A Wild and Wonderful 158th Birthday Bash for West Virginia
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WHEELING -- Residents gathered throughout the day Sunday to celebrate the Mountain State's 158th birthday.
In honor of West Virginia Day, a celebration was held at West Virginia Independence Hall, the state's birthplace. The event began with cake and refreshments followed by a proclamation read by John W. King, portraying President Abraham Lincoln. Attendees were able to browse the museum and pose for pictures with King who has been portraying the late president for the past 25 years and won a "Lincoln Look-Alike Contest" at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 2013.
Debbie Jones, site manager of West Virginia Independence Hall, said she was happy to hold the event this year. It was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We opened on West Virginia Day (last year) but we didn't have any celebration or anything," she said. "… We hope folks come out and enjoy the day with us to celebrate."
Jones said the museum is an important part of the state's history as it was the location where it became the 35th state. Lincoln signed the bill that made West Virginia a state on June 20, 1863.
"Some people don't realize what this building is," Jones said. "That's what I hope for at this event is that people understand its significance. No other city has this in the state. This is where they met, this is where the West Virginia State Constitutional Convention was all held, right upstairs."
King said he is fortunate to resemble Lincoln which has enabled him to travel around the region educating people on the country's history.
"I'm a retired teacher so I enjoy doing this as a history lesson," he added.
King gave a brief history about the process officials went through to determine whether it was constitutional for West Virginia to become a state and then read the proclamation that was signed by Lincoln in 1863.
A couple of the attendees included brothers Andrew Gamble, 21, and Harrison Gamble, 11, who visited the museum for their shared interest in history. Andrew said they enjoy coming to the museum and have done so on several occasions, although this was their first time attending the event.
"I like history a lot, and it's nice to come down here and see this and have the museum to celebrate West Virginia Day,'' he said.
Jones said that the museum itself is always free to the public, as well as all of its events. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at 1528 Market St., Wheeling.