Moundsville

Moundsville is a small city in the northern panhandle of West Virginia that sits along the Ohio River valley. The town center focuses around a large earthen mound dating back centuries, surrounded by residential streets and historic brick buildings from its industrial past.

The area was first settled in 1771 and called Grave Creek, named after the earthen mound that was already a landmark. In 1866 it merged with nearby Mound City and took its current name, growing into an industrial river town through the 1800s and 1900s.

The town's name comes from the large earthen mound that sits at its heart and has shaped the community for generations. Visitors walking through the center can sense how this ancient structure remains central to local identity today.

The town is best explored on foot, starting from the central mound which gives you a clear sense of direction as you walk through the neighborhoods. Several museums and historic buildings are scattered throughout, so it helps to pick one area and spend time getting to know it before moving on.

Charles Lindbergh brought The Spirit of St. Louis to land at a local airfield in August 1927, a brief moment that connected the town to early aviation history. Few visitors realize this event happened here, though it remains part of the local story.