The West Virginia State Museum is located on the lower level of the Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The history of the state will be told in the newly-renovated 24,000-square-foot museum through modern educational exhibits that will appeal to visitors of all ages. There will be a show path, which is a chronological journey of West Virginia history, using themed settings to highlight pivotal moments. Special effects, narration, surround sound, and dynamic theater lighting will provide visitors with the experience of what it was like to be a West Virginian throughout the state’s history.
In addition, discovery rooms will offer visitors the opportunity to learn more about the history of West Virginia. The discovery rooms will feature artifacts, works of art, stories, music, and film clips. Connections rooms also will allow visitors to dig deeper into West Virginia history and culture with computer stations, and provide facts about additional topics related to the show path and discovery rooms.
The Education Center unites the past and present with state-of-the-art technology. From the touch screen gallery to the computer classroom to the archival document Web search, exploration and discovery is literally at your fingertips. The newly designed Education Media Center engages all the senses with multi-media presentations, guest speakers and distance learning. Come experience West Virginia’s rich history and cultural heritage with us!
Regular museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am - 5 pm and Sunday, 12 - 5 pm. However, during FestivALL the museum will also be open from 9 am - 5 pm on Monday, June 22.