Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville will change its operating hours effective Oct. 15. The new hours of operation will be Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m. Access to the mound and gift shop closes at 4:30 p.m. daily. The facility will be closed on Mondays.
For more information, contact David Rotenizer, site manager at Grave Creek Mound, at (304) 843-4128.
Operated by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex features the largest conical burial mound in North America built by the prehistoric Adena people. A massive undertaking, construction of the mound took place in successive stages from about 250-150 B.C., and required the movement of more than 60,000 tons of earth. Exhibits and displays in the complex’s museum interpret what is known about the lives of these prehistoric people and the construction of the mound.
Through the end of 2009, the museum also has four contemporary traveling exhibits from the Division. The Ladies Fashion Dolls of the Nineteenth Century by Pete Ballard exhibit consists of 56 costumed dolls made of papier mache, each constructed in proportion to the particular costume it wears. Women of Design: Embassies, Mansions and Stately Homes–Pat Bibbee and Vivien Woofter showcases the work of two of West Virginia’s foremost interior designers. The exhibit includes photographs; text and graphics panels; rug, drapery fabric and wallpaper samples; books; collectibles; and more.
The other two exhibits are from the Division’s West Virginia’s Gift to the World series. Marble King–The World’s Finest Marbles presents a showcase for the Paden City, W.Va. company. The exhibit includes a colorful mural of marbles which features the Marble King logo. The mural has 47,232 marbles, measures six feet by 16 feet, weighs 393.5 pounds and was created by members of the Division’s technical services staff. There also are games such as the Wizard of Oz Family Board Game and Hungry Hippos, vitrines of artifacts, a timeline for the company and a “Marble Drop.” The Homer Laughlin China Company exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to see the “Great Wall of China,” consisting of several rows of china dating from the 1930s through the 1980s. There also are selections of the Fiesta and Ameriwhite, Harlequin, West Virginia University and Marshall University specialty pieces and a timeline for the Newell, W.Va. company. Visitors also can see a 14-minute video titled, “From Essential Elements to Enduring Elegance” which highlights how Homer Laughlin China is manufactured and provides a brief company history.
The Archaeological Complex is located at 801 Jefferson Ave., in Moundsville. Contact the museum for information regarding group registration and detailed driving directions. The museum is free and open to the public. In addition to the museum, the complex opened a 9,600-square-foot wing on the northeast corner of the facility last year. In addition to a state of the art collections storage area, the wing features an archaeological laboratory where curators process artifacts, study area for researchers, library, and a large observation window where the public can view the activity in the lab. Those wishing to conduct research with the collections must call for an appointment.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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