10 Specialty Museums in West Virginia That You Shouldn't Miss

November 6, 2021 Venice Greaves

As you would expect, The Mountain State displays rustic charm with dramatic river gorges, large limestone caverns and spectacular mountain views. West Virginia hosts outdoor enthusiasts and family vacationers looking for fresh-air activities and serene mountain atmosphere. If stimulating city holidays are your preference, Charleston combines warm hospitality with a lovely riverside location. A family-friendly destination, you’ll discover children’s theatre, river park recreation and popular Bridge Road for shopping and dining. Smaller towns blend outdoor adventure with quaint village atmospheres. Set between the New, Greenbrier and Bluestone Rivers, Hinton is an historic rail town filled with turn-of-the-century architecture and a host of water activities at its doorstep – rafting, fishing, kayaking and more. In the heart of West Virginia, Summersville is a “Mountain Water Playground.” Its lakeside location encourages outdoor recreation from swimming and boating to scuba diving and rafting. And history buffs can trace Civil War battles throughout the states historic sites and state parks. Hiking or horseback riding along trails through deep hardwood forests is another family favorite, especially when you stop for a picnic along a clear mountain stream.
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1. Museum of Radio and Technology

1640 Florence Ave, Huntington, WV 25701-4546 +1 304-525-8890 http://www.mrtwv.org
Excellent
91%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 33 reviews

Museum of Radio and Technology

Reviewed By MaryR851 - Browns Summit, United States

We visited Saturday 12/21/19. We were in Huntington for the Candlenights Podcasts Taping that afternoon. Unfortunately we had to cut our visit to the museum a little short so we could get back in to town for that. Our docent, Dave Bond, was a real gem. He was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and didn't even flinch at what were probably some pretty stupid questions. The collection is extensive. The demonstrations are informative. We enjoyed ourselves very much. Just a side note - they had put so much effort into decorating the place for the holidays - that was icing on the cake. If anyone in your group is interested in radio / TV / phonographs / computers / HAM / or just history, this is really worth a visit. There was a donation box on the way out. We were more than happy to contribute.

2. Whipple Company Store and Museum

7485 Okey L Patteson Rd, Scarbro, WV 25917-8003 +1 304-266-0788 [email protected] http://www.whipplecompanystore.com
Excellent
90%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
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Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 40 reviews

Whipple Company Store and Museum

Whipple company store has been a touring center for the past 13 years to those that past by and wanted coal mining history up close and personal. The coal heritage signs across from the building will provide a lot of coal camp information . The building itself is not open to the public in 2019. renovations are being done by the new owners. I am sure they will let you know when hours of operation have been decided on.. My website and face book page is still up and I am happy to provide any information I can. Joy

Reviewed By 521camillae - Raleigh, United States

If you are visiting the area, or trying to decide where to go in West Virginia - this Whipple Company Store and Tour is a definite Must see! Joy is the most excellent story guide and hostess. You will learn about the early years of West Virginia, the people as well as why coal mining is such an important part of American History. If you have an any interest in immigration, coal mining, early settlers, or American folk lore and history - this has to be a part of your trip to WV! Ask as many questions as you can!

3. Hinton Railroad Museum

206 Temple St, Hinton, WV 25951-2331
Excellent
76%
Good
24%
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5.0 based on 21 reviews

Hinton Railroad Museum

4. Touma Museum of Medicine

314 9th St, Huntington, WV 25701-1436 +1 304-691-1700 [email protected] http://jcesom.marshall.edu/museum
Excellent
100%
Good
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Touma Museum of Medicine

This 4,000-square-foot museum contains 2,800+ medical artifacts, including a medical library and historic dental, ear, nose & throat and general practice examination rooms. It features a restored 1926 model T Ford "doctor’s coupe" and a restored 1910 Studebaker "doctor's" buggy. Visits are by appointment only. The museum is available for private event rental, with a capacity up to 100 people.

5. Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum

513 Ewart Ave, Beckley, WV 25801-3414 +1 304-256-1747 http://www.beckley.org/general-information-coal-mine/
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 692 reviews

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum

Note - the Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum have changed their hours and days of operation due to the Covid 19 pandemic. As focal points of Beckley’s lovely New River Park, the Exhibition Coal Mine, the Rahall Company Store, Mine Museum and the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia draw thousands of people to the area annually. The unique underground mine, the recreated coal camp, the Youth Museum and the Mountain Homestead are surrounded by inviting lawns, colorful flowers, picnic areas, an imposing coal miner statue and a whimsical 20 ft. “Peace Totem. At the Exhibition Coal Mine, one can ride through the dark passages of a vintage coal mine. The guides are veteran miners and provide firsthand accounts of the daily responsibilities and tasks of past and present day miners. In addition to the Mine, one can tour the Mine Museum and the period coal camp situated throughout the grounds.

Reviewed By LiLa521 - Oshkosh, United States

We were so glad we visited! Knowing nothing about coal mines and how miners lived, this was so informative and interesting. From the coal mine tour, conducted by former coal miners to the pioneer village and coal miners’ buildings where docents shared their knowledge and answered our questions, this was a tour worth taking. Loved it all!

6. Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum

401 Evansdale Drive Mineral Resources Building, Room 125, Morgantown, WV 26506 +1 304-293-4609 [email protected] http://wattsmuseum.wvu.edu/
Excellent
50%
Good
50%
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4.5 based on 2 reviews

Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum

7. The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum

144 Kruger St, Wheeling, WV 26003-5158 +1 877-242-8133 [email protected] http://www.toyandtrain.com/
Excellent
65%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 113 reviews

The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum

Housed in a restored Victorian school, The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum boasts an impressive collection of tens of thousands toys and trains.

Reviewed By KathyC615

This museum is so much fun and contains so many toys from years ago. The owners are very pleasant and try to make your visit a fun adventure. The gift shop has some really neat and different items for sale at very reasonable prices.

8. Mothman Museum

400 Main St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550-1117 +1 304-812-5211 [email protected] http://www.mothmanmuseum.com/index.html
Excellent
61%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 284 reviews

Mothman Museum

The Mothman Museum is devoted to the Mothman legend, featuring original press clippings on the Mothman sitings here in the area, actual props from the Mothman Prophecies movie starring Richard Gere, the Silver Bridge collapse, documents, & other memorabilia. Mothman and the museum are also featured in Bethesda's online game Fallout 76. We have a gift shop with unique items covering the Mothman legend and other cryptids. Open DAILY (closed Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and New Years) MONDAY-THURSDAY 11-5 FRIDAY 11-6 SATURDAY 10-6 SUNDAY 12-5

Reviewed By ruppertbaird - Lugoff, United States

Traveling home on US-35, and having never heard of Mothman, it was a quick side trip to an amazingly historic small town. We browsed downtown until opening time and then entered one of the most unique museums I've ever encountered. Full of local history and trivia, it did its level best to try to link the local legend of Mothman, the 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge over the Ohio River, UFOs, Men In Black (long before the movies), and the WWII TNT District of West Virginia. Intriguing.

9. Fostoria Glass Museum

511 Tomlinson Ave, Moundsville, WV 26041-1945 +1 304-845-9188 [email protected] http://www.fostoriaglass.org
Excellent
50%
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4.5 based on 6 reviews

Fostoria Glass Museum

10. Point Pleasant River Museum

28 Main St, Point Pleasant, WV 25550-1026 +1 304-674-0144 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/pages/Point-Pleasant-River-Museum/204031469857
Excellent
79%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 67 reviews

Point Pleasant River Museum

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