of whom flocked to the area as word spread about the
discovery of the Pocahontas coal field along the border of
West Virginia and Virginia. During annual May and December
tours, visitors can explore the 21 ornate homes and buildings
that seem suspended in time.
The Coal House
Weighing in at 65 tons, The Coal House in Williamson is
constructed entirely of coal. Featuring two-foot-thick walls
made from bituminous coal from the local Winifrede coal
seam, the walls protect the structure from weather and
other natural disasters. The structure is home to the Tug
Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Williamson Visitor
Center and was added to the National Register of Historic
Places in 1980. It is open to the public Monday-Friday,
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Grave Creek Mound
The 2,000-year-old Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville is
the largest of the Adena burial mounds at 295 feet wide
and 69 feet tall. Exhibits of artifacts and other historical
treasures from the mound’s excavation are located on-site
in the Delf Norona Museum. The museum is open Tuesday-
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free.
John Brown Wax Museum
The story of abolitionist John Brown and his Harpers Ferry
raid to free and arm slaves comes to life through wax figures
enhanced by music and animation at the John Brown Wax
Museum. Located in historic Harpers Ferry, the museum
is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from mid-March to
mid-December and on weekends in the off-season.
George Washington’s Bathtub John Henry Statue
The only monument celebrating presidential bathing, George
Washington’s bathtub can be found along the west side
of Berkeley Springs State Park. The park hosts an annual
celebration for the tub to commemorate Washington’s visit in
1748. The celebration features Washington-themed bath
soaps and books, music and treats like cherry pie and peanut
soup. In 2016, the monument was named one of the world’s
six most breathtaking baths by Smithsonian magazine. As the legend tells it, John Henry was a former slave
hired by the C&O Railroad to build a mile-long tunnel
through Big Bend Mountain. When the steam-powered
drill threatened his rail crew’s jobs, he challenged the
railroad company to test his skill against that of the drill to
prove the value of manual labor over automation. Henry
won the epic battle only to die in victory with his hammer
in hand, as the statue depicts today. This monument is
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