Bank of Glen Jean

The Bank of Glen Jean is a solid two-story structure built with techniques and materials typical of rural banking institutions in the early 1900s. The construction shows the craftsmanship of that era and preserves its original form to this day.

The building was established in 1909 as West Virginia experienced economic expansion driven by coal mining in the region. It served as an important financial center for the mining-dependent communities of Fayette County.

The building shows how banking services mattered to small coal mining communities and reflects the economic hopes of the early 1900s. It tells the story of a time when such institutions embodied people's trust in progress and stability.

The building is located in Glen Jean near New River Gorge National Park and is easy to access. Today it functions as a visitor contact center for the park, where you can get information and orientation help.

The building is the last principal structure remaining from Glen Jean's coal mining era and a rare remnant of this important phase in the region's development. Its conversion into a visitor center shows how historical places can serve new purposes.