News…

WHEELING, W.Va. – West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) in Wheeling will host “Holidays at the Hall” Halloween bash on Saturday, Oct. 13 from noon to 4 p.m. All ages are invited to a fun-filled afternoon of scary stories, crafts and treats. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes, and light refreshments will be served. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

Crafts will be available, including “Make your own Treat Bag” on the lower level of WVIH. All children who attend the party also will receive a complimentary Halloween treat bag with goodies to take home.

Storyteller Judi Tarowsky will feature spooky stories about West Virginia and other tall tales, ghost stories, historical tales and traditional folklore from the area beginning at 2 p.m. in the courtroom. Tarowsky is a member of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild, with appearances at Three Rivers Storytelling Festival, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Vandalia Gathering, Charleston, W.Va.; Arthurdale Heritage Site, Arthurdale, W.Va.; Lunch with Books, Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling, W.Va.; and Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, Woodruff, S.C. to name a few.

For more information about the event, contact Debbie Jones, site manager at WVIH, at (304) 238-1300 or Deborah.J.Jones@wv.gov.

West Virginia Independence Hall has been on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) since 1970. It was originally built as a federal custom house in 1859, served as the home of the pro-Union state conventions of Virginia during the spring and summer of 1861 and as the capitol of loyal Virginia from June 1861 to June 1863. It also was the site of the first constitutional convention for West Virginia. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988, the museum is maintained and operated by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, with the cooperation and assistance of the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, with the exception of major holidays. The museum is located on the corner of 16th and Market Streets in Wheeling.

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