West Virginia was initially 40 western counties of Virginia. The mountainous terrain of these counties caused differences of opinions with the rest of the state. These differences had talk of creating a separate state as early as the 1820's. When Virginia voted to secede from the Union in 1861, West Virginia began working towards its own statehood. President Lincoln created the state by proclamation and signature; West Virginia joined the Union June 20, 1863.
Wheeling was the first capital; in 1870 it was moved to Charleston; in 1875 Wheeling again became the capital. In 1885 the capital again returned to Charleston and has remained since. The Capitol building was located two miles west until it was destroyed by a fire in 1921. The current capitol was completed in 1931.
Inscribed on the base:
"Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight
from the poem by Vachel Lindsay
Sculptor Fred Martin Torrey 1884-1967
Born in Fairmont, West Virginia
Dedicated June 20, 1974
Arch A. Moore, Jr. Governor"
"Abraham Lincoln created the state of West Virginia by proclamation and signature.
West Virginia joined the Union June 20, 1863"
Byrd was born Nov. 20, 1917. He was elected to the State's House of Delegates in 1946, the State's Senate in 1950, to the U.S. Congress as a representative in 1952 and in 1958 was elected to the U.S. Congress as a senator. He is the longest-serving member in the history of the Senate; he is also the longest-serving, and oldest, current member of the United States Congress.
This statue is in the West Virginia Capitol Rotunda. The rotunda has for locations for statues; the other three locations are vacant.
The black bear or Euractos Americanus was selected as official State Animal of West Virginia by a poll of students, teachers and sportsmen conducted by the Department of Natural Resources in 1954-55 and officially adopted by the Legislature Regular Session, 1973. It is the only species of bear found in the State. While commonly referred to as the "black bear" the colorig is actually deeply tinted with brown. Its habitat is the State is primarily in the eastern mountain region. A litter usually consists of one or two cubs, rarely three, each weighing about eight ounces at birth. The adult reaches an average maxium weight of 250 pounds.
There are 58 districts for state representatives; each representative is elected for two years.
The House, at the commencement of each Legislature, shall elect a Speaker, Clerk, Sergeant at Arms, and Doorkeeper. All officers, except the Speaker, shall receive such compensation as the House may determine.
There are 17 senatorial districts in the state. Each senator is elected for a four year term. Half are elected during the Presidential Election years; the other half are elect the next even-numbered year.
A majority of the members elected to the Senate shall constitute a quorum and a quorum shall be necessary to proceed to business, but two members may adjourn, and three members may order a call of the Senate, send for absentees and make any order for their censure or discharge. On a call of the Senate, the doors shall not be closed against any member until his or her name shall have been twice called.
The picture on the left is the design for the state quarter for West Virginia. The picture on the right is that of Governor (at the time of my visit) Joe Manchin and First Lady Gayle Manchin. (I did not really check; I made the assumption that the First Lady was seated on the Governor's knee.)
The Governor's Mansion is located on the Capitol grounds, to the right of the Capitol's front.
Someone seems to be barely visible in the leftmost window. If one had that CSI-tv image software, the figure could be cropped, enlarged and enhanced to reveal a clear crisp picture. Could it be the First Lady?
The United States Department of the Treasury selected a foundry in France to cast 55 full-sized replicas of the Liberty Bell. States and territories of the United States each received a bell as a gift to be displayed and rung on special occasions.
The previous picture shows that the replica bell is located directly behind the capitol.
The West Virginia Veterans Memorial is an oval shaped monument honoring more than 10,000 West Virginians who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the nation in twentieth century conflicts. Composed of four limestone monoliths surrounded by a reflecting pool, the interior walls are faced in polished black granite etched with the names of these men and women. Joseph Mullins designed the memorial and sculptured the four figures representing the four major twentieth century conflicts and the four major branches of military service. The four figurs are: World War I dough, World War II sailor, Korean aviator and a Vietnam Marine.
The West Virginia Coal Miner
In honor and in recognition of the men and women who have devoted a career, some a lifetime, towards providing the state, nation and world with low-cost, reliable household and industrial energy ...
Let it be said that "Coal" is the fuel that helped build the greatest country on earth, has protected and preserved our freedom and has enhanced our quality of life.
God Bless the West Virginia Coal Miner!
Dedicated this 4th day of December, 2002
