CHARLESTON | West Virginia's capitol city

Thundertubs · #1 Posted **Aug 10, 2009, 8:27 PM**

Charleston is the capitol city of West Virginia and is located in the Kanawha River Valley, where the Elk River meets the Kanawha.

The West Virginia statehouse was designed by Cass Gilbert (Who also designed the Minnesota and Arkansas capitols) and was dedicated in 1932. It is made of Indiana limestone and is the tallest building in West Virginia.

Looking up the Kanawha River from the University of Charleston campus

Capitol dome

Barge on the Kanawha. Note the clearance measurement.

Downtown from the south shore

The East End historic district, located mostly on Virginia and Quarrier streets

Rainy capitol grounds

Mansion on a hill south of the river

Here's a few shots from rural Raleigh County, WV, Southeast of Charleston near Beckley.

Sulley · #2 Posted **Aug 10, 2009, 8:53 PM**

Nice shots. Ironically, none of the Laidley Tower.

My family has a very, very long history in Charleston. Quarrier Street is named after us, of course.

ColDayMan · #3 Posted **Aug 10, 2009, 10:07 PM**

Well done. Charleston is one of West Virginia's best cities (Huntington is the best).

boden · #4 Posted **Aug 10, 2009, 10:30 PM**

Terrific post Thundertubs!

xzmattzx · #5 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 2:46 AM**

Is anyone else having trouble with the pictures? I'm seeing a bunch of red Xs.

Evergrey · #6 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 3:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

Is anyone else having trouble with the pictures? I'm seeing a bunch of red Xs.

It's you.

Nice shots of the capital of the state that features such cities as Elkins, Buckhannon, Weston, Kingwood and Parsons!

The Mountain State's apex city sure is a beaut... interesting how the capitol is so removed from Downtown... love the flowers in the second photo... quite artistic...

love the fog next to the residential tower

love the gold dome backed by green mountains

and I am intrigued by Young's Food House

Wpg_Guy · #7 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 4:04 AM**

The Capitol building is beautiful. Has the dome been restored at all in recent years? it's so shiney.

OfCourse · #8 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 5:13 AM**

Loves it!

hauntedheadnc · #9 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 6:11 AM**

Looks like my kind of town. A bit spooky, nice architecture, mountainous... Yes. Just... yes.

flar · #10 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 12:24 PM**

The WV grand finale!
Excellent tour.

Sulley · #11 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 12:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WpG_GuY

The Capitol building is beautiful. Has the dome been restored at all in recent years? it's so shiney.

Yes, it just went though an extensive restoration a few years ago. It is the state's pride and joy - it is always being worked on in some form.

Ex-Ithacan · #12 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 3:31 PM**

Dandy tour. It rained when I visited too. The city seems a lot bigger than its population. I love the old buildings. Great stuff. I tried to get into this tower to see if I could get a picture from the top, but the weather and security discouraged me:

thanks for sharing your visit with us Tt.

stepper77 · #13 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 4:42 PM**

Love it! Thanks!

xzmattzx · #14 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 5:32 PM**

The pictures are working better now for me.

Charleston has some nice older buildings. It seems a little like Wheeling, which kind of makes sense since they're in the same state.

ragerunner1 · #15 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 5:46 PM**

I really like downtown Charleston. It been well maintained with a strong retail, office and residential mix in the area.

TAZ4ate0 · #16 Posted **Aug 11, 2009, 5:57 PM**

Nice thread. Brings back lots of memories. Charleston has changed little since I lived there as a kid.

edit: I'd move back if weren't for the area being so economically depressed.