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National Park Service photo
Contact: Jodi French-Burr, 304-574-2115 Glen Jean, West Virginia, September 18, 2014–Back by popular demand, many of your southern West Virginia parks are hosting the sixth annual Hidden History Weekend,September 26-28, 2014. This annual event celebrates the wonders of Appalachian heritage, the rich sites and stories of our area's diverse history. These public programs will take place at New River Gorge National River, the National Coal Heritage Area, Tamarack, and Babcock, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield, Hawks Nest, Little Beaver, Pipestem Resort, and Twin Falls Resort State Parks. All programs are FREE unless otherwise noted. Wear comfortable shoes for all guided hikes. Water, snacks and a camera are other useful tools to bring along. New this year, a digital scavenger hunt will be available for iPhone users. This free app challenges users to discover unique objects that reveal stories of the past. You can also view the winning photos of this year's Hidden History Photo Contest at Tamarack and online. Visit the event website for more details:https://www.nps.gov/neri/ Here is the Hidden History Weekend schedule of events: Friday, September 26, 2014 River History Trek 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Pipestem Resort State Park's Canyon Rim Center (top of the tram), Pipestem.3.5 mile hike. Meet at the top of the tram and walk the old Bench Road and several park trails to look for clues of community life in Pipestem and Lerona. Pass old home sites and a cemetery. Be prepared for some moderate terrain, plus bring an extra pair of wading shoes to ford the Bluestone River. $2 for return tram ride. Hawks Nest Digital History Quest 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Hawks Nest State Park's lodge lobby, Ansted.Discover Hawks Nest history on a scavenger hunt in the park. Bring a camera, plus get a FREE ride on the aerial tram. Campfire Stories: History by the FirePresented by Bugs Stover and Fred Powers 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Twin Falls Resort State Park's campground campfire circle, Mullens.Let stories 'round the campfire take you away. Hear tales of life and work in the coal mines, plus some local ghost stories too. Saturday, September 27, 2014 Bluestone Walk 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Bottom of Pipestem Resort State Park's tramway, Pipestem.1.0 mile walk. $2 for return tram ride. See signs of the area's earliest settlers and how they made a life in the Bluestone River gorge. Wear hiking boots. Artists in Action 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Tamarack, Beckley.Visit with stone carver Earl Grey and textile/fabric artist Suzanne Kniceley and see how each has mastered their art forms, putting their own creative spin on the use of traditional materials. Camp Brookside: Return to the Isle of Fun 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Shuttle bus to and from site;meet at Summers County High School on WV Route 20, Hinton.Explore newly restored Camp Brookside, historic site of a residential summer camp for children of Alloy's Union Carbide plant employees. Tour the historic buildings and site, plus meet original campers, as they share their memories and photos of their time on theIsle of Fun. Try your hand at classic 1940s/50s-era camp games, activities, and much more in this relaxing day at camp. Main Street Bramwell History Tour 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Coal Heritage Interpretive Center (Depot), Bramwell.4 block walk. Join Mayor Lou Stoker and hear stories of early coal prospectors and their families on this sidewalk tour of historic downtown Bramwell. Haunted History Hike,Presented by Youth Arts in the Parks 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. 2.0 miles. Meet at the Rend (Thurmond-Minden) Trailhead parking area on Route 25 near Thurmond.2.0 mile walk. Appalachia is filled with spooky stories. Join scout youth leaders and a ranger for this haunting forest walk as night approaches. This program is not recommended for children under 9 years old due to spooky content of some stories. Bring a flashlight. Sunday, September 28, 2014 No Deposit Required: Bank Tours 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Glen Jean Bank Building, Glen Jean.Get a glimpse into early finance in the New River Gorge on tours of two historic bank buildings. Start in the Glen Jean Bank, then car caravan to Thurmond for a walk down town and inside the old National Bank of Thurmond. Artists in Action 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Tamarack, Beckley.Visit with stone carver Earl Grey and textile/fabric artist Suzanne Kniceley and see how each has mastered their art forms, putting their own creative spin on the use of traditional materials. Babcock and the CCC 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Babcock State Park's park office, Clifftop.1.0 mile walk. Step back to the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps on this walking tour. See how this national program helped build Babcock for all to enjoy. Making Parks: Role of the CCC 2:00 pm to 3:00 pmat Little Beaver State Park and3:30 pm to 4:30 pmat Grandview. Little Beaver State Park Headquarters, Beaver and Grandview Visitor Center.1.0 mile walk at each location. Discover how the Civilian Conservation Corps developed parks, like Little Beaver State Park and Grandview. Also learn how logging and reforestation impacted these sites. Attend one or both parts of this program. Milling Around at Glade Creek Grist Mill 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Babcock State Park's Glade Creek Grist Mill, Clifftop.See the inner workings of a grist mill and how this tool helped provide a food staple for people's daily lives. Find out more about area heritage sites on the web at www.nps.gov/neri,www.coalheritage.org,www.wvstateparks.com, and www.tamarackwv.com. You can also find updates on the New River Gorge National River's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ |
Last updated: February 26, 2015