Charleston (West Virginia)
In 1773, Fort Lee was founded at the confluence of the Kanawha and Elk rivers. The city of Charleston slowly developed around the fort. Originally, the city of Wheeling was the capital of West Virginia's state capital, but in 1870, it was transferred to Charleston. In 1875, it was moved back to Wheeling, but 10 years later, it was decided that Charleston was to be the state capital.
- 405 Capitol Street is the former Daniel Boone Hotel.
- The Capitol Theater.
- The State Capitol was completed in 1932. It's dome is higher than the one of the U.S. capitol in Washington D.C. It is located on Kanawha Boulevard.
- The cultural center around the Capitol contains an art gallery, a museum, a planetarium and lovely gardens.
- The sector of the East End that oncompasses several blocks of Virginia and Quarrier streets features numerous 19th and 20th-century houses, as well as several 1920s and 1930s Art Deco buildings.
- GoMart Ballpark is the stadium of the Charleston Dirty Birds.
- The Kanawha County Courthouse was built in 1892 in Richardsonian Romanesque Revival-style.
- The Masonic Temple is located at the corner of Virginia and Dickenson streets.
- The Public Library sits at the corner of Capitol and Quarrier streets. It was built in the early 20th century.
- The Security Building is located on the corner of Virginia and Capitol streets. It dates from the early 20th century.
- The Union Building was constructed at the start of the 20th century. It is located at the southern end of Capitol Street.
- The University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field is used for football, soccer, track sports and festivals. It opened in 1979.
- The Woman's Club of Charleston.
- There are several historic churches that are clustered closely together in the neighborhood just east of downtown. There are also churches in the districts of East End, West Side and Kanawha City.
- The Roman Catholic Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was completed in 1897.
- Charleston Baptist Temple.
- The Christ Church United Methodist Church.
- The First Presbyterian Church.
- Kanawha United Presbyterian Church.
- St. George Orthodox Cathedral.
- St. John's Episcopal Church.
- St. Marks United Methodist Church.
- St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
- The Avampato Discovery Museum is part of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences.
- The Sunrise Museum is also part of the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences.
- The West Virginia State Museum.
- Cato Park is the largest municipal park in Charleston. It includes a golf course, an Olympic-size swimming pool and several picnic areas.
- Coonskin Park features a swimming pool, a boathouse, a clubhouse with dining facilities, tennis courts, putt putt golf, an 18-hole par 3 golf course, a driving range and a fishing lake. The Schoenbaum Soccer Field and Amphitheatre are also located within the park ad home to the West Virginia United soccer team.
- Daniel Boone Park has a boat ramp and fishing and picnic facilities. The park measures 16.000 m² (4 acres).
- Danner Meadow Park.
- Davis Park.
- Haddad Riverfront Park.
- Joplin Park is located in South Charleston, on the other side of the Kanawha River.
- Kanawha State Forest is a recreational area in Loudendale, some 11 km (7 mi) from Charleston. The forest covers 38 km² (9,399 acres) and includes some 50 campsites.
- Magic Island sits a the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers. The island serves as a public park.
- Ruffner Park.
One of the city's most famous inhabitants was Daniel Boone, who lived in Charleston from 1788 to 1795.
Charleston is the seat of the University of Charleston. West Virginia State College is not far from town. The city is an important transportation and trading center for the highly industrialized Kanawha valley and a producer of chemicals, fabricated pipe and sheet metal, machinery, food and beverages, concrete and railroad ties. Salt, coal, natural gas, clay, sand, timber and oil are found in the region.
There are several hotels and restaurants in Charleston. The city is in the west of West Virginia, 410 km southwest from Washington D.C.
; "Image 1 - West Virginia Governor's Mansion ©Giorgio Tomassetti [240kB]")
; "Image 2 - West Virginia State Capitol ©Warren LeMay [145kB]")
; "Image 3 - Park ©Giorgio Tomassetti [151kB]")
; "Image 4 - West Virginia Governor's Mansion ©Warrer LeMay [257kB]")
; "Image 5 - West Virginia State Capitol ©Mobilus In Mobili
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