Museums

Art

It’s easy to find a place showcasing beautiful masterpieces in the Mountain State.

The Huntington Museum of Art encompasses a permanent art collection of more than 16,000 objects, ten exhibition spaces, the only tropical and subtropical plant conservatory in the state, two outdoor sculpture courts, five studio workshops and a quarter-mile paved accessible Sensory Trail for the visually impaired. 

If you’re in Morgantown, check out the Art Museum of West Virginia University. This museum has more than 4,000 paintings, prints, works on paper, sculpture, and ceramics from across the globe and over centuries old.

The Parkersburg Arts Center features local artwork available for purchase as well as numerous educational events for people of all ages. This venue has five gallery spaces for artists to display their work.

The Ice House is located in the heart of historic Berkeley Springs, one of the 100 best small art towns in America, and showcases a unique gallery featuring more than 30 local and regional artists.

On the road? Make a stop at Tamarack’s David L. Dickirson Fine Arts Gallery. Every six to eight weeks, the gallery hosts a new and unique exhibition featuring artists that represent the best of West Virginia.

Children’s Museums

Enjoy replica cabins, blacksmithing, and a simpler way of life at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington.

Little ones will love the adventure of donning a mine helmet and riding a train underground, as well as touring the mine museum. With a hands-on Youth Museum on-site, the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley is great for kids of all ages.

The Clay Center in Charleston makes learning fun for children and adults alike with art and science exhibits throughout the 2-story, 12,000-foot Avampato Discovery Museum.

Discovery World on Market in Parkersburg provides children and adults fun, hands-on learning experiences grounded in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). Exhibits include The Ball Factory, The River Adventure, Makerspace Lab, The Design Studio, Design Zone Room and The Café. Satisfy your curiosity and enjoy the exploration process.

Learn the history of collectable toys at the interactive Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum, then pick up your own intricate train sets at the gift shop. You can even get the conductor’s cap and whistle to match.

One-of-a-Kind Artifacts

West Virginia’s glasswares are so renowned that the distinct style has sprouted many unique displays around the state to feature the most iconic and sought-after glass. Visit the Oglebay Institute Glass Museum in Wheeling to see the largest piece of cut lead crystal. Or check out the Museum of American Glass in Weston and see over 20,000 pieces of glass on display. Be sure to see the Fostoria Glass Museum in Moundsville and learn about this one-of-a-kind glassware that was only made in the United States from 1887 to 1986.

Seeking something spooky? Visit the Archive of the Afterlife: National Museum of the Paranormal in Moundsville. Here you have the opportunity to experience energy from haunted items and learn about many different areas of the paranormal. Continue your quest for chilling thrills at the nearby West Virginia Penitentiary. Built in 1866 and decommissioned in 1995, this former state penitentiary now offers guided day tours, paranormal investigations and escape rooms.

If you’re nearby Parkersburg, it’s worth checking out the world’s only Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant. Here, you can experience the largest collection of souvenirs and memorabilia dedicated to this local legend.