West Virginia Independence Hall

West Virginia Independence Hall West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling, WV. Construction began in September 1856, and the building opened in April 1859.

The birthplace for the state of West Virginia, West Virginia Independence Hall is now a museum dedicated to the history of statehood and the Civil War. The three-story structure was built to be the federal Custom House for the Western District of Virginia. The building also housed the post office and federal district court. On June 13, 1861 the Second Wheeling Convention began and declared the Con

federate state government in Richmond illegal, and so created a Reorganized Government of Virginia loyal to the United States, elected Francis Harrison Pierpont, governor of Virginia, and called for the western counties to be formed into a new state. The legislature of the Reorganized Government met in the court room on the third floor from July 1861 to June 1863, and the constitutional convention for the new state met there in late 1861 through early 1862. Governor Pierpont and other state officials used offices on the second floor of the Custom House from June 1861 through early 1864. Thus, the Wheeling Custom House served as the capitol building for Reorganized Virginia, although it was never the capitol of West Virginia. In 1970, the National Parks Service placed Independence Hall on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1979, West Virginia Independence Hall was opened as a museum, administered by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. And in 1988, the birthplace of West Virginia, Independence Hall, gained recognition as a National Historic Landmark. Visit this webpage by the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation for more information:
http://www.wvindependencehallfoundation.org/wvihf/

GHOST WALKIt's that time of year! Join us as we take a walk in the shadowy rooms and halls of WV Independence Hall to h...
10/10/2025

GHOST WALK
It's that time of year! Join us as we take a walk in the shadowy rooms and halls of WV Independence Hall to hear stories of the unexplained and strange happenings from past years.
Costumed guides will tell stories of weird and unusual happenings at WVIH, one of West Virginia's most historical places, opening in 1859 as a custom house.
This event is Saturday, October 18, 2025 and is presented by the WV Independence Hall Foundation.
Two sessions will take place at 6:30p and 7:30p. Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be paid at WVIH or at the door (cash or check only) Reservations are required for the time slot of your choice.
Interested persons can call WVIH at 304-238-1300 to reserve your spot today!
WV Independence Hall is open Tues-Sat, 9:00am-5:00pm and located at 1528 Market Street, Wheeling.
Entrance and parking in the rear of the building off 16th Street.

09/12/2025

WVIH mourns the passing of Foundation member and former president Dr. Joseph Laker. 😞
RIP Joe, you were a great advocate of WV history and friend. ❤️

Join us this evening at West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) in Wheeling as we host a free concert by the Community Se...
08/22/2025

Join us this evening at West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) in Wheeling as we host a free concert by the Community Serenade band on Thursday, September 4th from 6 to 8 p.m. The music will include traditional jazz and popular tunes.
Established in 2018 with a grant from the non-profit Try This West Virginia, the Community Serenade band includes trumpets, saxophones, clarinet, keyboard, bass, drums, violin, and viola players led by local jazz cornet player, Matt Hill. Other members of the Community Serenade band include Laurie Ruberg, Frank Prebeg, Jim Kowalski, Lou Horacek, Vicki NeCastro, John Egan McAteer and Louis Hart.
The Community Serenade jazz band provides an engaging activity where traditional, modern, and popular music selected by the group is played and enjoyed with guidance from music director Hill. Providing a safe and welcoming opportunity for people of all ages to play instrumental music together helps promote individual wellness, social bonding, and community vitality.
The Community Serenade band practices weekly at Christ United Methodist Church in Wheeling. Local musicians interested in joining the band can contact Laurie Ruberg at [email protected] for information about the next practice, playlist, and upcoming performances.
For additional information, contact WV Independence Hall at 304-238-1300.

Join us tomorrow for a free concert with Faire May and Dee & Paddy. Saturday, March 29th from 1:00 to 3:00pm in the cou...
03/28/2025

Join us tomorrow for a free concert with Faire May and Dee & Paddy. Saturday, March 29th from 1:00 to 3:00pm in the courtroom at WV Independence Hall.

Looking for something to do on a rainy Saturday? Join us tomorrow at WV Independence Hall for an escape room type of pro...
02/07/2025

Looking for something to do on a rainy Saturday? Join us tomorrow at WV Independence Hall for an escape room type of program presented by Live History. This fun and exciting event will feature persons from the Custom House and statehood past. Help us rescue the host who seems to be missing from the venue.
Two shows at 11:00am and 1:30pm, each limited to around 35 people. Free and open to the public.

A Knock at the Door - A History MysteryGet ready to join us at WV Independence Hall for a fun, free and exciting event b...
01/28/2025

A Knock at the Door - A History Mystery
Get ready to join us at WV Independence Hall for a fun, free and exciting event by Live History!! Your participation is needed to help showcase our local history and the chance to present that history in a unique, interactive way.
This free event will have 2 shows on Saturday, February 8th, one at 11:00am and the second show at 1:30pm. Each show will seat 30 people and last 1.5 hours.
"A Knock at the Door" employs both an escape room and “choose your own adventure” elements and is set in the 1860's with characters who were important to the Custom House and statehood, so be sure to think critically before making any choices!
All the choices you make impact the clues and the story you are given. A seemingly innocent choice made at the beginning may have long lasting consequences for the characters.
A Knock at the Door - A History Mystery
It was an odd invitation. Someone well known in town has invited you to the venue, to inform you of what they claim is an important message. However, when you arrive with the other guests, your host is nowhere to be found. Just when you are considering leaving, there is a knock on the door, and a messenger appears.
The messenger is Robin, a vagabond who used to frequent the streets of this town begging for food and money. Robin was often avoided by the members of the community and eventually faded from the town’s memory. Robin has been promised a large sum of money if they deliver this message and follow all the instructions given to them. It appears that your host is in peril and needs you to solve a series of clues in order to find them.
Deciding to lend your aid, you must join forces with Robin, who seems to hold the key. Your host is the only one who understands Robin’s unique personality and views on the world. It seems Robin’s memories, combined with the letters left to you, hold the answer to rescuing your host.
What better way for visitors old and new to enjoy and experience the past of Wheeling! Live History; bringing our history to life.
Make plans to join us for one of the 2 Live History shows on Saturday, February 8th!
Please call with any questions at 304-238-1300. This event is free and open to the public.

12/20/2024

WV Independence Hall will be closed for the holidays December 24th and 25th and December 31st and January 1st. We will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week.
Our normal hours are Tuesday thru Saturday, 9-5. Happy Holidays! 🎄

Are you still looking for gifts or stocking stuffers? We have many great gifts at even better prices for those on your ...
12/20/2024

Are you still looking for gifts or stocking stuffers? We have many great gifts at even better prices for those on your list. 🎄🎅🦌

12/13/2024

Join us on Saturday at 12:30 for the Christmas music of the Community Serenade Band. 🎶🎻🎺🎷🎄

UPDATE ON TIME CHANGE...A wonderful afternoon of free Christmas music.West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) in Wheeling...
12/04/2024

UPDATE ON TIME CHANGE...
A wonderful afternoon of free Christmas music.

West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) in Wheeling will host a free concert in the courtroom by the Community Serenade band on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. The music will include traditional holiday songs. The program is open to the public. Light refreshments will be available during break.

Established in 2018 with a grant from the non-profit Try This West Virginia, the Community Serenade band includes trumpets, saxophones, clarinet, keyboard, bass, drums, violin, and viola players led by local jazz cornet player, Matt Hill. Other members of the Community Serenade band include Laurie Ruberg, Frank Prebeg, Jim Kowalski, Lou Horacek, Vicki NeCastro, John Egan McAteer and Louis Hart.

The Community Serenade band practices weekly at Christ United Methodist Church in Wheeling. Local musicians interested in joining the band can contact Laurie Ruberg at [email protected] for information about the next practice, playlist, and upcoming performances.

For more information about WVIH and the performance, contact Debbie Jones @ 304-238-1300.

Address

1528 Market Street
Wheeling, WV
26003

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13042381300

Website

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