2026 Conference Tours
Conference Attendees -- Reserve your tour during registration to get the attendee price.
Some tours have limited seats -- Reserve early to secure your spot.
Tours will open to non-attendees starting April 1.
Tours/workshops may be cancelled due to low reservation numbers.
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Non-conference attendees can purchase tour tickets HERE starting April 1.
Tour Description:
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Marshall County Historical Society: Tour the Cockayne Farmstead (see the behind the scenes process of current restoration work) and the new Bloyd House museum that is not open to the public yet, a gorgeous historic house in Moundsville.
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Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex: West Virginia’s flagship archaeololgical facility and home to one of the nation’s largest conical-type burial mounds.
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WV State Penitentiary: Take a 90-minute guided tour of the gothic-style prison that operated from 1866 to 1995. There will be additional time to explore the museum.
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Itinerary:
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9:30am-10:00am: Travel from Wheeling to Cockayne
10:00am-11:30am: Cockayne Farmstead & Marshall County Historical Society
11:30am-1:45pm: Lunch & Explore Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex on Own
2:00-4:00: WV State Penitentiary
4:00-4:30: Travel back to Wheeling​​
Itinerary:
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9:00am-9:30am: Travel time from Wheeling to Grave Creek
9:30am-11:30am: Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex
11:45am-1:45pm: Lunch and travel to Meadowcroft
2:00pm 4:00pm: Meadowcroft
4:00pm-4:45pm: Travel back to Wheeling
Tour Description:
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​Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex:
The Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex, located in Moundsville, WV is home to a museum, an archaeological research center, and a National Register of Historic Places site. The Grave Creek Mound is one of the largest Adena mounds and an impressive sight for any visitor to Moundsville. This experience will provide an overview of archaeological sites in West Virginia, displays about the prehistoric Adena people and the construction of the Grave Creek Mound, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the West Virginia Archaeological Research and Collections Management Facility.
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Meadowcroft Rockshelter:
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, located in Avella, PA, tells the big story of 19,000 years of people living in our region. This experience includes museum exhibits, three outdoor interpretive areas which represent a 16th century Monongahela Indian village, an 18th century frontier trading post, and a 19th century rural village, as well as a special private tour of the National Historic Landmark archaeological site. Professional excavation of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter which began in 1973, produced evidence of prehistoric people camping under the rock overhang as early as 19,000 years ago.
Itinerary:
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9:00am-9:10am: Travel from Wheeling to Kruger museum
9:15am-9:45am: Kruger Street Train and Toy Museum
9:45am-10:15am: Travel from Wheeling to Bethany
10:30am-12:30pm: Campbell Mansion
12:30pm-1:45pm: Travel time & lunch (lunch is available nearby at Bethany College’s dining hall for $10.00.)
1:45pm-3:45pm: National ADBC Museum
3:45pm-4:30pm: Travel back to Wheeling
Tour Description:
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​Kruger Street Train & Toy Museum:
The museum is housed in a Fully restored 1906 Victorian Schoolhouse. There are 9 rooms of things on exhibit and most rooms have something hands on to play with. The lowest floor is donation from a local doctor of everyone's favorite beagle and his friends. Come visit for a great trip down memory lane!!!
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Campbell Mansion:
The Disciples of Christ Historical Society invites you to visit the homestead and family cemetery of Alexander Campbell, a Scots-Irish immigrant, religious reformer, educator, and businessman. The tour will provide an introduction to Campbell’s spiritual leadership and impact in the Second Great Awakening, as well as his family life, educational initiatives, and wool plantation. Decorative arts enthusiasts will appreciate the Campbell home’s original furnishings and an exceptional example of 1840 French scenic wallpaper.
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National American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum, Education, and Research Center:​
The National ADBC Museum, Education, and Research Center is the largest collection of its kind. The museum houses 1.5 million pages of documents, 30,000 photographs, 1500 POW diaries, and 10, 000 3-D objects. Other collections housed the museum includes Normandy invasion, Eisenhower’s papers and Hitler’s silverware and arm bands along with numerous local veterans’ collections. In 2015 a new wing was dedicated which includes meeting rooms, a climate-controlled archive, digital applications room and 4500 square feet of display space. In 2024 the Vietnam Era collection was added with the Brooke County Wall, dedicated to those who lost their lives from Brooke County.
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Tour Description:
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​Oglebay Mansion Museum:
Discover the elegant estate of Earl W. Oglebay, a Cleveland industrialist who gifted this stunning mansion to Wheeling in 1926. Explore 13 beautifully restored period rooms that celebrate Wheeling’s rich history, from early settlement to the Edwardian era. Don’t miss charming collections from the Wymer General Store and Sinclair Pharmacy, alongside remarkable displays of American furniture, fine china, and more. As West Virginia’s first accredited museum, the Oglebay Mansion Museum is a unique attraction that offers a glimpse into the lives that shaped this beautiful estate.
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Oglebay Glass Museum:
Step into the Oglebay Institute's Glass Museum and marvel at the Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest cut lead crystal piece ever made! Explore over 4,000 stunning examples of Wheeling glass from 1829 to 1939, showcasing the region's rich artistry.
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Itinerary:
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9:00am-9:15am: Travel to Oglebay
9:15am-11:45am: Tours of both museums
11:45am-12:00pm: Travel back to Wheeling​​
Tour Description:
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Ohio County Public Library:
Tour the Little Museum of Wheeling, featuring items from the Archives and Special Collections of the Ohio County Public Library. Go behind the scenes and see how the Archives makes the most of a challenging storage situation! Featured collections include the Wheeling - LaBelle Nail Company records, the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing records, and the Capitol Theatre Collection WWVA and Jamboree Memorabilia.
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WV Independence Hall:
Governor Pierpont used this building as his office during the time of the “Restored Government of Virginia.” It was at his east window that he composed the telegram to President Lincoln urging him to sign the bill for West Virginia statehood. In December 1862, President Lincoln received the statehood bill for the creation of new West Virginia and on December 31, President Lincoln signed the bill and West Virginia achieved statehood on June 20, 1863. West Virginia Independence Hall is the site of the first West Virginia Constitutional Convention and the first and second Wheeling Convention.
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Itinerary:
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1:15pm-1:30pm: Walk from Scottish Rite to OCPL
1:30pm-3:00pm: OCPL
Walk from OCPL to Independence Hall is 5 minutes
3:00pm-4:30pm: Independence Hall