Did you know the New River Gorge National Park Service hosts a Hidden History Weekend every year? This year marks the 11th Annual Hidden History Weekend running September 27-29. Fayetteville will make the perfect home base for a weekend full of fun exploring nearby attractions.
Come celebrate the wonders of Appalachian heritage, sites and stories of southern West Virginia’s history! The best part, it’s all FREE!
All programs are FREE unless otherwise noted. An adult must accompany children to programs. Bring water and wear sturdy walking shoes for guided walks.
Friday:
Active SWV: Edmond Hike on Endless Wall Trail
10:00 am to 12:00 pm. 3 miles.
Meet at the Fern Creek Parking Area of the Endless Wall Trail on Lansing-Edmond Road, Lansing.
Hike one of the most scenic trails in the New River Gorge to see the stunning views at Diamond Point, which includes an overview of historic Kaymoor and Nuttallburg.
Step Back to the Civil War: Carnifex Ferry Battlefield and Patterson House
11:00 am to 12:00 pm. 1 mile.
Meet at the Patterson House in Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, Summersville. S
ee the site where history happened, the Battle of Carnifex Ferry of the Civil War. Get an inside look at the historic Patterson house on this easy walk.
Haunted History Hike
7:00 to 9:00 pm. 2 miles.
Meet at the Rend Trail parking area on Route 25 near Thurmond.
Hear legends and stories from Appalachia into the dark of night. Program not recommended for children under nine years old. Bring a flashlight.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Active SWV: Cunard Bike Ride on Southside Trail
9:00 to 11:00 am. 4 miles.
New River Gorge National River’s Southside Trailhead one mile upstream from the Cunard River Access near Cunard.
Bike along New River through remains of the historic communities of Brooklyn and Red Ash. Bring your mountain bike or one can be provided by making a bike reservation at getactiveinthepark@gmail.com.
Red Ash – Rush Run Coal Town Hike
10:00 am to 2:30 pm. 6 miles.
New River Gorge National River’s Southside Trailhead one mile upstream from the Cunard River Access near Cunard.
An old cemetery, building foundations, and coke ovens are all that remains of Red Ash and Rush Run. See these sites and discover more stories from this area’s early industrial times. Most of this hike will be on level terrain, be prepared for some moderate off-trail explorations. Bring water and lunch.
Walking Tour of Historic Hinton
10:00 am to 12:00 pm. 1 mile.
Meet at Summers County Visitor Center on the corner of Temple St. and 2nd Ave. in Hinton. Explore Summers County on this stroll through the Hinton Historic District. Tour stops will include the Railroad Museum, Veteran’s Museum, Campbell-Flannagan-Murrell House Museum, and other notable structures. Tour participants will receive a complimentary bag lunch following this program.
Sandstone Falls: the Story Behind the Scenery
3:30 to 5:00 pm. ½ mile.
Meet at the boardwalk at Sandstone Falls on River Road near Hinton.
Explore the beauty of Sandstone Falls and its rich human history, stories of the native people, early settlers, the railroad, and even George Washington. Be prepared for uneven footing on the Island Loop Trail.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Active SWV: Cunard Hike on Brooklyn Mine Trail
9:00 to11:00 am. 5.4 miles.
New River Gorge National River’s Brooklyn Mine Trailhead near the top of the Cunard River Access Road, near Cunard.
Hike to the site of the historic Brooklyn mine.
Nuttallburg Headhouse Hike
9:30 am to 12:00 pm. 2 miles.
Meet at the new Short Creek parking area on Beauty Mountain Road, Lansing.
See one of the most intact 1920s-era headhouse and coal conveyor structures in the New River Gorge on this hike to the historic Nuttallburg mine.
Active SWV: Prince Hike on Glade Creek Trail
10:00 am to 12:00 pm. 3 miles.
Meet at the Glade Creek Trail parking area at the end of Glade Creek Road, 6.2 miles from Route 41 near Prince.
Join in on a fun hike along the banks of beautiful Glade Creek, the site of a historic railroad line once used for moving timber in the early 1900s.
Old Growth Pioneer Times Hike
1:30 to 5:30 pm. 7 miles.
Meet at Stone Cliff Trail parking area near Thurmond.
Join guide Mitchell Dech to see oldgrowth trees near New River. Get a better idea of what it was like for people to live and travel this area in the mid-1700s, from the Native American people to the region’s early pioneers like Mary Draper Ingles.
Hands-on History: Tools of the Coal Miner
3:00 to 4:00 pm.
Meet at New River Gorge National River’s Canyon Rim Visitor Center, Lansing.
Come and go as you please for this informal talk highlighting the history of coal mining in the New River Gorge. See tools used underground by these workers in the early 1900s.
Focus Photo Walk – Thurmond
4:00 to 5:30 pm.
Meet at the deck next to the Thurmond Depot Visitor Center, Thurmond.
Grab your favorite camera and explore this historic railroad town through a different lens. All ages, skill levels, and cameras are welcome. Ranger Leah Perkowski-Sisk will share tips and tricks on this no-pressure photo stroll (not a technical photography program).
For more info:
https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/hidden-history-weekend.htm