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Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike
A National Scenic Highway with mountain views & railroads.
Category: Beverly Excursion in West Virginia
Description of this West Virginia Attraction: Driving the Turnpike Today
Traveling from Staunton, the original beginning of the Turnpike, you enter the Byway at the Virginia / West Virginia state line on the top of Allegheny Mountain, and travel across West Virginia to Parkersburg on the Ohio River. Planning should include verifying hours for attractions and reservations for historic hotels. Experience the dramatic struggle to cross this difficult terrain, in the high mountains at the birthplace of rivers. See homes built by early settlers when this Turnpike was their lifeline for supplies and markets. Explore the Civil War forts and battle sites that established Union control of northwestern Virginia, leading to establishment of the new state. See how railroads and paved roads changed the towns and industries of the region. Experience the transportation and conflict that shaped peoples lives, on the Historic Beaten Path of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike.
Begin at the Virginia State Line in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains. Enjoy vistas, and Civil War battle sites. Take an historic train ride, go fishing, or take a hike in the Monongahela National Forest. Descend into Tygart Valley with its small historic towns. Be tantalized by the Depression era communities, called Homesteads. Visit the Rich Mountain Battlefield/Camp Garnett sites, listed as a National Historic Landmark. While in Elkins, check out the D & E College campus, with its mansions and classroom buildings, also a National Historic Landmark District. Continuing westward, pass through many small historic towns. Another National Historic Landmark site is the Trans Allegheny Insane Asylum at Weston, the largest hand cut stone structure in the U.S. Beyond Weston the scenery changes to low hills and small farms. Be sure to learn of the legends of Racket, Thursday, Burnt House, and the California House. If you plan to take the entire Byway, plan for two days. Start at either end, and plan to stay overnight at Parkersburg, Weston, Buckhannon, Elkins or Bartow. Or make reservations to stay at the Cheat Mountain Club. A two-wheel-drive passenger vehicle will do just fine. Travel, scenery, and road conditions are best in spring, summer, or fall.
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