The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Station and Bunkhouse are located at the corner of 8th Street and 4th avenue, in the town of Marlinton, West Virginia. The station is a small rectangular one story building that measures 76 by 16 feet; built for the handling of freight and for passenger use. The bunkhouse, a dependent building of the railroad station, is located a short distance to the northeast and is also a one story building that measures 24 by 16 feet. The buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 because of their architectural features which were new for their time and for their importance to the town of Marlinton.
Built in 1910, this Victorian building with reinforced concrete walls was the first of its kind in West Virginia. Railroad rails of steel were used to reinforce the concrete. Interior woodwork includes beadboard wainscoting and a beautiful American chestnut railing along the balcony. Locally produced plays, minstrel shows, Lyceum Courses, and solo artists were also part of its theatrical world. The Opera House was more than a performance space; it saw use as a basketball court, rollerskating rink, and religious sanctuary. After the late 1920s, the building was used as an automobile dealership and lumber storage warehouse. Now restored to its early glory, the Pocahontas County Opera House hosts a variety of performances. It is open to the public during scheduled events and is also available for private functions.
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area is one of the most unique areas in West Virginia. Located high in the Appalachian Mountains, Cranberry Glades is the largest concentration of bogs in the state and is home to a large variety of unique and rare plant and animal species many of which are normally only found in northern tundra environments. Local naturalists Fred and Maurice Grady began studying the area in 1898 and the area was officially placed under the protection of the United States Forest Service in 1965.Today the forest service operates a Nature Center at the glades which offers interpretative natural and historical displays in addition to hosting various events, demonstrations, and guest speakers throughout the year.
The Seebert Lane Colored School also known as the Pleasant Green School and Hillsboro School was a historic one-room school for African- American. It is located in Seebert in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The school was built in 1898 and was a one-story building.
Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace showcases the home in which the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author was born in 1892. Located in Hillsboro, West Virginia, the structure has been restored and maintained by the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation. The home interprets the early experiences of Pearl's life that helped shape some of the major characters and plotlines of her books.
Tuberculosis was a national epidemic that affected people of all races, but African Americans in West Virginia and other states were rarely able to secure treatment at local hospitals. In order to serve these patients while maintaining a system of racial segregation, the West Virginia legislature created the West Virginia Colored Tuberculosis Sanitarium in 1917.
Brigadier General William W. Averell and his Federal troops encountered Confederate troops led by Brigadier General John Echols at Droop Mountain on November 6, 1863. The federal army had encountered Echols while on their second attempt to the Virginia-Tennessee Railroad located at Salem, Virginian. Echols and his troops positioned themselves in on the high ground of Droop Mountain, a tactical advantage to the smaller army. However, despite using artillery to block the road, the Confederate troops were overwhelmed by Averell’s men. The Battle of Droop Mountain served as the final significant Civil War battle for the newly formed West Virginia. The site of the battle was declared West Virginia’s first state park on July 4, 1928.
Beartown State Park is a 110-acre state park located on Droop Mountain. Droop Mountain is located in Pocahontas County, seven miles southwest of Hillsboro, West Virginia. The park is known for its rock formations that draw visitors from all over each year to marvel at the spectacle. A boardwalk was constructed to allow visitors an easy access directly up to the rock formations. The park is open from April-October, with the availability to schedule a visit outside seasonal hours.
This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.
Get a QR Code for this tour
This driving tour includes several scenic and historic sites in southern Pocahontas County that are also near to Highway 219. The tour includes sites that are also within a short drive of the Pearl S Buck Birthplace in Hillsboro, West Virginia.
