MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville invites the public to celebrate the December holidays with several activities and events. Local history, a student art exhibit, a holiday tree decorated with produce from the museum’s Interpretive Garden, and a variety of crafts are being offered. The museum shop also will be filled with gift ideas, including many items made in West Virginia. All programs are free and open to the public.
The museum’s monthly Second Saturday program is a book signing by the authors of Memories of Fostoria Glass from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. The public is invited to meet Gary L. Rider and Roseanna Dakan, who will give a short introduction to their latest book telling the story of Moundsville’s Fostoria Glass plant and some of the people who worked there. The program will be held at the museum’s exhibit of Fostoria glass and copies of the book will be for sale.
Artist Cheryl Childers will lead a workshop making holiday greeting cards and ornaments from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Acrylic paints will be used to create a unique decoration or a greeting card. Budding artists of all ages are welcome; children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Inspiration for the art projects can be drawn from the exhibit Ohio Valley Plein Air Paint Out 2023, which will be on display through Jan. 31, 2024. In September 2023, Marshall County art students ventured outdoors for a plein air paint out as part of an annual event in which adult and student artists worked at several venues, including Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex. This exhibit showcases the student’s work, created under the direction of Ohio Valley artist Eric Dye and art teachers Tabetha Morgan from Moundsville Middle School; Amanda Jenree from Cameron High School; and Ashley Cottrill, Olivia Snider and Elaina Depetro from John Marshall High School.
Throughout the month of December, visitors can “Snip a Snowflake” at the museum’s Discovery Table by cutting a snowflake from a folded paper circle. Visitors are encouraged to make a snowflake to take home and one to decorate the museum’s windows. Additional arts and crafts will be available for children during the holiday break.
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.
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.