WV150 – West Virginia’s Sesquicentennial
West Virginia Studies
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“WV150 in 3D: A Century and a Half of West Virginia Pride”
WV 150 – “The 3-D projection was created and produced by Monster Media 3D, and the fireworks show was produced by Zambelli.” (7:00/2013)
“WV 150 – Online Sesquicentennial Exhibit”
“The WV150 Sesquicentennial Exhibit celebrates our statehood from 1860 to the present with an eclectic collection of West Virginia artifacts and art. Many of the suggestions for what to showcase in the exhibit came from West Virginians.”
<<(September 2021) Apparently, the Online Exhibit is no longer active on the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History (ACH) website. The link above will take you to the website, as found on Archive.org’s “Wayback Machine.”>>
“Child of the Rebellion”
Explore West Virginia Archives and History’s “Child of the Rebellion” Website
Includes:
Timeline of West Virginia Civil War and Statehood
Biographies of Statehood Leaders
Biographies of Members of the First West Virginia Legislature
Biographies of Western Virginia Delegates to the Richmond Convention
West Virginia and the Civil War: Annotated Bibliography
West Virginia State Archives Civil War Manuscripts, Special Collections, and Archival Holdings
Timeline Trivia Question
Sesquicentennial Moments
West Virginia Union Militia Letters
Civil War and Statehood Photographs
“Military Events in West Virginia During the Civil War, 1861-1865,” by Allen W. Jones
List, African American Soldiers from West Virginia
List, Recruiting Officers in West Virginia
Reminiscences, by T.B.A. David, 1908
Election Precincts in West Virginia Counties
Other Resource Links include:
John Brown:
“His Soul Goes Marching On: The Life and Legacy of John Brown” (online exhibit)
“John Brown/Boyd B. Stutler Collection Database”
West Virginia Statehood:
“A State of Convenience: The Creation of West Virginia” (online exhibit)
“Civil War in West Virginia”
“Sesquicentennial Moments”
“A Brief Look Back at West Virginia’s History.”
Dozens of “Moments” for 1861, 1862, and 1863
Explore West Virginia Archives and History’s “Sesquicentennial Moments” Website
”West Virginia’s Sesquicentennial Highway Historical Markers”
“Exploring Our Past”
“In 2011 and 2012, Archives and History received $256,000 in grants to create 160 new highway historical markers on the Civil War in West Virginia and the creation of the Mountain State. Funding was provided by the United States Department of Transportation, the West Virginia Division of Highways, and the West Virginia State Legislature. Each county will receive at least two markers. Staff members and interns have worked to determine topics, conduct research, and write the marker texts, calling upon historians and local historical societies for insight when needed. Local groups and regional DOH offices, particularly the district sign shops, have greatly aided Archives and History in placing the new markers in locations that are both appropriate and accessible. As of October 2018, all 160 markers have been ordered.”
Explore West Virginia Archives and History’s “West Virginia’s Sesquicentennial Highway Historical Markers” Website – includes links to text and images of the new markers as they are installed; and a link to a Story Map of the Sesquicentennial markers.
“New markers provide insight into overlooked history”
March 11, 2020
“The West Virginia Historical Highway Marker Program is perhaps the most geographically expansive museum in the Mountain State and contributes to an enriched understanding of our past that is beneficial to citizens and out-of-state visitors. The program was created as a New Deal project during the turbulent decade of the 1930s and has since expanded to include nearly 1,000 of the iconic aluminum signs throughout all 55 counties in West Virginia. . .”
January 27, 2013
“Big Boy got to hold up his big double cheeseburger at the state Culture Center on Friday. . .”
June 15, 2013
“Charleston artist Charles Jupiter Hamilton has painted a version of the celebration of West Virginia’s 150th birthday. The painting will be given to the West Virginia State Museum collection to be preserved and exhibited The West Virginia Sesquicentennial Commission will sell poster sized prints of the painting at $19.99 each. The keepsake prints will be sold to those attending the 150th celebration at the Capitol June 20-22. Other official Sesquicentennial merchandise will also be sold.”
Explore Charles Jupiter Hamilton’s “Sesquicentennial Poster” (pdf)
“U.S. Postal Service Celebrates 150 Years of West Virginia Statehood”
Explore information from US Postal Services “U. S. Postal . . .” press release
“WV 150 – West Virginia’s Sesquicentennial by the Numbers”
150 numerical facts about West Virginia:
Explore Charleston Gazette-Mail’s “West Virginia’s Sesquicentennial by the Numbers” list (pdf)
Also:
“West Virginia @ 150 – Daily Celebrations of West Virginia’s 150 Years”
– West Virginia Public Broadcasting
– West Virginia and Regional History Center at WVU
– West Virginia Tourism
1863 – West Virginia Becomes the 35th State
1869 – Helvetia is Settled
1872 – “Harper’s” Publishes Porte Crayon’s “The Mountains”
1882 – The Hatfield – McCoy Feud
1897 – The Last Public Hanging in West Virginia
1907 – The Monongah Mine Disaster
1912 – The Paint Creek Strike
1914 – The Eccles Mine Disaster
1920 – The End of West Virginia’s Ancient Forests
1920 – The Matewan Massacre
1921 – The Battle of Blair Mountain
1924 – Don Knotts Born
1927 – Blind Alfred Reed Discovered at the Bristol Sessions
1928 – The Silver Bridge Opens
1930 – Hawks Nest Tunnel Work Begins
1932 – West Virginia’s New Capitol Building
1932 – The Lilly Brothers’ Radio Debut
1933 – West Virginia’s First CCC Camp
1934 – Arthurdale Founded
1935 – Hazel Dickens Born
1936 – Pare Lorentz Makes His First Documentary
1941 – USS West Virginia Sinks in Pearl Harbor
1945 – Woody Williams Wins the Congressional Medal of Honor
1947 – The Hammons Family’s First Recording
1947 – Chuck Yeager Breaks the Sound Barrier
1952 – Johnnie Johnson Hires Chuck Berry
1954 – The West Virginia Turnpike Opens
1956 – The Green Bank Telescope – National Radio Astronomy Observatory Founded
1959 – Jerry West & the National Championship
1960 – JFK Wins in West Virginia
1963 – Cass Scenic Railroad Opens
1968 – The Farmington Mine Disaster
1970 – The Marshall Plane Crash
1971 – West Virginia’s First Ski Resort
1972 – The Buffalo Creek Flood
1972 – “Lean On Me” from Bill Withers
1974 – The Kanawha County Textbook Controversy
1977 – The New River Gorge Bridge Opens
1978 – The New River Gorge National River Established
1981 – Mountain Stage Begins
1983 – Kathy Mattea Signs First Record Deal
1984 – Mary Lou Retton Wins Olympic Gold Medal
1985 – The Flood of 1985
1988 – “Chillers” The Movie
2003 – Army Bridge Built in Iraq
A West Virginia Reserve Company is the first Army unit since World War II to build a bridge under fire.
2006 – The Sago Mine Disaster
2009 – Robert C. Byrd Becomes the Longest Serving US Politician
2010 – The Upper Big Branch Mine Explodes
2012 – WVU Wins the Orange Bowl
WV150 / WV Sesquicentennial / West Virginia Sesquicentennial / WV 150
WV 150th Birthday / WV 150 Years of Statehood
West Virginia 150 / West Virginia 150 Years of Statehood
WV @ 150 / West Virginia @ 150
WV 150
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