This marker is along a curvy road at the peak of the hill. It is set back from the road a little…read morebit and needing some clearing. There is some space to pull over to stop and read the marker. The marker reads, "White Oak Fuel Company built the Oakwood Mine Complex in 1902. In 1915, 21 miners died when gas in the mine exploded. A year later, the original wooden tipple was upgraded to a multi-story steel structure. New River Company ran the mine after absorbing White Oak Fuel, a subsidiary, in 1936. Peak output was 515,936 tons in 1940. The mine shut down in 1965." The maker was erected in 2012 by West Virginia Department of Abandoned Mine Lands and the West Virginia Department of Archives & History. [Review 19615 overall - 89 in West Virginia - 586 of 2023.]

I attended West Virginia Is For Lovers music festival, hosted by Hawthorne Heights, at this venue…read moreover the summer. As an elder emo, I appreciated the indoor venue change complete with options for sitting between sets. It was easy enough to check in and go through security at the venue. Prices were outrageous for food and drink vendors, as you may expect from a Coliseum, and the food was not good. The "cheesesteak" came on a pita (why?) and the pizza was worse than eating straight cardboard. They did have a local beer on tap that was tasty. Overpriced, obviously, but still good. Overall, while they could elevate the food and beverage experience, otherwise I had an enjoyable time at this venue.

Today we went to Disney on Ice in Charleston at the Charleston Coliseum. It was a family affair! I…read moreenjoyed seeing the faces of my babies light up with excitement and awe!! Deacon and Saige enjoyed grabbing a souvenir from the vendors. Saige went with Cotton Candy, Deacon a Olaf Snowcone and Nay Nay went for both!!! Kayla and I settled for our over priced Water and Pepsi. Her friend Amanda with her two children Cole & Adelyn enjoyed the show and treats as well. The kids were all dancing, cheering and clapping....oh yes and Shouting!!! So much fun!!! Can't wait until next year!! Everything is over-priced but the Memories made are Priceless!!!

This marker near Nitro City Hall and the fire department points out some of the earliest colonial…read moreand settlement history of the area. The front of the marker reads, "Military Survey. December 1, 1773, George Washington patented 21,941 acres known as the "Pocatalico Survey." Included were the present sites of Nitro, Sattes, Poca and Cross Lanes. The tract was divided among eight former officers who served in the French and Indian War (1754-1763): Adam Stephen, John Savage, Andrew Lewis, John Wilper, Thomas Bullitt, Peter Hogg, William Wright and John Fry." And the reverse, "Nitro. Founded Nov. 1, 1917 as site of U. S. Govt. "Explosive Plant C." Thompson Sterratt Co. finished job in eleven months with work force of 110,000. Project included a town to support a population of 24,000 and cost $60 million. Plant operated by Hercules Powder Co. made 350 tons of cannon powder daily. Bought by Charleston Industrial Corp. Nov. 1919 and resold to Monsanto, FMC and Fike cos." The marker was erected in 1982 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History. Nitro's wartime construction brought an unusually diverse workforce into the Kanawha Valley, with government records noting employees from every state and 41 nationalities, many staying only about 40 days before moving on. After the Armistice halted production, Nitro transitioned into a civilian chemical-industry hub and today, the city blends its military origins with recreation and tourism reflecting a shift toward service-based amenities while preserving its boomtown history. [Review 929 of 2026 - 238 in West Virginia - 26109 overall]

This lovely old Mansion is the residence of the Governor of West Virginia. Many great men and their…read morefamilies have lived in this home. Located on the grounds of the West Virginia Capitol Complex at 1716 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305 The West Virginia Governor's Mansion (or West Virginia Executive Mansion) is a historic residence located next to the Kanawha River in Charleston, West Virginia and is the official residence of the Governor of West Virginia. The Colonial Revival (Georgian Revival) building was completed in 1925 by Charleston architect Walter F. Martens and is part of the West Virginia Capitol Complex, which also includes the West Virginia State Capitol. The building itself has a red brick exterior, with a columned portico at the entrance. The foyer was inspired by the White House, with checkered black-and-white marble flooring and dual staircases. The first floor of the mansion includes the drawing room, ballroom, state dining room, library, and a sitting room. The second floor houses the governor's own rooms, as well as those of his family, while additional bedrooms are on the third floor.[2] In all, the structure has 30 rooms.[3] The mansion also features walled gardens, a separate garage, and servant quarters.[2] The total cost of the mansion, including land, construction, and furnishings, was approximately $203,000 at the time of its construction.[

A wonderful old house, fitting for the responsible officer of the state government…read more When I was a child, my parents would take me trick-or-treating, and we always stopped by the Governor's Mansion. At the time, Arch Moore was governor. He and Mrs. Moore would actually greet you at the door themselves, and give candy. How awesome is that?

As a city on a river, Charleston has a handful of bridges that ensure the two sides are able to…read moreconnect. While the upriver Chuck Yeager Bridge carries both I-77 and I-64 over the river, this one is downriver from the city and is simply named the South Side Bridge. Perhaps one day it will get named after a worthy West Virginian. In the meanwhile, the South Side Bridge was built in 1936 by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company and was updated in 1990. The bridge spans 1146 feet with a main span of 420 feet and is 38.7 feet wide. It is a Parker through truss bridge. It brings I-64 over not only the Kanawha River but also Kanawha Boulevard and MacCorkle Avenue and a railroad line. My two crossings of the bridge today were easy and smooth thanks to low weekend traffic. As there are signs on the bridge that note the "exit only" lanes, it is likely much more challenging during rush hour. There is no toll here which is a positive. [Review 566 of 2025 - 151 in West Virginia - 24127 overall]

The 1148-foot South Side Bridge opened in 1936 and carries Dickinson Street over the Kanahwa River…read morein the middle of Charleston WV. It is a through truss bridge with clearance enough for a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star doing 500mph to miss the water and the deck. According to an April 2010 item in the Charleston Gazette this is the bridge Chuck Yeager famously flew under in 1948 - a year after breaking the sound barrier: one pass, heading west, to impress/scare the locals and then back to work. No more, no less, the general was just having a little too much fun. Yea Chuck!

Early afternoon, I crossed the Richard J. "Dick" Henderson Memorial Bridge, the span tying Saint…read moreAlbans on the south bank to Nitro on the north. It isn't one of the big Kanawha River crossings like up in Charleston, but the 1998 steel girder design feels steady, practical, and built for everyday traffic rather than showpiece architecture to support a crossing carrying an interstate. The bridge carries the name of Dick Henderson, a longtime Saint Albans civic figure and former mayor remembered for pushing community development, supporting local businesses and helping modernize the town during the mid 20th century. Even with its modest profile, the crossing gives you a clean view of the river, moves smoothly, and like the others along this stretch of the Kanawha, it's toll-free, making it an easy and straightforward way to get between the two cities. [Review 913 of 2026 - 225 in West Virginia - 26094 overall]