West Virginia

The brilliant copper and gold dome of the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston shines brightly over the banks of the Kanawha River. Charleston is as rugged as the state overall, yet the building’s prominence over most city views is clear. Learn more about West Virginia State Capitol history or plan your visit.

The first time I visited was with Snow, my dog, so I did not get to see the inside. I digress, but this is where I learned the importance of buckling your dog up when you are in the car. A car belonging to a local news crew nearly ran into us when they entered our lane near the Capitol Complex, and I hit the brakes so hard Snow, who was harnessed into the seat belt in the front seat, slid unharmed onto the floor in front of her. Snow walked it off quickly when we toured the outside. Thank you for listening.

I returned with my uncle, who lived in West Virginia, at the tail end of my 2021 road trip (I left the next morning to swing through the southeastern United States).

The capitol grounds are lovely and the better part of this visit experience than the inside. From the front steps, you get a nice view of the Kanawha River.

In the front of the building is the Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight statue, inspired by the 1914 Vachel Lindsay poem of the same name. It was designed by Fred Martin Torrey, a Fairmont, WV native who is also known for his statues at Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield, IL, and at the Iowa State Capitol.

West Virginia was admitted as a free state during Lincoln’s administration; it is the only state to declare independence from the Confederacy. During the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, delegates from the northwestern corner of the state voted to remain with the Union; long story short, the solution was to become a new state. Yes, there was way more to this.

Inside, it is beautiful but simpler than most state capitol buildings. Most of the interior is marble. The rotunda features an 8-foot chandelier made of Czech crystal and 96 light bulbs. It is home to the West Virginia Governor and West Virginia Legislature, which consists of the Senate and House of Delegates.  

Make time for the West Virginia State Museum, which focuses on West Virginia history, archaeology, and geology for all state regions. This is an excellent museum with free admission.

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