Two markers on the north bank of the Kanawha River near downtown Charleston discuss aspects of military occupation during the Civil War. Notable during 1863 was the presence in Charleston of future U.S. presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley, both of whom served in the Union Army's 23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, which was bivouacked across the river at Camp White. The former location of Camp White is visible from the marker.
Host to special annual events and concerts, and the occasional private gathering, the amphitheater seats up to 2,500 people with lovely views of the river and downtown Charleston. Boaters can dock at the Riverfront Park and watch the city activity from the peace of the water.
Construction of Fort Lee in 1788 was made possible by George Clendenin, along with thirty other rangers who formed the first permanent settlement in what would later be known as Charleston. The fort was built on land that was purchased by Clendenin, who named it that in honor of General Richard "Light Horse Harry" Lee. The fort site was an excellent spot for canoeing and offered vantage points up and downstream. When completed in May 1788, the fort was 36 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 18 feet high with a log stockade surrounding it. The fort offered protection to the settlers in the area, but Indians were still a threat until at least 1794. A famous story from the fort claims that while Indians laid siege to the fort in 1790 a woman named "Mad" Anne Bailey purportedly ran ammunition to the fort all the way from Lewisburg. In 1796, George Clendenin sold the fort property to Joseph Ruffner. John P. Hale bought the lot in 1872 and moved the log fort, which burned down in 1891.
The Union Building was constructed from 1909 to 1911 along Kanawha Boulevard in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. Upon completion, the structure was the tallest building in the state. The structure is also known as the Alderson-Stephenson Building, named after the two men who financed the project, Charles Alderson and Samuel Stephenson. The building originally house the Union Trust Company, but was later converted into office space. The construction of the Kanawha Boulevard demolished most of the buildings alongside the structure and separated the Union Building from the business district in Charleston; the building was spared due to high demolition costs.
Between September 6th and September 13th, 1862, Confederate forces pushed into the Kanawha Valley from western Virginia. When outnumbered Union troops pulled back from defensive positions near Fayetteville, a 10,000-strong Confederate force followed hot on the heels of the Federal retreat up the Kanawha Valley to Charleston. A brief but fierce fight took place throughout the city. Union troops withdrew across the Elk River and retreated north to Point Pleasant, but not before a large section of Charleston was burned to destroy military supplies. From the position of this marker, an observer would have been near the Union headquarters, and looked across the river toward attacking Confederate artillery.
The Masonic Temple located on Hale Street in the Downtown Charleston Historic District, serves as the Grand Lodge of West Virginia. This large and ornate Masonic Temple has private amenities for four different bodies of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, typically abbreviated as AF&AM. The lodge is commonly referred to by its members as Kanawha Lodge #20.
This location, which is now a parking garage, was the site of the Rialto Theater. The theater was built in 1917. This theater differed from other theaters in Charleston at that time because patrons entered the theater "sideways." Instead of walking forward to the counter and the movie screens, moviegoers had to turn left to get to the movie screens and right to go to the balcony which was set up in tiers. The Rialto is significant as the site where African Americans protested the 1925 opening of a controversial movie.
The Woolworth department store in Charleston was consumed by fire on May 5th, 1949. Seven firefighters died in the effort to save the building, including two African American members of the Charleston fire department. Due to the store's policy of racial discrimination, these two men would not have been served had they attempted to patronize the business. The fire also caused over one million dollars in damage.
Completed in 1912 and located in the heart of downtown Charleston, The Capitol Center Theater is now part operated by West Virginia State University. The historic building held vaudeville productions in the early 20th century when it was known as the Plaza Theater, and later held movies and other events before closing in the 1980s. After a neighboring historic theater was demolished, preservationists and investors worked with government officials to save, restore, and preserve the historic downtown theater.
The Hotel Kanawha was established in 1903 and was a premier hotel in Charleston, WV until 1965. When West Virginia was a battleground state during the Democratic primaries of the 1960 presidential election, the Hotel Kanawha was campaign headquarters for President John F. Kennedy. The Arcade Building was established in 1895 by a former state governor, and was demolished during the efforts to restore the Hotel Kanawha. Despite its historical significance and tremendous efforts to restore the Hotel Kanawha, the building was demolished and a bank now stands in its place. There were many fights to save the hotel, but the project was too expensive and there were multiple problems with loans.
The Charleston National Bank was established in August of 1884 to accommodate Southern West Virginia’s growing industries. In 1890, the bank constructed the original building along Kanawha Street, and was housed there until 1906 when a new structure was built along Capitol Street. During Charleston’s first Urban Renewal project in the 1960s, the Charleston National Bank Building was razed and a tower was erected to provide an office space that could accommodate more jobs.
Heritage Towers Museum allows visitors to explore West Virginia's unique African American heritage. Located in downtown Charleston, it’s the ideal place to learn, and experience culture. It is more than a museum, it’s a place of discovery.
Woodrum's Furniture Building, also known as Woodrum Home Outfitting Co., is a six-story commercial building located in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. The building was built in 1916 and a rear addition was added in 1937. Woodrum's Furniture faces the south side of Virginia Street and is the tallest building on the block, which has many buildings from the same period of early 20th-century Charleston.
Charleston's first city hall was completed in 1882, but was replaced as a result of notable population growth between the late 1880s and early 1920s. Architect H. Rus Warne was tasked with designing the existing structure. Dedication of Charleston's current city hall occurred on August, 31, 1922. The dedication featured an opulent public gala attended by nearly one-third of excited Charleston residents. In order to complement the architectural style of the Kanawha County Courthouse, also designed by Warne, the City Hall was constructed with neoclassical influences. Features of this style include arched entryways, inset columnns, and a gray limestone exterior. The centerpiece of the four-story building is the grand lobby and council chambers, which feature ornate plaster ceiling with decorative moulding, marble floors, and walnut paneling. The building was restored in the 1980s and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The Kanawha County Courthouse was originally assembled at Fort Lee in the home of George Clendenin, the man responsible for the first permanent settlement of the Kanawha River Valley. After the incorporation of Kanawha County, the justices voted to construct a courthouse during their first gathering. A one story log cabin was the first official courthouse of Kanawha County, and was replaced by a two story brick building that existed from 1817 to 1888. The current Kanawha County Courthouse was established in 1892, and has served the community since. Additions were made in 1817 and 1824, both designed by local architect, H. Rus Warne.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This tour starts with the courthouse and city hall buildings and then moves throughout the heart of downtown before returning to the riverbank. The tour includes several historic buildings, churches, and sites and markers related to the early history of Charleston from the Civil War to the 1950s.
