Thurmond

Thurmond Depot

 

View of Thurmond circa 1915.

During the first two decades of the 1900s, Thurmond was a classic boomtown. With the huge amounts of coal brought in from area mines, it had the largest revenue on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. Having many coal barons among its patrons, Thurmond's banks were the richest in the state. Fifteen passenger trains a day came through town-its depot serving as many as 95,000 passengers a year. The town's stores and saloons did a remarkable business, and its hotels and boarding houses were constantly overflowing. With the advent of diesel locomotives, and less coal coming in from local mines, the town began a steady decline. The many businesses closed down, and most residents moved on.

Today, the town of Thurmond remains surprisingly untouched by modern development. It is a link to our past, and a town with many stories to tell. New River Gorge National River invites visitors to experience the impact of the industrial revolution, and the mission of the National Park Service to preserve our nation's heritage.

To reach Thurmond, take U.S. Route 19 to the Glen Jean exit, north of Beckley. Follow the signs to Thurmond, seven miles down WV Route 25 (Route 25 is a narrow, winding road and is not recommended for RVs and trailers).

Download the Thurmond Walking Tour brochure.

Visit the Teaching with Historic Places website for a lesson plan for Thurmond.

 

"Midnight Thunder" a Jim Jordan painting of the Thurmond Depot

"Midnight Thunder"

It is a stormy evening in Thurmond, West Virginia, in the late 1940s. Next to the depot, a steam engine sits on the tracks; the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, where passengers await the next train departure. This scene is depicted in the painting Midnight Thunder, a look back at a moment in time to this once-bustling railroad town of southern West Virginia.

Midnight Thunder's Story
This oil painting, by highly respected railroad scene artist Jim Jordan, was commissioned in 2003 by Karl and Betty Warden. The Wardens both grew up in nearby Fayetteville, and hoped to foster appreciation of the area's rich railroading history. The Wardens generously donated Midnight Thunder to the National Park Service in 2006. It can be viewed at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center.

Thurmond, West Virginia, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is in the heart of New River Gorge National River. The Thurmond Depot now operates as a summer visitor center.

 

For information about hiking trails around Thurmond, check out the Thurmond Area Hiking Trails page.

 

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  Explore the Gorge: Thurmond

  Explore the historic railroad town of Thurmond with Park Ranger Leah Perkowski-Sisk.
  
  

  Date created:

  2012-10-03

  Video Transcript

  Welcome to Thurmond, where river, recreation, and railroad help tell the story of this National Park.
  
  This building is the Thurmond Depot.  It’s served as a gateway for visitors here since 1904.  Today, it helps with trail maps and town information.  Back in the early 1900s though, it was all about time tables and railroad tickets.
  
  The big difference is, if you were arriving here in 1904, you would have been coming by train.  Not personal vehicle like today.
  
  To put this place in proper perspective, consider this.  In 1910, there were less than 200 miles of paved road across the country but over 200,000 miles of railroad tracks.  This was your interstate system. 
  
  In 1910, this depot serviced over 70,000 passengers.  Combined with freight revenue, it made over 4 million dollars for the Chesapeake and Ohio railway; making this one of the most profitable depots on the entire C & O line.
  
  You can still catch a train in Thurmond.  It’s part of Amtrak’s cardinal route.  Now this is a flag stop, so you have to make arrangements with Amtrak ahead of time, but you can still get on or off the train in Thurmond.
  
  Thurmond may seem like an isolated, lonely place today, but that hasn’t always been the case.  Thurmond was a vibrant New River community.  These buildings today stand as testament to the vitality of the town.  Doctors, dentists, restaurants, stores and banks filled these structures.
  
  Your experience here isn’t just limited to history.  There are many opportunities for recreation and nature enjoyment.  There are several miles of hiking trails and mountain biking trails nearby as well as easy river access.
  
  Whether you want to relax by the river, recreate, or relive history, come enjoy and explore Thurmond in the New River Gorge National River.
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