In 1853, the B&O Railroad arrived in Wheeling with the first passenger station located at the mouth of Big Wheeling Creek on the Ohio River. The rising number of train passengers called for a new passenger station, and construction on the new building began in 1906. However, the major flood of 1907 delayed the project until the doors opened on September 3, 1908. The station was very modern for its time and had an internal telephone system, steam heat, indoor plumbing, and electric elevators. In 1962, passenger trains stopped running to Wheeling, and the building was sold to a private owner who opened a bar on the 4th floor. The state of West Virginia purchased the station in 1975, and in 1976 the building was reopened as West Virginia Northern Community College.
This site was home to a building that housed both a warehouse and theater known as the Athenaeum. During the Civil War, the Union converted the building into a prison that held Confederate prisoners as well as a few Union deserters. Known as “Lincoln’s Bastille” among local residents, the history of this building offers a window towards understanding the nature of the war in this divided but mostly pro-Union section of West Virginia. The building was used as a warehouse for three years after the war. When it was destroyed by fire in 1868, it was the largest fire in the city's history to that time.
This historic marker commemorates the start of the Civil War in the future state of West Virginia and is part of the West Virginia Civil War Trails series of historic markers. The marker includes a brief history of the war and the creation of the state of West Virginia. In August of 1861, Confederate General Robert E. Lee tried but failed to occupy the western part of Virginia. Union and Confederate armies both campaigned throughout western Virginia in the next few years, guarding rail lines and mountain passes while also launching offensives aimed at controlling key areas and rallying the populace to their side. By June, 1863 the western counties under the control of the Union became the 35th state West Virginia.
Francis H. Pierpont was an American lawyer who was born in Morgantown, WV. Pierpont gained recognition during the Civil War as an active supporter of Abraham Lincoln and the Union. He adamantly opposed Virginia’s secession from the Union, and would lead the effort of some Virginia counties to secede from Virginia and create their own pro-Union state. As a result, Pierpont is often referred to as the “Father of West Virginia.”
West Virginia Independence Hall is the building where the majority of the legislature took place in West Virginia's journey to statehood, housing the first and second Wheeling Conventions. These conventions dealt with rallying support for secession from the communities, then placing political seats once the Virginia Ordinance of Secession was ratified, and also setting boundaries for the new state. The West Virginia Constitutional Convention was held here as well, and dealt with the formation and naming of the new state. Today the West Virginia Independence Hall is a museum and holds numerous events year round.
Located in a historic building constructed by Henry Kilborne Wise shortly after the Civil War, the Wheeling Artisan Center features locally-made products and food from area farmers and artisans. The renovated building offers exhibition space and a three-story atrium. The Artisan Center is a project of Wheeling Heritage, an organization that supports historic preservation, education, and economic development through community involvement.
This historical site is in remembrance of Walter Reuther and is located at Heritage Port in Wheeling, WV. The memorial signifies his strong efforts for the United Automobile Workers (UAW). The memorial is a seven-foot bronze statue of Reuther created by Alan Cottrill of Zanesville, Ohio. The statue stands on a granite pedestal where his famous quote is engraved. This man fought for men and women who worked labor jobs within large automobile factories such GM and Ford. The memorial was dedicated October 12, 2006 and is publicly accessible at any time of the day at the Heritage Port in Wheeling, WV.
Fort Henry, first named Fort Fincastle, was built out of necessity; it was not built with specific plans or designs, but was built like one of the many forts in the area to protect settlers in the 1770s. In the Spring of 1774, military authorities at Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh, PA) wrote residents telling them they needed to build a fort to protect themselves. Settlers Ebenezer Zane and John Caldwell began the fort and completed it with the help of Captain William Crawford, Colonel Angus McDonald, and 400 militia and regulars from Fort Pitt. The fort was finished in the summer of 1774, in time for the beginning of Dunmore's War.
One of the premiere performance venues in West Virginia, Wheeling's Capitol Theater awed thousands who were fortunate enough to attend the grand opening of the million-dollar theater on Thanksgiving Day, 1928. Like many of the leading theaters and hotels constructed in the early 20th century, this venue was designed to be "fireproof" using modern building techniques, durable fire-resistant materials, and numerous safety measures. The auditorium had 3,000 seats and two balconies. The theater saw decreasing attendance in the later 20th century and closed for several years. Local citizens, together with government leaders and tourism and preservation groups, came together to prevent the building from suffering the same fate of many other historic downtown theaters. After several years of raising funds and performing the work of restoration, the Capitol Theater reopened in 2009.
One of the last construction projects associated with the National Road, Wheeling Suspension Bridge opened on November 15th, 1849. At that time, this was the only bridge across the Ohio River and the largest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge was designed by Charles Ellet Jr. and covers 1,010 feet from tower to tower. The east tower rests on the Wheeling shore, while the west tower is on Wheeling Island. The bridge provided a link between two sections of the National Road before the Civil War and while it only retained the title of the world's largest suspension bridge for two years, today it is the oldest suspension bridge approved for vehicular traffic. Given its importance to transportation, and its significance as a mid-19th-century engineering marvel, the bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 15, 1975.
Home of notable businessman Robert C. Woods, this Greek Revival house was built in the 1800s prior to the construction of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. At various times, this building was owned by three prominent businessmen in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Robert C. Woods House is one of the only standing buildings in the city that was constructed prior to the 1849 suspension bridge, and although the exterior and interior have been altered, many of the original details can still be seen. Today the house is a private drinking club, the West Virginia Snakes Club Inc.
Marsh Wheeling Stogies opened for business in 1840, making it the oldest cigar manufacturer in the United States. The company was founded by Mifflin Marsh, who at the age of 22 would sell stogies to steamboat crews and passengers, as well as Conestoga drivers, at the price of four for a penny. The Marsh Wheeling Stogies factory opened in this location in 1908, but has since closed after being bought out by National Cigar. Marsh Wheeling Stogies can still be purchased today, and are manufactured out of Indiana.
Founded in 1866 by Dr. Hupp and John Jackson, Lincoln School was one of the first schools in the United States to be established for African American children. Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, it was first housed in a two room building on Twelfth Street in Ohio County. In 1875 the school moved to Tenth and Chapline Street. A fire destroyed the building in 1892, and a new school was constructed in 1893 that housed first through sixth grades. The building for Lincoln High School was completed in 1943, and closed after desegregation. The building that housed Lincoln High School now serves as the Ronald C Mulholland Juvenile Center.
This location/address (1035 Chapline Street) is listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book (1954 edition) as a restaurant and was called the Blue Goose.
Wheeling’s first market was built at this location in 1822 and consisted of a town hall on the second floor and a market that operated twice a week on the first floor. For many years prior to the Civil War, hundreds of enslaved persons were sold at the market. The market was demolished in 1911 and was replaced by the Market Auditorium shortly after. The Market Auditorium was in use from 1913 until it was demolished in 1964.
Established in 1852, the McLure Hotel has been one of the cornerstones of the Wheeling community and has provided accommodations for visiting dignitaries, politicians, celebrities and entertainers. During the Civil War, General William Rosecrans maintained his headquarters here. Presidents from John F. Kennedy to Truman and Woodrow Wilson have stayed here, as has celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe. The hotel may be most famous for a political speech delivered during the early period of the Cold War. On February 9, 1950, in the McLure's Colonnade Room, United States Senator Joseph McCarthy delivered what would become his most famous speech. After claiming to have the names of numerous Communists inside the State Department, McCarthy became one of the leaders of a movement many today compare to a modern day witch hunt.
Wheeling's Victoria Theater is the longest operating theater in the state. In the past it served as home to the WWVA Jamboree. While hosting the WWVA Jamboree radio shows it also served as the venue for many live shows by country and bluegrass musicians, some who quickly gained fame and others who never caught the pubic's eye. Despite the WWVA shows coming to an end the Victoria Theater still manages to draw a crowd by hosting live music performances.
Constructed in 1859 to house the Linsly Institute, this stately structure also served as the first capitol building of West Virginia from the state's formation in 1863 until 1870. The building was the site of the first inaugural address of a West Virginia Governor and the convening of the first state Legislature. The Linsly Institute was established in 1814 and this building was constructed to house the boarding school which now operates on Knox Lane and is known as the Linsly School. The school had a military program for many years and during that time was only open to male students. In 1979 the military programs were ended and women have been able to attend the school since 1988.
The Cathedral Parish School was built in the late 19th century in Wheeling, West Virginia, and is commonly known today as the Wheeling Catholic Elementary School. The school was constructed to meet the needs of the fast growing population due to the growth of industry in Wheeling in the 1800s. The building is a Gothic Revival mixed with a late Victorian architectural style and still retains some original features. The school was closed permanently in 2011 due to low enrollment, with no plans for the fate of the building.
The Mother Jones House, a partnership between Wheeling Jesuit University and Laughlin Memorial Chapel, was an intentional Christian service community of Wheeling Jesuit students. It is named after well-known labor leader Mary Harris Jones.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This walking tour travels down Main and Market Street and includes numerous historic buildings and landmarks before heading back towards the starting point. Wheeling has a rich history, serving as the location of the conventions that made West Virginia a new state, the two-time capital of West Virginia, and an industrial epicenter of West Virginia.
