A truss bridge the crosses the Kanawha River, it is named for four-star admiral Thomas J. Lopez,…read morewho served as Commander in Chief of the US Naval Forces Europe and the Allied Forces Southern Europe from 1996 to 1998. He was born in Powellton, West Virginia which is about 18 miles upriver. The current bridge replaced an earlier one that was a toll bridge. This one is not a toll and is free to cross. Two lanes in each direction with a double-yellow line down the center and a sidewalk on the eastern side. It was completed in 1997. [Review 19616 overall - 90 in West Virginia - 587 of 2023.]

Today, while taking a Sunday drive up the Kanawha River towards Cedar Grove, we stopped in Belle,…read moreWV to visit the 1810 National Historic Home of Samuel Shrewsbury Sr. The Stone House is well built and preserved. Located along the Route 60 Mid-Land Trail, it is very easy to locate near the DuPont Plant. There is a private small parking lot. The 2 Story home is closed normally to the public and only opened on special occasions. There is plenty of signage available telling about Samuel Shrewsbury from Bedford VA and the Salt Industry that brought him to the Kanawha Valley. Please stop if you are in the area and appreciate the beauty of this well constructed 214 yr old home! I was able to enjoy with my husband, Tony Vanoy, Daughter in law Kayla and grandson, Deacon. Only wish we could have went inside!!!

Exclusive to members and you have to understand why. Today I invited a fellow co-worker to join me…read moresince it was Veteran's Day. He saw a place where folks with similar experiences and stories to share gather in a setting where they can be around others that understand only what a few can. Here everyone buys a round for everyone It's not uncommon. I'm from out of town visiting the backwoods of West Virginia, yet I can find comfort and brotherhood at the local VFW. No one cares where you're from, what color you are or your background. Here we have veterans that span from the Great War to the most recent War and everything in between. You just marvel at the experiences and the living history that surrounds you. I like to take my time and chat with those that are still here from greatest generation that ever lived. These are your WWII vets and I thank them for their sacrifice and for granting me the freedoms that we take for granted today. Through their experience you'll hear first hand accounts of history, those not available in the books that we're taught in school. You'll learn to appreciate the sacrifices that generation made for this country. On this Veterans Day I salute all my brothers and sisters that have given their service for this country. The greatest country on this planet. God Bless all of you that have served! - NiNjA

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!

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.]

There are actually two bridges here, carrying I-64 / I-77 across the Kanawha River just south of…read moreCharleston. They are unique, steel-through arches, with the first completed in 1954. The second, parallel, bridge was completed in 1983. Each is two lanes and there is no toll to cross the bridges. Named after the aviator who was the first to fly faster than sound, https://youtu.be/zgR-KadhgMI, US Air Force Brigadier General Charles "Chuck" Yeager. His birthplace of Myra WV is about 40 miles west of here. He is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. The bridges are a very boring green, almost Army olive. They are scheduled to be repainted this year in the official colors of West Virginia, blue and gold. [Review 19618 overall - 92 in West Virginia - 589 of 2023.]

This is a cool breeze that I've traveled over numerous times man traveling through West Virginia on…read morethe way to Pittsburgh go Steelers can't go wrong with that this is a cooler bridge it's green text you over the water does what a bridge should do four out of five stars good for you bridge

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!!!

It's a great memorial that represents many different veterans from West Virginia that has served in…read moreVietnam war world war world war two honors men as well as women it honors any West Virginia and that has been in the wars. It's a nice memorial and I recommend checking it out

Great memorial. Honoring those that served from WV. A memorial to the women that have served also…read more Another to Booker T Washington. Well done and would love to see it at night.