WV Women's History Trail
Women have played critical roles throughout West Virginia's histroy. Honor their contirubutions by visiting one of these historial sites around the state.
Pearl S. Buck Birthplace: The birthplace of Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning author in 1892. She was a social justice advocate, and her novels helped to advance the Civil Rights of African Americans and other minorities.
8129 Seneca Trail
Hillsboro, WV 24946
http://www.pearlsbuckbirthplace.com/
Greenbrier College for Women: A college for women founded in 1822. It has been connected to the Presbyterian Church since then, and except for during the Civil War, was in operation from 1822 to 1972.
653 Church St
Lewisburg, WV 24901
http://greenbriercollege.com/index.php
Dubois on Main Museum: commemorates and provides the history of an African American high school in the area, which operated from 1919 to 1956.
116 Main St
Mount Hope, WV 25880
Altamont Hotel: Originally a hotel for railroad travelers, the hotel was used as a hospital by both sides during the Civil War. It was the most successful hotel in Fayette County for many years, and it was owned and operated by four generations of women. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
110 Fayette Ave
Fayetteville, WV 25840
Stella Fuller Settlement: Stella Fuller ministered to the needy as a member of the Salvation Army, but felt that not enough was being done. She opened her settlement in 1942, and between then and 2009, it provided shelter and support for thousands of needy West Virginians.
128 Washington Ave
Huntington, WV
American Cynamid Willow Island Plant: The Plant instituted the “fetus protection policy” in 1978 as an attempt to force five female employees to be sterilized and barred women of child-bearing age from holding jobs that exposed them to dangerous chemicals. The Department of Labor fined American Cynamid, and the case eventually made it to the Supreme Court, where it was decided the policy violated Title VII.
1 Heilman Ave
Belmont, WV 26134
The Mother Jones House: a Jesuit community house aimed at servicing the needy in Wheeling. It was named after Mary Harris Jones was a labor leader who helped to organize strikes and educate laborers throughout the country. She was dubbed “the most dangerous woman in America” by a West Virginia district attorney.
88 14th St
Wheeling, WV 26003
https://motherjoneshouse.weebly.com/index.html
Women’s Christian Temperance Union Community Building: Constructed in 1922 by the Christian Women’s Temperance Union. Here, notable West Virginians worked on the temparance and suffragette movements, including Lenna Lowe Yost. Yost led a successful campaign that led to West Virginia ratifying the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote in the state.
160 Fayette Ave
Morgantown, WV 26505
https://mainstreetmorgantown.wordpress.com/womens-christian-temperance-union-community-building/
The Jonathan and Laura Jackson Arnold House: Laura Arnold was the sister of Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson, but she was a strong Unionist. She opened her home to Union troops during the Civil War, healing the wounded and providing food and shelter. She was praised by Union troops and remembered with respect and admiration.
345 Maine St
Beverly, WV 26253
More info on Laura Arnold: https://www.civilwarwomenblog.com/laura-jackson-arnold/
Belle Boyd House and Berkeley County Museum: Home of Belle Boyd, the infamous Confederate spy. She became a spy at 18, and her gender and age allowed her to travel without suspicion. She brought supplies and information to Confederate generals. She was soon found out and was regularly arrested, so she moved to England and wrote a memoir. The house also has a museum with is home to many historical artifacts of Martinsburg and Berkeley County.
126 East Race St
Martinsburg, WV 25401
https://www.civilwar.org/visit/heritage-sites/belle-boyd-house-and-civil-war-museum-and-archives
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