Oct. 18, 2016
WHEELING, W.Va. – West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling, Ohio County, will host a Halloween bash on Saturday, Oct. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. All ages are invited to a fun-filled afternoon of scary stories, crafts and treats. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes, and light refreshments will be served. The family friendly event is free and open to the public.
Storyteller J. D. Williamson will feature Independence “Hall”oween Spooky Stories with scary tales and ghost stories of Appalachia. All stories will feature a West Virginia historical theme, such as “Tally Po,” “The Curse of Chief Cornstalk,” “Green Monster” and “Moth Man.” Sprinkled in will be eerie folktales from the Civil War era and local stories of Wheeling’s past.
The second half of the storytelling will be a little scarier, therefore crafts, such as monster drawings created out of each child’s name, will be available for those who would like to have something to take home. When the tales are finished, Williamson also will create caricature drawings for visitors. Children who attend the party will receive a complimentary Halloween treat bag to take home with them.
For more information about the party, contact Debbie Jones, site manager at Independence Hall, at (304) 238-1300 or Deborah.J.Jones@wv.gov.
West Virginia Independence Hall has been on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) since 1970. It was originally built as a federal custom house in 1859, served as the home of the pro-Union state conventions of Virginia during the spring and summer of 1861 and as the capitol of loyal Virginia from June 1861 to June 1863. It also was the site of the first constitutional convention for West Virginia. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988, the museum is maintained and operated by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, with the cooperation and assistance of the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, with the exception of major holidays. The museum is located on the corner of 16th and Market Streets in Wheeling.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, cabinet secretary. The division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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