African American Heritage Auto Tour

campers in front of a lodge
Campers at Camp Washington Carver, the first African American 4 H camp in the United States.
 
Black and white photo of three African America men dressed in coal miners helmets with lamps and long sleeve button down shirts
African American coal miners at New River Gorge.
The African American Heritage Tour was developed by New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and its partners as a smart phone app to uncover and tell the stories of the many black coal miners, railroad workers, and other community members that helped shape this region. This self-guided auto tour takes the user to nineteen historic sites in Summers, Raleigh, Fayette and Nicholas counties to learn about the history and experiences of the regions African Americans. The project was made possible through a partnership with the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, The National Coal Heritage Area, the WV Humanities Council, The African American Heritage Family Tree Museum, DuBois on Main Museum, West Virginia State University, and Visit Southern West Virginia.

This tour is available through the NPS app for New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Go to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve on the app and select "self guided tours." Download the NPS app here: The NPS App - Digital (U.S. National Park Service)
 
Take the tour by clicking on any of the tour stops below:
 
church congregation

Quinnimont Missionary Baptist Church

Stop 1: Life in an African American Community

kids eating at camp

Camp Washington Carver

Stop 2: Camp Washington Carver

Carter G. Woodson

Winona, WV

Stop 3: Carter G. Woodson

coal tipple

Nuttallburg, WV

Stop 4: African American Life in a Coal Camp

worker entering tunnel

Hawks Nest Workers Memorial

Stop 5: The Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster

Baptist Church

Mt. Chapel Missionary Baptist Church

Stop 6: Church and the African American Community

railroad workers

Gauley Depot, Gauley Bridge, WV

Stop 7: African Americans and the Railroad

members of a fraternal organization

Bright Hope Lodge #9, Montgomery, WV

Stop 8: African American Fraternal Organizations

black and white photo of two women

Harlem Heights

Stop 9: The Community of Harlem Heights

African American coal miners

McKendree Miner's Hospital

Stop 10: McKendree Miner's Hospital

black and white photo of high school students on school steps

DuBois High School

Stop 11: Integration of West Virginia Schools

black and white  photo of members of a band

Slab Fork

Stop 12: African American Music in West Virginia

black and white photo of an African American coal miner

Helen, WV

Stop 13: African American Coal Miners

pond with dock and small wood buildings on opposite shore

Fitzpatrick Park

Stop 14: Recreation in Black Communities

high school

Stratton High School

Stop 15: African American Education in West Virginia

black and white photo of an old cemetery with gate and fence

Hunter Cemetery

Stop 16: African American Cemeteries

black and white photo of workers digging tunnel

John Henry Park, Talcott, WV

Stop 17: John Henry, The Steel Drivin' Man

black and white photo of black baseball team

Second Baptist Church, Hinton, WV

Stop 18: Segregation of African Americans

black and white photo of African American boatmen

Hinton Depot, Hinton, WV

Stop 19: Migration of African Americans to West Virginia

Last updated: October 1, 2026

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 246
Glen Jean, WV 25846

Phone:

304-465-0508

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