by Thomas West

Created on: August 09, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Situated just south of Wheeling, Moundsville, West Virginia offers the visitor a variety of opportunities to learn about local culture and history, while also offering a number of unique dining and shopping opportunities. With lots of opportunities for enjoyment, Moundsville is the ideal visitation spot for anyone wishing to get a taste of West Virginia culture.

There are numerous historical sites of interest in Moundsville, reflecting the areas importance in various fields, including Native American archaeology, criminal justice, glass manufacture, and toy making. The Grave Creek Mound Archaeology Complex features a museum, a gift shop, a theater that offers theatrical and musical performances, and an art gallery. There are also numerous exhibits educating the public about the Adena Culture and the process of constructing the mound. A lecture is available to groups with advance registration.

Just across the street from the mound is the former West Virginia Penitentiary, which was operational from 1876 to 1995. Though no longer functional as a prison, the Penitentiary is open from 11 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., April through November. Tours are offered every hour and last approximately 90 minutes. They typically feature creations such as beautiful morals to weapons, the sounds of a cell being locked down, a tour of North Hall (where some of the most dangerous criminals were housed,) and Old Sparky, the electric chair once used to execute prisoners.

Continuing up the street, one comes to the Fostoria Glass Museum, which houses numerous magnificent pieces of glass. Throughout most of the 20th Century, Fostoria Glass Company was one of the premier producers of glass in the country, producing as many as 8 million pieces of glass during the 1950s. Every president from Eisenhower to Reagan purchased pieces of glass made by the Fostoria Company. Although it closed in the 1990s, pieces of fine glass from Moundsville continue to be highly prized by collectors. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.

Moundsville is also home to Official Marx Toy Museum. The museum features numerous glass cabinets housing thousands of Marx toys including metal wind-ups, historical playsets, and much more. Other features include the Marx Prototype Room (which shows visitors the process of toy making,) a life-size Western Town Street front, a working Train Display, as well as entertaining and education nal videos. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from

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