Discovery Room 8: The Big City
It’s perfectly okay to step on the map! In the 1800s, Wheeling was one of the largest cities in Virginia and a hub of activity. The National Road passed through Wheeling and the Suspension Bridge, a forerunner of the famed Brooklyn Bridge, opened the way to frontier territories. Many immigrants settled in this industrial town and brought their cherished customs, including devotional altars such as one on display handcrafted by a German immigrant.
This exhibit is dedicated to Wheeling, where industrialization and growth were in stark contrast to the rest of western Virginia at the time. Learn more about this “big city” and the impact that the National Road, Wheeling Suspension Bridge and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad had on its development. You’ll also learn about architecture in West Virginia and the life of immigrants.
Video courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting; Videographer/Editor: Janet Kunicki; Narrator: Beth Vorhees
