A Review of Our Story

Sunday marked the long-delayed reopening of the West Virginia State History Museum at the Cultural Center. I don't know why they did it the day after West Virginia Day, but given the delays maybe that was appropriate.

The girlfriend and I took advantage of the opportunity to take a quick spin though the new setup. Overall, it's very well done, although I have some complaints about the scope of the project. At this point, the museum attempts to tell the story of the entire history of the state, starting millions of years before 1863. That's cool, but in covering so much time, there's not a lot of emphasis in any one area. I was particularly disappointed with the coverage of events leading up to the Civil War and statehood, which is where the state's history is really unlike any others.

That being said, it's something everybody should take the time to experience if they haven't done so yet. I think it's even free, so you can't beat the price.