Can’t-Miss Museums
By Maggie Matsko
West Virginia has something for every interest, and its collection of unique museums is proof. From military weapons to coal mining paraphernalia, from toys and trains to radios and technology, from West Virginia history to the Mountain State’s scuffles with the paranormal, the state’s eclectic collections of artifacts will amaze and enthrall. These family-friendly destinations are a steal—with some offering free admission—and offer hours of entertainment.
Cook-Hayman Pharmacy Museum
For those with an interest in the evolution of medicine in central Appalachia, the Cook-Hayman Pharmacy Museum at the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Pharmacy in Morgantown, WV, is a must-see. This museum, located in the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, houses a unique collection of 18th- and 19th-century pharmacy memorabilia donated by physicians and pharmacists from the region. The idea behind the museum was to capture through artifacts and records the quickly evolving fields of pharmacy and health care, and collection items include prescription compounding equipment and ingredients, books, pictures, business records and sundries. Tours are limited to 25 guests and last about one hour. To request a tour, visit https://pharmacy.hsc.wvu.edu/support-us/cook-hayman-pharmacy-museum/schedule-a-tour/.
Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum
Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum.
Photo by Paul Hoblitzell.
The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum in Wheeling is the perfect place to relive your childhood memories or share new ones with your family. Throughout the space, guests will find toys and trains from every generation. The operating train displays are interactive and can be enjoyed by kids and parents alike. Guests will also see thousands of toys of all types, such as dolls, dollhouses, toy soldiers, planes, ships, Western toys, space toys, cartoon characters and ride-on toys. Guests pay a general admission fee to enter, and a group rate is available for school trips. From Memorial Day to New Year’s Eve, the museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winter hours are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Matewan Depot Replica and Museum
The Matewan Depot is one of the most historically important stations along the 673-mile Norfolk and Western main line. The Matewan Railroad Depot was rebuilt after being closed for 31 years, and today it houses a visitor center and a museum that displays information on the vast history of the area. Museum exhibits are centered around the Hatfield and McCoy feuds, the Matewan Massacre and the development of the coal mining industry in the region. There is also a gift shop on-site that offers arts and crafts, t-shirts, historical books and Hatfield and McCoy trail memorabilia. The museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mothman Museum
The arrival of a red-eyed, man-sized, moth-like creature. Reports of UFO activity. Sightings of the Men in Black. Details of the Silver Bridge disaster. The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant holds a wealth of information—and photo ops—for those intrigued by the details surrounding West Virginia’s Mothman, the sightings of which culminated in the collapse of the Silver Bridge in December 1967 that killed 46 people. Curiosity has drawn guests from all over the world to visit the largest selection of props and memorabilia from the set of “The Mothman Prophecies,” the film inspired by these events. Was the Mothman an alien that caused the disaster, or was his arrival a warning? Visitors searching for the truth can use original police reports, historical press clippings and authentic video footage to come to their own conclusions. The museum is open seven days a week, and admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children.
Mountaineer Military Museum
Mountaineer Military Museum.
Photo by Tyler McVaney.
Ron McVaney made a promise to his childhood friends who lost their lives in the line of duty that no one would ever forget them. Over the past 35 years, he has kept his promise and has collected hundreds of pieces of military memorabilia. With an expansive assortment of war helmets, metals and weapons, this museum in Weston, WV, is perfect for any veteran or military enthusiast. There is even a reflection room where guests can honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. The Mountaineer Military Museum will open for 2019 on April 6. Guest hours are on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Museum of Radio and Technology
The Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington is one of the largest antique radio museums in the U.S. Patrons can browse through hundreds of vintage radios, computers and other communication devices. The Museum of Radio and Technology is divided into multiple display rooms, including the broadcasting hall of fame, the 1920s-1930s radio shop and the military communication display. The museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays, 1-4 p.m., spring through early fall. There is no admission charge, but the nonprofit does accept donations.
The National Museum of the Paranormal
Archive of the Afterlife: The National Museum of the Paranormal. Photo by Stephen Hummel.
Located in the Sanford Community Center in Moundsville, the Archive of the Afterlife: The National Museum of the Paranormal contains a collection of both the historical and the paranormal. The museum provides entertainment to patrons, but it is also an educational experience into the realm of the paranormal through exhibits of haunted relics, cursed artifacts, oddities, informational literature and historically significant items. There are some fascinating items on display that have some historical value but are also believed to have a spiritual presence attached to them such as an infant’s casket, a 1930s embalming table and an execution cap. From December 1-March 31, the museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 1-6 p.m., and from April 1-November 30, it is open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 1-6 p.m. There is an admission fee of $3 per person or $5 for a couple.
Oil & Gas Museum
The Oil & Gas Museum, located in historic downtown Parkersburg, is a nationally recognized museum that presents the intriguing history of the oil and gas industry, including how the accumulation of wealth from oil impacted West Virginia’s statehood. The museum also boosts expanded displays on the Civil War and local industries. An outdoors exhibit area displays larger machinery used in the oil and gas industry, such as a standard drilling rig, a star drilling and service rig and a nitroglycerine torpedo truck. The museum is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 12-5 p.m.
West Virginia State Museum
West Virginia State Museum. Photo by Steve Brightwell/West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History.
Located on the West Virginia State Capitol building complex, the West Virginia State Museum has an expansive collection of Mountain State memorabilia that dates back to 1890. The museum, located in the basement of the West Virginia Culture Center, takes guests on a journey through time from a pre-historic coal forest to early western settlement to present day. Learn about the state’s heritage as you follow interactive exhibits that illustrate vital moments in West Virginia’s cultural, industrial and natural history. The museum is open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free.
Editor’s Note: This is not a comprehensive list of museums in West Virginia. To learn more about the state’s museums, visit http://wvmuseums.org.
