We’ll post about the happenings here!
A tour is being planned to The Museum of Radio & Technology on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 10AM. This is one day prior to the Convention. This fascinating museum is located in Huntington, WV and is 2 hours 35 minutes from the MARAC National Convention in Bridgeport. This is an interesting stop on the way to the Convention.
See the priceless collection dating to the invention of radio. This is the biggest and best museum of radios, televisions and electronic equipment in the U.S., including a circa 1920’s radio sales, repair and parts store. Stroll though a broadcasting studio and see how disc jockeys spun records and entertained us decades ago. See a complete 1935 Western Electric transmitter. The museum is equipped with a fully operational amateur radio station & a vast collection of antique ham gear.
Admission is FREE (donation box).
If you might be interested in attending, please drop W8OP (w8op@comcast.net) an email before October1st.
Additional information is available at: www.mrtwv.org
41 WILD AND WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA POINTS OF INTEREST
(all distances and times are from the Convention Hotel (Best Western Plus, 100 Lodgeville Road, Bridgeport, WV)
Bear in mind that some of these Points of Interest may have limited hours or no structured tours during the Fall season.
* POTA List does not include Wildlife Management Areas
Distance Time County POTA * - Watters Smith Memorial SP 16 miles 25 min. Preserved pioneer homestead Harrison County US-1828
https://wvstateparks.com/park/watters-smith-memorial-state-park/
2. International Mother’s Day Shrine 17 miles 30 min. Birthplace of Mother’s Day (1908). Mother’s Day was started by Anna Jarvis of Grafton, WV. Taylor County
https://www.internationalmothersdayshrine.org/
3.Tygart Lake SP 20 miles 35 min Home of Tygart Dam (209 ft. high x 1,921 ft. long) Taylor County US-1825
https://wvstateparks.com/park/tygart-lake-state-park/
4.Prickett’s Fort SP 23 miles 25 min A reconstruction of the original colonial era fort. (min. fee for interior fort tour) Marion County US-1821
https://wvstateparks.com/park/pricketts-fort-state-park/
5.Phillippi Covered Bridge 23 miles 30 min Site of the first land battle of the Civil War Barbour County
https://transportation.wv.gov/highways/bridge_facts/covered-bridges/Pages/PhilippiCoveredBridge.aspx
6.The Museum of American Glass in WV 24 miles 25 min. Extensive (14,000 pieces) display of American made glass (free admission) Lewis County
https://magwv.org/
7. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum 24 miles 30 min Formerly the Weston State (mental) Hospital. (entrance fee required) Lewis County
https://trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com/
8. Valley Falls SP 28 miles 40 min Site of a lumber and grist mill community. No structures remaining. Nice falls though ! Marion County US-1826
https://wvstateparks.com/park/valley-falls-state-park/
9, Audra SP 29 miles 40 min Gentle flowing stream over small rapids. Barbour/ US-1797
https://wvstateparks.com/park/audra-state-park/ Upshur County
10. Stonewall Resort & SP 33 miles 35 min (min. entrance fee required) Lewis County US-1822
https://wvstateparks.com/park/stonewall-resort-state-park/
11. Cooper Rock SF 45 miles 40 min Very scenic overlook into the Cheat River Canyon Monongalia County US-5585
https://wvstateparks.com/park/coopers-rock-state-forest/ Preston
12.West Virginia State Wildlife Center 45 miles 50 min Zoological park with native animals. (minimal fee) Upshur County
https://wvdnr.gov/outdoor-recreation/west-virginia-wildlife-center/
13. Cathedral SP 51 miles 1 hr 15 min The state’s largest old-growth forest (only 133 acres) Preston County US-0631
https://wvstateparks.com/park/cathedral-state-park/
14. North Bend SP 55 miles 1 hr Mid-Ohio Valley’s rolling hills, lakes and streams Ritchie County US-1818
https://wvstateparks.com/park/north-bend-state-park/
15. Monongahela National Forest 60+ miles 1 hr 921,000 acres spanning several counties in WV Multiple Counties US-0632
https://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf counties
16. Fairfax Stone Historical Monument 64 miles 1 hr 30 min Small monument at the headwaters of the Potomac River Tucker County US-1812
https://wvstateparks.com/park/fairfax-stone-state-park/
17. Blackwater Falls SP 66 miles 1 hr 35 min Scenic 57 foot high waterfall (tallest in WV) Tucker County US-1802
https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/
18. Bowden State Fish Hatchery 68 miles 1 hr 15 min Typically produces 240,000 or 170,000 lbs. trout annually (brook, brown, rainbow & golden) Randolph County
https://wvtourism.com/company/bowden-national-fish-hatchery/
19. Holly River SP 70 miles 1 hr 25 min Second largest state park and is known for it’s flora. Webster County US-1814
https://wvstateparks.com/park/holly-river-state-park/
20. Grave Creek Mound Historical Site 83 miles 1 hr 55 min Largest conical-type burial mound in the U.S. Built 250-150 BC. Marshall County
https://wvculture.org/explore/grave-creek-mound/
21. West Virginia Penitentiary 83 miles 1 hr 55 min. Built in 1866 & decommissioned in 1995. Marshall County
https://wvpentours.com/
22. Dolly Sods Wilderness 91 miles 2 hr 20 min A scenic rocky, high-altitude plateau (last leg requires gravel roads) Grant and Tucker County US-0632
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=12366
23. Canaan Valley Resort & SP 92 miles 1 hr 45 min Scenic high altitude valley Tucker County US-1806
https://wvstateparks.com/park/canaan-valley-resort-state-park/
24. Seneca Rocks 93 miles 1 hr 40 min Scenic view of 900′ high rock formations Pendleton County US-0632
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=7050
25. Seneca Caverns 100 miles 2 hr Guided tour cave. Fee required. Pendleton County
https://senecacaverns.com/
26. Greenbank Observatory 106 miles 2 hr 5 min Astronomical radio observatory located deep in the National Radio Quiet Zone.(min. fee) Pocahontas County
Home of the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope. (no cell service or internet in this area)
https://greenbankobservatory.org/
27. Smoke Hole Caverns 106 miles 2 hr Guided tour cave. Fee required. Grant County
https://www.smokehole.com/
28. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park 101 miles 1 hr 39 min. Civil war battlefield. Nicholas County US-1870
https://wvstateparks.com/park/carnifex-ferry-battlefield-state-park/
29. New River Gorge Bridge 111 miles 1h 45 min 3,030 ft. long steel arch bridge & 876 ft. above the New River (for 26 yrs it was the world’s longest Fayette County
” ” steel arch bridge.
https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/nrgbridge.htm
30. New River Gorge National Park 111 miles 1h 45 min The country’s newest National Park. Fayette County US-0696
https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm
31. Babcock State Park 115 miles 1h 51 min. Best known for it’s fully functional Glade Creek Gristmill. Fayette County US-1798
https://wvstateparks.com/park/babcock-state-park/
32. Cass Scenic Railroad SP 112 miles 2 hr 20 min Restored lumbering town and steam railroad (rides in the Fall of the year book up quickly) Pocahontas County US-1808
https://wvstateparks.com/park/cass-scenic-railroad-state-park/
33. Hawks Nest SP 114 miles 1 hr 50 min Scenic view of the New River Fayette County US-1813
https://wvstateparks.com/park/hawks-nest-state-park/
34. Spruce Knob & Spruce Knob Lake 114 miles 2h 20 min Highest Point in WV (4,863′)(last leg requires gravel roads) Pendleton County US-0632
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=7053 Randolph
35. Highland Scenic Highway 129 miles 2 hr 15 min A 43 mile long National Scenic Byway Pocahontas County
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7011
36. Pearl Buck’s S. Birthplace Museum 137 miles 2 hr 25 min. Birthplace of famous Nobel & Pulitzer award author. Pocahontas
https://pearlsbuckbirthplace.com/
37. Droop Mountain Battlefield State Pk. 142 miles 2 hrs 31 min. Civil war battlefield. Pocahontas County US-1811
https://wvstateparks.com/park/droop-mountain-battlefield-state-park/
38. Beartown State Park 146 miles 2 hrs 39 min. Known for its unusual rocky formations, massive boulders, overhanging cliffs and deep crevices. Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties US-1799
https://wvstateparks.com/park/beartown-state-park/
39. Lost World Caverns 146 miles 2 hrs 34 min. 45 minute walking tour Greenbrier County
https://www.lostworldcaverns.com/
40. Museum of Radio & Technology 173 miles 2 hr40 min Tours must be arranged in advance (entry fee is by donation) Cabell County
https://www.mrtwv.org/
41. The Greenbrier Resort (Bunker Tour) 153 miles 2hrs 50 min. A bomb shelter built in 1962 to house the entire U.S. Congress in case of nuclear attack. Greenbrier County
https://www.greenbrier.com/activities/bunker-tours/
There are plenty of things to do around Bridgeport!
Visit these links to find out more!
http://greater-bridgeport.com/
https://wvexplorer.com/communities/cities-towns/bridgeport-west-virginia/
https://wvexplorer.com/attractions/covered-bridges/simpson-creek-covered-bridge/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g58908-Bridgeport_West_Virginia-Vacations.html
Agenda: