Group & International Travel

West Virginia is the only state located completely within the Appalachian Mountain Range, which earned it the nickname “Mountain State.”

West Virginia is the third most forested state, with 75% of its land covered in lush forests.

West Virginia is comparable in size to both Latvia and Lithuania, at just 62,755 square kilometers.

West Virginia is the only state born from the Civil War. It was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, under a proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. West Virginia is also the only state to be admitted under a presidential proclamation.

West Virginia is home to America’s newest national park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, making it the 63rd in the country. The New River runs through Appalachia’s own little version of the Grand Canyon, at 900 feet deep, with renowned rock climbing at the top, world-class whitewater rafting at the bottom and miles of lush trails to be explored.

The New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville is the longest steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. It spans a length of 1,700 feet. Every October on Bridge Day, individuals parachute, BASE jump and zip line 876 feet off the bridge and into the New River waiting below.

Standing tall at 292 feet, the State Capitol dome is higher than the dome of the nation’s capital building and is gilded in gold and copper.