Historic Interactive Maps
Early Settlement
The rugged and forbidding mountains that are now in the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area were slowly breached by hardy pioneers, who built roads and communities in what had long been Indian hunting grounds. Explore sites and information about early pioneers, Native Americans, early forts, and pre-Civil War industry.
Nearly all of these sites are open to the public.
Industry and Transportation
The history of the AFNHA region is linked to railroad development and logging. Logging and associated industries like lumber milling, paper production and the transportation goods helped shape the region. Formerly isolated areas and communities were connected to the rest of the nation with the growth of industry and transportation. The wood products extracted were able to be shipped across the mountains via new railroads.
Along with coal mining, salt mining and steel milling, logging was the major way in which West Virginia and Western Maryland took part in our nation's industrial revolution. Nearly all of the sites on this map are open to the public.
Railroads
See the evolution of railroads in the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area. This interactive map shows the difference between railroads in at their peak in 1920, and railroads in 2020.
Civil War Sites In The AFNHA Region
The United States was still a fairly young nation when the Civil War began. The division set state against state, citizen against citizen, and brother against brother. This is most evident in the people who lived in the state of Virginia. The state of Virginia was quite big at this time containing 95 counties plus the 55 counties of Western Virginia. Having played a significant role in the formation of the country, the leaders in Virginia were hesitant to join in the dissent. By the end of the war, the state split into two separate states, a reflection of what could happen to the rest of the country. AFHNA is one area that is preserving this history by working with many partners to conserve, promote and protect this portion of our story. As you tour this portion of the civil war story in what is now West Virginia, may you discover a part of your story along the way.
New Deal Projects in the AFNHA Region
Through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) unemployed young men with no other options were housed, fed, clothed, and given work to do. Many learned new skills that would improve their lives such as reading, writing, administration, and carpentry. Public Works and Infrastructure were greatly improved through these and many other programs such as the Public Works of Art Projects. According to The Living New Deal, there were approximately 258 projects completed in West Virginia and this tour is a sampling of some of the work done in our region.
