Oglebay Institute facts for kids

The Oglebay Institute is a special kind of organization. It's a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This means it doesn't make money for owners. Instead, all the money it earns helps fund its programs. It was officially started on July 29, 1930. You can find it in Wheeling, West Virginia, in the United States.

History of Oglebay Institute

The Oglebay Institute was founded by Earl W. Oglebay. He was a kind man who owned a large country estate. When he passed away, he left his estate to the City of Wheeling. He wanted it to be a public park for everyone to enjoy. He hoped it would be a place for fun, learning, and recreation.

Part of his dream was to have an organization. This group would offer cultural and educational activities. So, the Oglebay Institute was formed. It was set up to be managed by a group of elected trustees.

In 1926, Colonel E. W. Oglebay made his gift. The area is now known as Oglebay Park. He gave it to the City of Wheeling. He wanted people to use it for public fun and education. Two years later, the city accepted his generous gift.

In 1930, the Oglebay Institute officially began. Its main goals were clear. It wanted to offer fun and learning activities. These would take place at Oglebay Park and other places. The Institute also wanted to work with other groups. This included the Park Commission and West Virginia University. They all worked together to provide great programs.

What Oglebay Institute Does

The Institute has five main departments. These departments offer many different programs. They cover dance, learning about the environment, and performing arts. They also teach about local history. Plus, they offer classes in visual arts and creative arts.

The Oglebay Institute has six main places. These include the Glass Museum and the Mansion Museum. There's also the Stifel Fine Arts Center. Other spots are the School of Dance, Towngate Theatre & Cinema, and the Schrader Environmental Education Center.

Oglebay Institute Museums

Colonel Earl W. Oglebay bought the Mansion Museum in 1900. It was his summer home. Today, it shows old furniture and items from that time. It tells the story of Wheeling's history. You can see how people lived from pioneer times to the Victorian era.

The Glass Museum has about 3,000 examples of glass. These items were made in Wheeling from 1820 to 1939. A famous piece is the Sweeney Punch Bowl. It's the biggest piece of cut lead glass in the world! You can also see old pharmacy and general store exhibits. Sometimes, you can even watch glassmaking demonstrations. Both museums are inside Oglebay Park in Wheeling. The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Stifel Fine Arts Center

The Stifel Fine Arts Center brings art to everyone. It offers experiences in visual and performing arts. You can see changing art shows in the Hart Galleries. They also have jazz concerts and wine tasting events. Sometimes, there are fun cabaret shows.

The Stifel Center is a place for hands-on learning. It has many classes for kids and adults. You can learn all sorts of art skills there. The main offices for Oglebay Institute are also at the Stifel Center. It is located at 1330 National Road in Wheeling. The building itself, called Edemar, is also a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Schrader Environmental Education Center

The Schrader Center is all about nature and the environment. It has cool attractions like the A.B. Brooks Discovery Trail System. There's also a Children's Awareness Area. The EarthTrek Exhibit Hall is a fun place to learn. You can also explore the Corson Wildflower and Butterfly Gardens.

This center offers hands-on activities. It has special events throughout the year. The Schrader Center is also a great example of "Green Architecture." This means its buildings are designed to be good for the environment. The Schrader Center also runs the Terra Alta Mountain Camp. This camp is in Terra Alta, West Virginia. The main center is located in Oglebay Park in Wheeling.

Oglebay Institute's School of Dance

The School of Dance offers many types of dance classes. You can learn ballet, tap, and jazz. They also teach hip-hop and Irish step. If you're interested, you can try belly dance or ballroom traditions. They even have fitness classes!

The school has performance groups. They put on dance concerts for people in the area. This gives the dancers a chance to perform in front of an audience.

Towngate Theatre & Cinema

The Towngate Theatre & Cinema is a place for shows and movies. It is located at 2118 Market Street in Wheeling, West Virginia, USA.