Photo provided by Ohio County Schools Wheeling Park High history teacher Ryan Stanton, who conducts a monthly History of Wheeling class for community members, holds a hat from Louis' Hot Dogs. The class will conduct a bus tour of Wheeling in August.

The History of Wheeling class taught by Wheeling Park High School social studies teacher Ryan Stanton is hitting the road — literally.

The class has scheduled a bus tour around the Friendly City scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 1, starting from Wheeling Park’s White Palace and traveling to several historical sites around Wheeling.

Stanton, a history teacher at Wheeling Park High School, has been teaching the History of Wheeling elective for several years and just finalized year two, with the class additionally being offered as a community-based elective. Since September 2024, he has held a monthly History of Wheeling Class at the JB Chambers Performing Arts Center. What began with help from a grant from Wheeling Heritage has evolved into a monthly session that normally sees upwards of 200 “students” ranging in age from 5 to 105.

After several requests from students, he is working with Ohio County Operations to offer a late summer tour.

“I am very excited to take the history of Wheeling out on the road to explore Wheeling’s historic sites and attractions,” Stanton said. “Sometimes it’s important to step out of the classroom and experience history in person. One of the sites I plan on visiting is the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge, and to truly understand its importance in transportation history, you need to view the bridge in person to fully grasp why, at one point in time, this was one of the most important bridges in the world. It was a marvel for people to see and cross, and the only way to understand that is in person.”

Several stops are planned as the class looks forward to taking this community spotlight on the road. There will be a classic Wheeling-themed lunch sponsored by and located at Orrick before returning to The White Palace at approximately 1 p.m.

“Ryan is a phenomenal instructor,” explains Karin Butyn, OCS Public Relations Director, who has been involved with the program since its inception. “He has such a vast knowledge of all the things that make our city unique, and he connects it to his class in a way that feels so engaging, relatable, and often humorous.”

All History of Wheeling students will be emailed the registration form, but prior attendance to the in-person course is not required to join the tour. All planning on attending need to register prior to July 16. This opportunity is offered at no cost courtesy of Ohio County Schools with the suggested contribution of monetary donations to support Wheeling Park History Department’s annual trip to Washington, D.C.