Editor’s Notes: Expanding historical resources
Trending
Have you ever been over to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District? It stretches from Winchester, Va., in the north down to McDowell, Va., in the south -- generally following I-81, except for Cool Springs and McDowell.
I have been to parts of it approximately eleventy billion times -- first as the child of a mega-history buff whose specific love was the Civil War; and later as a history nerd myself ... with a sister, niece and nephew who (gee, I don't know how) also turned out to love visiting those places.
In fact, as I looked at the map of the district in preparation for writing this column, I was able to conjure up images and memories from nearly every site.
I'm writing because U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., announced he is part of a bipartisan group that has introduced the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Boundary Expansion and Partnership Act of 2026.
Translation, the group wants to add three West Virginia counties (Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan) and one Virginia county (Rockbridge) to the district.
"This is a big day for West Virginia," Justice said. "This bill would add critical Civil War sites in our Eastern Panhandle to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District. Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties saw some of the first actions of the conflict and suffered through all four years of the war -- from Harpers Ferry and the Battle of Hokes Run to the Gettysburg Campaign and the battles of 1864, West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle played a significant role."
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is on board, too.
"I'm proud to help introduce this legislation to expand the boundaries of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District. (It) provides an incredible opportunity for people to learn about the formation of West Virginia and the important role our state holds in the foundation of our nation. By expanding the boundaries, we are able to enhance the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District partnership model, helping provide necessary resources and funding to preserve and improve this historic site for future generations," she said.
If you're thinking "What's the big deal?" let me tell you, there are people for whom this district is like Disney World is to some others.
My dad would be driving down I-81 or U.S. 11 in Virginia, carefully plotting where we stopped for lunch based on whether there was a Civil War-related stop there.
"Well, while we're eating at Johnny Appleseed's, anyway, let's pop over afterward to the visitors' center," he'd say, and all the other hostages in the car would groan.
Johnny Appleseed Restaurant is closed now, I think, but now the former hostages stop at places such as Jackson's Corner Coffee Roastery and Café ... before popping over to the New Market Battlefield Visitor Center and Museum for a minute.
And if you think the kids don't get a souvenir every time ... let's just say they know no one in this family says "no" when a child asks for a book.
My point is, people spend money and visit far more than battlefields and museums when they're exploring these historic districts and trails.
Dad wasn't the only one. There are still plenty of cars in those parking lots. (Not to redirect anyone from the district I'm trying to promote and hoping will expand, but it's not much farther up the road to Gettysburg, if you want to see how communities really make money on their Civil War history.)
West Virginia was born because of the Civil War, and the Eastern Panhandle counties already have plenty of sites to satisfy history travelers. Let's see, there's ALL of Harpers Ferry (which is already a national historical park), Belle Boyd's house, the Shepherdstown Battlefield ... were I writing this column six years ago, I would have been on the phone for hours after picking up to ask, "Hey Dad, what Civil War sites should I mention over there?" He might even have suggested a road trip.
But I have no doubt he's smiling somewhere now, knowing this work is underway; perhaps even impatiently urging lawmakers to hurry up.
"West Virginia's Civil War history is not a footnote," Justice said. "It is central to who we are as a state. This bill makes sure that history gets the recognition and the resources it deserves, and it does it with both of our states working side by side. That's the way it ought to be."
Making sure history gets the recognition and resources it deserves. That shouldn't be a novel idea. Justice is right. It's just the way it ought to be.
Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com.