• New River flowing through the gorge

    New River Gorge

    National River West Virginia

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • Cunard Road construction completed

    Construction on the Cunard Road has been completed and the road is now open. Access may be delayed at times while striping is being painted.

  • Rend Trail closure

    Repairs to the stone retention wall will cause closures from June through September, 2013. More »

History & Culture

coal conveyor at Nuttallburg
 

The New River is like a ribbon tying together all the people, places, and events sharing its course through time. New River Gorge National River protects a rich variety of this history: from the subsistence lives of the native peoples and the later pioneers, to the coming of the railroad and the many peoples involved in the ensuing boom and bust of the coal mining and logging industries. You can visit the remains of the former boomtown of Thurmond, retrace the path of pioneer Mary Draper Ingles' amazing journey, learn of the legend and the facts of the "Steel Driving Man", John Henry, or read the oral history of an immigrant coal miner from the 1800s.

 
historic photo of miners at mine entrance

People: Read the stories of the many people who contributed to the rich cultural history of New River Gorge. more...

 
coal tipple at Nuttallburg

Places: Learn more about the history of the coal, railroad, and timber towns, farmsteads, churches, schools, and homes that are all a part of the New River Gorge story. more...

 
historic photo of coal miners

Stories: Read some of the unique stories that combine to form the rich cultural legacy preserved at New River Gorge National River. more...

Did You Know?

AMTRAK train at Thurmond, WV

You can "catch a train" to visit the park! The AMTRAK Cardinal travels through New River Gorge on its route from New York, NY to Chicago, IL.