Views of West Virginia starting with the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. When completed in 1849 it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. From it’s start it was part of the National Road, originally the wagon road and then U.S. 40.
A view in downtown Parkersburg.
Oglebay Park in Wheeling.
Mothman statue in Point Pleasant. If you are unfamiliar with him, google it and be amused (or amazed depending on your views).
Based in the heart of coal mining country, the Coal House is built entirely of bituminous coal blocks. It was built in 1933 as a publicity stunt for a railroad company, and has always been used as a tourist attraction.
Tamarack was built to showcase West Virginia arts and culture. It opened in 1996 along a freeway, and has served as the center for artists ever since.
The New River Gorge and Bridge. When completed in 1977 it’s 1700′ long main arch was the longest in the world. It towers 876′ above the river.
Thurmond was a coal mining town that is now part of the New River Gorge National Park. It was in a valley so narrow that ‘Main Street’ is the railroad tracks.
Nearby are remnants of the coal mining industry.
Babcock State Park
The Greenbrier. A luxury resort for more than 100 years, and being only 250 miles from the White House, it has hosted 28 presidents. In addition there is an underground bunker built with the intent of housing government should a nuclear attack occur, it was stocked from the early 1960s until the 1990s.
The home of the writer Pearl Buck in the eastern West Virginia countryside.
The Green Bank Telescope is the largest steerable radio telescope in the world. There are numerous other telescopes like this in the complex.
For reasons unknown we have found ourselves on numerous former prison tours (becoming a running family joke). It seems each one has an electric chair named Sparky, including this one in Moundsville.
Panorama of Coopers Rocks near Morgantown.
Paw Paw Tunnel, on the Maryland border. It was part of the canal system so instead of a railroad or cars, the water for the canal goes through the tunnel.
Helvetia was started as a Swiss immigrant colony, and to this day retains it’s Swiss culture.
RDZ Photography 