West Virginia Independence Hall

Wheeling, United States

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

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West Virginia Independence Hall in downtown Wheeling is a Renaissance Revival government building constructed in 1860 under architect Ammi B. Young's supervision, with sandstone and innovative wrought-iron framing that made it architecturally pioneering for its time. Originally built as a custom house, post office, and courthouse for the federal government, the 37.76-meter structure became the epicenter of Civil War history when it hosted the Wheeling Convention of 1861 and the West Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1863—the latter enabling West Virginia's unique secession from Confederate Virginia, making it the only state to break away from a Confederate state. The building subsequently served as the seat of the Restored Government of Virginia under governor Francis H. Pierpont from 1861 to 1863. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988, it now operates as a state museum dedicated to West Virginia history.

Architect

Ammi B. Young Alfred B. Mullett

Movement

Renaissance Revival architecture

Built: 1859
Type: history museum, historic building
Materials: wrought iron, sandstone
Heritage: National Register of Historic Places listed place, National Historic Landmark
Height: 37.76 m
Place: Wheeling, United States

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Location

40.06420, -80.72170