Babcock.

New River Gorge Bridge

The impressive New River Gorge Bridge.

The New River Gorge Bridge is a very famous landmark. It carries U.S. Route 19 over the New River near Fayetteville, West Virginia. This amazing bridge was added to the National Register on August 14, 2013. When it was finished in 1977, it was the world's longest single-arch bridge. It's still one of the highest bridges in the world! It made travel much easier across the deep gorge and is a symbol of modern engineering. Every year, thousands of people visit to see its incredible size and beauty, especially during Bridge Day when people can walk across it or even base jump!

Nuttallburg Coal Mining Complex and Town Historic District

A conveyor system at the Nuttallburg Coal Mining Complex.

The Nuttallburg Coal Mining Complex and Town Historic District is found on County Route 85/2 near Edmond, West Virginia. It was listed on the National Register on August 22, 2007. This district preserves the remains of an entire coal mining town. It shows how people lived and worked in the coal industry. You can see the old mine structures, buildings where families lived, and even the paths they used. It offers a unique look into the daily life of a coal community from long ago.

Prince Brothers General Store-Berry Store

The historic Prince Brothers General Store.

The Prince Brothers General Store-Berry Store is located on West Virginia Route 41 in Prince, West Virginia. It was added to the National Register on April 17, 1986. This old general store was a central part of the community of Prince. General stores were like early shopping malls, selling everything from food to tools to clothing. This store served the local residents and railroad workers in the area, which was an important stop on the railroad. It helps us imagine what life was like when people relied on local shops for all their needs.

St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery

St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church.

St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery is on County Route 26 near Dillon, West Virginia. It was listed on the National Register on August 23, 1984. This beautiful church and its cemetery tell the story of the Irish immigrants who came to this area to work in the coal mines and on the railroads. It was a very important place for their community and faith. The church stands as a reminder of their contributions and the challenges they faced.

Thurmond Historic District

The old train depot in Thurmond.

The Thurmond Historic District is located on County Route 25/2 at the New River in Thurmond, West Virginia. It was added to the National Register on January 27, 1984. Thurmond was once a bustling railroad town, one of the most important on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. Trains would stop here, and the town had hotels, banks, and stores. Today, it's a quiet ghost town, but its historic buildings and the old train depot still stand, showing what a busy place it once was. It's like stepping back in time to the golden age of railroads.

Trump-Lilly Farmstead

The historic Trump-Lilly Farmhouse.

The Trump-Lilly Farmstead is found on County Route 26/3, about 2.5 miles from County Route 26, near Hinton, West Virginia. It was listed on the National Register on November 8, 1990. This farmstead includes an old farmhouse and other farm buildings. It represents the agricultural history of the region, showing how families lived and farmed the land. It gives us a glimpse into the rural life that existed alongside the industrial coal and railroad boom in West Virginia.