List of museums in West Virginia


This list of museums in West Virginia encompasses museums defined for this context as institutions that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Museums that exist only in cyberspace are not included.

Museums

NameTown/CityCountyRegionTypeSummary
Adaland MansionPhilippiBarbourMountaineer CountryHistoric house1870 period mansion
Adam Stephen HouseMartinsburgBerkeleyEastern PanhandleHistoric houseAlso known as General Adam Stephen House, located next to Triple Brick Museum
African-American Heritage Family MuseumAnstedFayetteNew River/Greenbier River ValleysAfrican American
Alexander Campbell MansionBethanyBrookeNorthern PanhandleHistoric houseOperated by Bethany College, early 19th-century period home of college founder Alexander Campbell
Anna Jarvis Birthplace MuseumWebsterTaylorMountaineer CountryHistoric houseHome of Anna Jarvis, founder of the Mother's Day holiday
Ansted Culture and Heritage MuseumAnstedFayetteNew River/Greenbier River ValleysLocal history
Antioch Baptist Church MuseumAnstedFayetteNew River/Greenbier River ValleysLocal history
Art Museum of West Virginia UniversityMorgantownMonongaliaMountaineer CountryArt, part of West Virginia University
The Arts CentreMartinsburgBerkeleyEastern PanhandleArt, includes exhibit gallery
Avampato Discovery MuseumCharlestonKanawhaMetro ValleySciencePart of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, science exhibits, art gallery and a planetarium
Babcock State ParkClifftopFayetteNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMillIncludes Glades Creek Grist Mill
B & O Museum of WheelingWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleMultiple, part of West Virginia Northern Community College, exhibits include B & O Railroad memorabilia, Hazel-Atlas Glass Company pieces; also known as West Virginia Northern Community College Alumni Association Museum
Barbour County Historical MuseumPhilippiBarbourMountaineer CountryLocal historyExhibits include the mummified bodies of two female asylum inmates that were artificially preserved in 1888
Beauchamp-Newman MuseumElizabethWirtMid-Ohio ValleyLocal historyOwned and operated by the Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter Daughters of American Pioneers
Beckley Exhibition MineBeckleyRaleighNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMiningCoal mine town, mine and museum, also Youth Museum of Southern WV
Belle Boyd HouseMartinsburgBerkeleyEastern PanhandleLocal history, operated by the Berkeley County Historical Society, family home of Civil War spy Belle Boyd
Beverly Heritage CenterBeverlyRandolphPotomac HighlandsLocal history, combines four historic buildings to tell the story of the Battle of Rich Mountain, the Parkersburg Turnpike, and daily life in a 19th-century rural county seat
Bice-Ferguson Memorial MuseumShinnstonHarrisonMountaineer CountryLocal history, exhibits include period room displays and antique telephones
Birke Art GalleryHuntingtonCabellMetro ValleyArt, part of Marshall University
Blenko Glass Visitor Center and MuseumMiltonCabellMetro ValleyDecorative artsVisitor center includes museum
Blennerhassett Island Historical State ParkParkersburgWoodMid-Ohio ValleyLocal historyIncludes Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History and rebuilt early 19th-century Blennerhassett Mansion on the island
Brooke County Historical MuseumWellsburgBrookeNorthern PanhandleLocal historyIndustry, early education and pioneer life
Bulltown Historic AreaBulltownBraxtonMountain LakesMilitaryIncludes the 1863 battlefield of the Battle of Bulltown, a visitor center with exhibits about the town and the battle, and several 19th century log homes and other structures
Caboose MuseumMullensWyomingSouthernLocal history
Campbell-Flannagan-Murrell House MuseumHintonSummersNew River/Greenbier River ValleysHistoric house
Canyon Rim Visitor CenterFayettevilleFayetteNew River/Greenbier River ValleysLocal history, one of three visitor centers for New River Gorge National River, area cultural and natural history
Capon Bridge MuseumCapon BridgeHampshirePotomac HighlandsLocal history,
Carnegie Hall, Inc.LewisburgGreenbrierNew River/Greenbier River ValleysArtRegional cultural center with three fine art exhibit galleries
Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State ParkSummersvilleNicholasMountain LakesHistoric house1850s Patterson House Museum includes artifacts from the Battle of Carnifex Ferry
Cass Scenic Railroad State ParkCassPocahontasPotomac HighlandsRailroadIncludes heritage railroad, museum, train shops, recreated 1940s logging camp, model railroads
Cedar Creek State ParkGlenvilleGilmerMountain LakesSchoolIncludes the Pine Run One Room School
Central West Virginia Genealogy and History Library and MuseumWestonLewisMountain LakesHistory
Ceredo MuseumCeredoWayneMetro ValleyLocal history,, operated by the Ceredo Historical Society
Chief Logan State ParkLoganLoganMetro ValleyMultipleIncludes Museum in the Park with changing art and history exhibits
Children's Museum of the Ohio ValleyWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleChildren's
Clarksburg History MuseumClarksburgHarrisonMountaineer CountryHistory
C & O Depot MuseumSt. AlbansKanawhaMetro ValleyRailroad
Coal Heritage MuseumMadisonBooneMetro ValleyMining, operated by the Bituminous Coal Heritage Foundation, heritage of area coal fields industry
Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive CenterBramwellMercerNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMining, West Virginia’s coal history
Contentment Historical ComplexAnstedFayetteNew River/Greenbier River ValleysHistoric houseMid-19th-century period home of Civil War Col. George Imboden, schoolhouse, museum of historic household and cultural artifacts
Cook-Hayman Pharmacy MuseumMorgantownMonongaliaMountaineer CountryMedical, part of West Virginia University Medical Center, historic pharmacy display open by appointment
Country Store and MuseumGlenvilleGilmerMountain LakesHistoryGeneral store with antiques and historic shop items
Craik-Patton HouseCharlestonKanawhaMetro ValleyHistoric houseMid-19th-century period home operated by the Colonial Dames of America in the state of West Virginia
Daughters of the American Revolution Toll House MuseumBarboursvilleCabellMetro ValleyLocal history
Davis History HouseRomneyHampshirePotomac HighlandsHistoric house, operated by the Hampshire County Public Library, 19th-century log house
Daywood GalleryPhilippiBarbourMountaineer CountryArt, part of Alderson-Broaddus College
Doddridge County MuseumWest UnionDoddridgeMountaineer CountryLocal history
Droop Mountain Battlefield State ParkHillsboroPocahontasPotomac HighlandsMilitaryIncludes museum with history and artifacts from the American Civil War battle fought at the site
Eckhart HouseWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleHistoric house, Victorian period house and tea room
Fenton Art Glass MuseumWilliamstownWoodMid-Ohio ValleyArt
Fort AshbyFort AshbyMineralPotomac HighlandsMilitaryMid-18th-century stockade fort erected by order of Col. George Washington during the French and Indian War
Fort EdwardsCapon BridgeHampshirePotomac HighlandsHistory, visitor center museum exhibits about the 18th-century frontier fort and the French and Indian War
Fort New SalemSalemHarrisonMountaineer CountryOpen air19th-century log structures
Fort RandolphPoint PleasantMasonMetro ValleyMilitaryReconstructed American Revolutionary War era fort
Fostoria Glass MuseumMoundsvilleMarshallNorthern PanhandleDecorative arts, pieces produced by the Fostoria Glass Company
Gauley Bridge Historical MuseumGauley BridgeFayetteNew River/Greenbier River ValleysLocal history
Gorby's Vintage Instrument Museum[South Charleston, West Virginia|Charleston, West Virginia|South Charleston]KanawhaMetro ValleyMusic, open by appointment, includes rare and exotic string, woodwind, brass and other instruments
Graham HouseLowellSummersNew River/Greenbier River ValleysHistoric house18th-century house, includes Saunders One Room School House Museum
Greatest Generation ExhibitRowlesburgPrestonMountaineer CountryMilitary, World War II memorabilia and home life
Green Bank Science CenterGreen BankPocahontasPotomac HighlandsScience, interactive science exhibits and tours of the Green Bank Telescope
The Greenbrier - The BunkerWhite Sulphur SpringsGreenbrierNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMilitary1950s secret emergency relocation center
The Greenbrier - Presidents' Cottage MuseumWhite Sulphur SpringsGreenbrierNew River/Greenbier River ValleysHistoryHistory of the Greenbrier and its presidential visitors
Greenbrier Military School Memorial MuseumLewisburgGreenbrierNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMilitary, history of the defunct Greenbrier Military School
Grave Creek MoundMoundsvilleMarshallNorthern PanhandleArchaeologyIncludes the Delf Norona Museum with artifacts from the prehistoric mound
Hamilton Round BarnManningtonMarionMountaineer CountryFarm
Hancock County MuseumNew CumberlandHancockNorthern PanhandleHistoric houseVictorian period house and display of local history
Harpers Ferry National Historical ParkHarpers FerryJeffersonEastern PanhandleMultipleIncludes many museums and historic sites
General Thomas M. Harris School MuseumHarrisvilleRitchieMid Ohio ValleyLocal historyOperated by the Ritchie County Historical Society
Henry Cooper Log Cabin MuseumParkersburgWoodMid-Ohio ValleyHistoryPioneer relics
Heritage Farm Museum and VillageHuntingtonWayneMetro ValleyOpen-airIncludes Museum of Progress with home displays from 1850, 1900, to 1925, transportation museum and country store museum
Hinton Railroad MuseumHintonSummersNew River/Greenbier River ValleysRailroad
Historic Shepherdstown MuseumShepherdstownJeffersonEastern PanhandleLocal history
History House MuseumTerra AltaPrestonMountaineer CountryLocal historyOperated by the Preston County Historical Society
Huntington Museum of ArtHuntingtonCabellMetro ValleyArt
Huntington Railroad MuseumHuntingtonCabellMetro ValleyRailroad, operated by the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society
International Mother's Day ShrineGraftonTaylorMountaineer CountryHistory
Jackson's MillWestonLewisMountain LakesOpen airIncludes Jackson Family Mill Museum, Blaker Grist Mill, McWhorter Cabin, Mountain State Heritage Center and Mary Conrad Cabin
Jefferson County MuseumCharles TownJeffersonEastern PanhandleLocal history
Jenkins Plantation MuseumLesageCabellMetro ValleyHistoric houseHome of Confederate Brigadier General Albert Gallatin Jenkins
John Brown Wax MuseumHarpers FerryJeffersonEastern PanhandleWax
Kruger Street Toy & Train MuseumWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleToy, includes toys, model trains, and a scale model of downtown Wheeling
Lighthorse Harry Lee CabinMathiasHardyPotomac HighlandsLocal historyProperty administered by the State of West Virginia in Lost River State Park
Lemuel Chenoweth House & MuseumBeverlyRandolphMountaineer CountryHistoric houseMid-19th-century period house
Lost River Artisans Cooperative and MuseumLost RiverHardyEastern PanhandleLocal history, includes furniture, tools, textiles, photographs
Lost World CavernsLewisburgGreenbrierNew River/Greenbier River ValleysNatural historyIncludes cave tours and museum with fossils, rocks and minerals
Madie Carroll HouseHuntingtonCabellMetro ValleyHistoric house19th-century period house
Mansion House MuseumPoint PleasantMasonMetro ValleyHistoric houseLocated in Tu-Endie-Wei State Park
Marion County Historical MuseumFairmontMarionMountaineer CountryLocal history
Marshall County Historical Society MuseumMoundsvilleMarshallNorthern PanhandleLocal history
Matewan Depot Replica MuseumMatewanMingoMetro ValleyLocal history
Mercer County War MuseumPrincetonMercerNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMilitaryAlso known as Those Who Served Museum
Mesaros GalleriesMorgantownMonongaliaMountaineer CountryArt, part of West Virginia University
Monongalia Arts CenterMorgantownMonongaliaMountaineer CountryArtArt and culture center with two galleries
Monroe County Historical Society Museum[Union, Monroe County, West Virginia|Monroe County, West Virginia|Union]MonroeNew River/Greenbier River ValleysLocal history
Morgan’s Kitchen Plantation MuseumSt. AlbansKanawhaMetro ValleyHistoric house, operated in the summer by the St. Albans Historical Society
Morgantown History MuseumMorgantownMonongaliaMountaineer CountryLocal history
Mothman MuseumPoint PleasantMasonMetro ValleyMedia, museum about the book and movie The Mothman Prophecies
Mountaineer Military MuseumWestonLewisMountain LakesMilitary
Museum of American Glass in West VirginiaWestonLewisMountain LakesArt, decorative glass pieces created by area glass manufacturers, includes National Marble Museum
Museum of Radio and TechnologyHuntingtonCabellMetro ValleyTechnologyHistoric radios and equipment
Museum of the Berkeley SpringsBerkeley SpringsMorganEastern PanhandleLocal historyLocated in Berkeley Springs State Park
Museums of Oglebay InstituteWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleMultipleMansion Museum - 1900 mansion with decorative furnishings and local history exhibits, and the Glass Museum with Wheeling glass and china
New Deal Homestead MuseumArthurdalePrestonMountaineer CountryMultiple, local history of this Depression-era project, period displays, art
New Era School MuseumMineral WellsWoodMid-Ohio ValleySchool, 1884 one room school
North House MuseumLewisburgGreenbrierNew River/Greenbier River ValleysHistoric houseOperated by the Greenbrier Historical Society, decorative arts and local history
Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts CenterWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleArtPerforming and visual arts center
Oil & Gas MuseumParkersburgWoodMid-Ohio ValleyIndustryOil and gas industry in West Virginia and Ohio
Old HemlockBrandonvillePrestonMountaineer CountryHistoric house1782 log house and nature preserve, open for events and by appointment
Old Mill at HarmanHarmanRandolphPotomac HighlandsMillWorking grist mill
Old Morgantown Glass Collectors' Guild Glass MuseumMorgantownMonongaliaMountaineer CountryArt, decorative glass pieces, currently rebuilding the museum
Old Stone House MuseumPennsboroRitchieMid-Ohio ValleyLocal historyOperated by the Ritchie County Historical Society
Parkersburg Art CenterParkersburgWoodMid-Ohio ValleyArt
Pearl S. Buck BirthplaceHillsboroPocahontasPotomac HighlandsBiographical1892 period home of writer Pearl S. Buck
Pennsboro B&O DepotPennsboroRitchieMid-Ohio ValleyRailroadOperated by the Ritchie County Historical Society
Pocahontas County MuseumMarlintonPocahontasPotomac HighlandsLocal historyOperated by the Pocahontas County Historical Society
Point Pleasant River MuseumPoint PleasantMasonMetro ValleyMaritime, river life and commercial enterprise on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, including great floods, boat construction, sternwheel steamers, river disasters, river industry, contribution to World War II, a full scale pilot house simulator, 2400 GAL native fish aquarium and a research library
Prabhupada's Palace of GoldNew VrindabanMarshallNorthern PanhandleReligiousMemorial shrine built by Hare Krishna devotees for their spiritual master, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Prickett's Fort State ParkFairmontMarionMountaineer CountryLivingReconstructed 1770s log fort with seasonal 18th-century living history demonstrations and the 19th-century Job Prickett House
Princeton Railroad MuseumPrincetonMercerNew River/Greenbier River ValleysRailroad, over 100 railroad lanterns, exhibits of railroad artifacts, artworks, books, photographs, and corporate railroad material
Raleigh County Veterans MuseumBeckleyRaleighNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMilitary
Randolph County MuseumBeverlyRandolphPotomac HighlandsLocal history1828 store housing a collection that includes early settlement tools, Civil War artifacts, and belongings of early citizens
Rehoboth Church and MuseumUnionMonroeNew River/Greenbier River ValleysReligious1780s log-cabin style church and adjacent museum, heritage landmark of the United Methodist Church
Rowlesburg B&O Depot and MuseumRowlesburgPrestonMountaineer CountryRailroad
Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts MuseumMorgantownMonongaliaMountaineer CountryIndustryPart of West Virginia University, social, cultural, and technological history of the coal, oil, and natural gas industries of West Virginia
St. George AcademySt. GeorgeTuckerMountaineer CountryLocal historylisted on the National Register of Historic Places
Samuel Shrewsbury, Sr. HouseBelleKanawhaMetro ValleyHistoric houseOwned by the Belle Historical Restoration Society, Inc., early 19th-century period house and local history museum
Sandstone Visitor CenterSandstoneSummersSouthernLocal history, one of three visitor centers for New River Gorge National River, area cultural and natural history of the river and its watershed
Scott's Run MuseumOsageMonongaliaMountaineer CountryLocal history,
Seneca Rocks Discovery CenterSeneca RocksPendletonEastern PanhandleMultiple, operated by the US Forest Service in Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, exhibits on natural and local history, includes the mid-19th-century period Sites Homestead
South Charleston MuseumSouth CharlestonKanawhaMetro ValleyMultiple, local history, culture and art exhibits
Swiger Run History Center & MuseumDoddridge CountyDoddridgeMountaineer CountryLocal history
Taggart Hall Civil War MuseumRomneyHampshirePotomac HighlandsLocal historyIncludes Civil War memorabilia and Fenton glass
Thurmond Depot Visitor CenterThurmondFayetteSouthernLocal historyOne of three visitor centers for New River Gorge National River
Top Kick's Military MuseumPetersburgGrantPotomac HighlandsMilitary
Triple Brick MuseumMartinsburgBerkeleyEastern PanhandleLocal history, located next to Adam Stephen House
Twin Falls Resort State ParkMullensWyomingNew River/Greenbier River ValleysFarmIncludes a nature center and Bowers Ridge Pioneer Farm, a restored 1830s mountain homestead working farm
Tyler County MuseumMiddlebourneTylerNorthern PanhandleLocal history, operated by the Tyler County Heritage and Historical Society
Upshur County History CenterBuckhannonUpshurMountain LakesLocal history, operated by the Upshur County Historical Society
US Navy Poster MuseumPoint PleasantMasonMetro ValleyArt, US Navy recruiting posters spanning 100 years
Veterans Museum of Mid Ohio ValleyParkersburgWoodMid-Ohio ValleyMilitary
Veterans Museum of Southern West VirginiaHintonSummersNew River/Greenbier River ValleysMilitary
Victorian Wheeling Landmarks FoundationWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleHistoric house, provides guided tours of the Victorian period Hess House, John List House and Hazlett-Fields House
Watters Smith Memorial State ParkLost CreekHarrisonMountaineer CountryFarmLate 19th-century homestead and farm museum
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural CenterWeirtonHancockNorthern PanhandleLocal history
West Augusta Historical Society MuseumManningtonMarionMountaineer CountryLocal history
West Virginia CCC MuseumQuiet DellHarrisonMountaineer CountryHistory, history of the Civilian Conservation Corps activities in WV
West Virginia Governor's MansionCharlestonKanawhaMetro ValleyHistoric house
West Virginia Independence HallWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleHistoryHistory of statehood of West Virginia
West Virginia Railroad MuseumElkinsRandolphPotomac HighlandsRailwayHeritage railroad and museum being planned
West Virginia State CapitolCharlestonKanawhaMetro ValleyHistory
West Virginia State Cultural CenterCharlestonKanawhaMetro ValleyMultiple, includes West Virginia's artistic, cultural and historic heritage
West Virginia State Farm MuseumPoint PleasantMasonMetro ValleyFarm, buildings of historical value, log cabins and tools, early farmhouse and furnishing, machinery, an operational 19th-century blacksmith shop, turn-of-the-20th-century doctor's and newspaper offices
West Virginia State MuseumCharlestonKanawhaMetro ValleyMultiple, West Virginia history, culture, art, paleontology, archaeology and geology
West Virginia State PenitentiaryMoundsvilleMarshallNorthern PanhandlePrisonFormer prison
Wheeling Artisan CenterWheelingOhioNorthern PanhandleMultiple, includes Wymer's General Store Museum, art gallery and local history exhibits
Whipple Company Store & MuseumScarbroFayetteSouthernHistory, historic coal camp company store
Wildwood House MuseumBeckleyRaleighNew River/Greenbier River ValleysHistoryHistoric house museum
Williamson Area Railroad MuseumWilliamsonMingoMetro ValleyRailroad
Wyoming County Historical MuseumOceanaWyomingSouthernLocal history
Youth Museum of Southern West VirginiaBeckleyRaleighNew River/Greenbier River ValleysChildren's, part of Beckley Exhibition Mine
Z. D. Ramsdell HouseCeredoWayneMetro ValleyHistoric house19th-century house
Flatwoods Monster MuseumSuttonBraxtonMountain LakesLocal History
WV Bigfoot MuseumSuttonBraxtonMountain LakesState History

Defunct museums

  • Buddy's Country Store & Museum, Bluewell, historic coal camp company store, closed in 2014 and contents auctioned
  • Grafton B & O Railroad Heritage Center, Grafton
  • Marx Toy Museum, Moundsville, closed in 2016

Regions defined

The West Virginia Association of Museums has defined the following tourism regions of West Virginia:

Eastern Panhandle

Counties: Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan

Potomac Highlands">Potomac Highlands of West Virginia">Potomac Highlands

Counties: Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker

[North-Central West Virginia]

Counties: Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor

Northern Panhandle">Northern Panhandle of West Virginia">Northern Panhandle

Region includes Wheeling and Moundsville. Counties: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler, Wetzel

Mountain Lakes

Counties: Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, Lewis, Nicholas, Upshur, Webster

Metro Valley

Region centered on Charleston and Huntington. Counties: Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam, Wayne

Mid-Ohio Valley

Counties: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, Wood

New River/Greenbrier River Valleys

Includes most counties in Southern West Virginia. Counties: Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming