27 Jul 2024 - West Virginia State Museum; Tamarack Marketplace

 

This morning we travel south to Beckley then northwest to Charleston WV to visit the West Virginia State Museum.  While we were there we also saw the state capitol building, the Gold Star Memorial and the Veterans Memorial.  

The West Virginia State Museum first opened it doors in 1894 at the state capitol building in downtown Charleston.  It moved to the Capitol Annex 1905, to the current capitol in 1929 and to it's current location in lower level of the Cultural Center in 1976, pictured above. 

 

The museum is broken down into five sections.  Within each section there are "Discovery Rooms" with beautiful dioramas and displays pertaining to things within that timeframe.   This is a small fraction of the displays and pictures I took:

• Prehistoric 300 BC to 1650 
  
  

• Frontier 1754-1860
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Civil War and the 35th State 1861-1899
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Industrialization 1900-1945
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Change and Tradition 1954-21st century
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

After finishing up in the museum we walked over to the capitol but it was locked up, so we took a couple pictures outside 

Abraham Lincoln created the state of West Virginia 

by proclamation and signature on June 20, 1863

Between the museum and the capitol is a statue tribute to the coal miner, 

a huge part of West Virginia's history.  

Not far from the coal miner is the Gold Star Family's Memorial Monument.

Nearby is the West Virginia Veterans Memorial, which is a two-story oval shaped monument honoring more than 10,000 West Virginians who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the nation in twentieth century conflicts. Composed of four limestone monoliths surrounded by a reflecting pool, the interior walls are faced in polished black granite etched with the names of these men and women.

That wrapped up our visit to Charleston.  We needed to start heading back to the campground, but we had enough time to take a county road and see some more of the countryside. We tried to capture the drive but the pictures don't really show the curvy, windy road, but it was beautiful as we were surrounded by trees the entire way.

 

Tamarack Marketplace:  After a couple hour break and some lunch, we headed out on an unscheduled trip to see the Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley WV.  It is advertised as "The state's premiere artisan center featuring works by West Virginians. The finest in textiles, jewelry, fine art, glass, pottery, woodworks and more. Fabulous cuisine is prepared in the food court. Live entertainment and interesting exhibits at on-site theatre and gallery."  

Basically it is a round building with a courtyard in the middle.  As you walk around the inside in a circle, you pass all sorts of booths displaying and selling homemade crafts, wood working, glassware, wines, quilts, metalwork, jewelry and other items.  There is also a food court plus drinks, ice cream, etc. 

Great selection of wines, including some from the Lambert Winery 

that we visited near Weston WV

Beautiful woodcraft items

A chainsaw made of wood!

A nice art gallery

Beautiful quilts and other handcrafted fabrics

All sorts of baskets and wood items

The place we spent the most time was at the "Glass Make and Take" store.  You can pay a fee and then create your own glass blown product.  Today John DesMeules, the owner, who has  more than 30 years experience was creating some sort of blown glass product.  There was seating outside a glass window where we could watch him work.  It was interesting to watch!  

John heated the glass while his helper prepared some glass that would be melted into the product

Forming the glass on a table

John sitting at a chair forming the glass

Several powdered glass colors being added

Glass pieces being heated

Glass pieces being applied 

The glass pieces will be melted onto the glass and will further 

add color and design to the final product

Unfortunately we could not stay to see the final product but based on the items on display for sale, it will undoubtedly be amazing!  

Tomorrow we will drive north a few miles to the New River Gorge bridge and have a look at the visitor center.