MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville invites the public to participate in several events in February, including a film on the Underground Railroad, an indoor gardening day celebrating spring, and “Warm Fuzzies” for Valentine’s Day. All programs are free and open to the public.
February is designated as Black History Month and the museum’s monthly Second Saturday program will be a film about the Underground Railroad in honor of the occasion. “Roots of Resistance: The Story of the Underground Railroad” will be screened at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10. The film features the narratives of escaped slaves and their descendants who tell the story of the secret network of deeply committed individuals who helped escaped slaves find their way to freedom. The 56-minute film was produced in 2005 by the WGBH Educational Foundation and is part of the American Experience series aired on PBS.
Who isn’t tired of winter by the end of February? Look forward to spring with “Green Your Winter Blues,” an afternoon filled with displays and activities related to gardening. The program will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24. Visitors can join Ohio County Master Gardeners, Ainsley Gray, agricultural program assistant at the Marshall County Cooperative Extension Office, and other museum volunteers in celebrating the approaching Spring season. Visitors can learn about monarch butterflies with biologist Kayla Black, take seeds from the museum’s Interpretive Garden to grow at home, propagate a houseplant, make a “Sprout House” for germinating seeds, and enjoy a variety of additional activities and displays.
February is also the month of Valentine’s Day, and museum visitors will be able to learn the story of “Warm Fuzzies,” which when given to someone, gives that person a happy, warm, and fuzzy feeling, perfect for Valentine’s Day. The “Warm Fuzzies” activity will be available at the museum’s Discovery Table during regular museum hours throughout February.
Operated by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex features one of the largest conical burial mounds built by the Adena people between 250 – 150 B.C. and ranks as one of the largest earthen mortuary mounds anywhere in the world. Exhibits and displays in the Delf Norona Museum interpret what is known about the lives of these prehistoric people and the construction of the mound. The complex also houses the West Virginia Archaeological Research and Collections Management Facility.
Admission to Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex is free. The Delf Norona Museum, located at 801 Jefferson Avenue, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Access to the Mound and other outdoor areas closes at 4:30 p.m., weather permitting.
For more information about activities and programs at Grave Creek Mound, contact Andrea Keller, cultural program coordinator, at (304) 843-4128 or andrea.k.keller@wv.gov or visit www.facebook.com/gravecreekmound, and www.instagram.com/gravecreekmound.