West Virginia Independence Hall in downtown Wheeling hosted its annual celebration for the state’s birthday, complete with presentations, exhibits and living history reenactments featuring characters in period costumes. Of course, there was plenty of birthday cake celebrating West Virginia’s 163rd year.

“This is our day,” said Debbie Jones, site manager at West Virginia Independence Hall. “There’s no other city in the state that can say they are the birthplace of West Virginia. It happened here. It is where the state was born, upstairs in the courtroom.”

Scores of visitors — many clad in Mountaineer blue and old gold — filed through the doors of the historic building, checking out various displays that shed light on local ties to the Civil War and the state’s history. Interactive displays included a giant 163rd birthday card that guests could sign and a photo booth where visitors could pose with costume props styled after mid-1800s fashion.

A featured figure of the West Virginia Day activities at Independence Hall was President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by John W. King. The Lincoln look-alike took to the steps outside the building’s main entrance to read Proclamation 100, which Lincoln signed on April 20, 1863, in Washington, D.C. The proclamation officially admitted West Virginia to the Union 60 days later on June 20, 1863, creating the nation’s 35th state.

President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by John W. King, and other costumed performers stand on the steps of West Virginia Independence Hall on Saturday, welcoming a crowd of guests for the annual West Virginia Day birthday celebration.

It was the only state born out of the U.S. Civil War.

“The state of West Virginia was declared to be one of the United States of America. It was admitted into the Union on an equal footing with original states in all respects …,” King said while reading Lincoln’s proclamation before concluding in his own words, “Congratulations, and happy birthday!”

King also delivered a talk in the upstairs courtroom about Wheeling’s crucial role in West Virginia’s statehood. The room was packed with spectators from near and far.

Sisters Abby and Kaylin Templeton of Wheeling were among the many visitors on hand Saturday. It was their first visit to Independence Hall, and they said they were amazed by the unique exhibits and displays housed in the landmark.

“I think Wheeling history is especially important,” Abby Templeton said. “Having West Virginia Day here in Wheeling — especially in the heart of where everything is with all of the small businesses — is great because people can walk around, check everything out and see what Wheeling really has to offer.”

Photo by Eric Ayres President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by John W. King, speaks to a crowd inside the upstairs courtroom at West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling on Saturday as part of the West Virginia Day celebration at the historic statehood site.

The sisters said they came to hear the live music and were intrigued by the other activities and historical highlights presented during the celebration. The Suspension Civics String Band and the Bobby Maynard Bluegrass Band performed during the afternoon gathering, which was free and open to the public.

“We’re just down here having fun,” Abby Templeton said.

“We came down to see the strings concert here,” Kaylin Templeton said, describing Independence Hall as a true gem in the city that they were just discovering. “This is very new to us. We’ve been looking around a little bit, and there’s so many interesting things here. We’ve been lifelong Wheeling residents, so it’s good to embrace Wheeling’s heritage.”

Jones said West Virginia Independence Hall welcomes many visitors from out of town who are curious to see the historic location where statehood came to be.

“We get people in here — especially people from Wheeling — all the time who say they’d never been here,” Jones said. “This building has many wonderful displays to offer — 13 original Civil War battle flags, statehood artifacts and all kinds of things. The courtroom is one of the finest restorations in the United States.”

Photo by Eric Ayres A crowd gathers outside of West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling on Saturday, June 20, in celebration of West Virginia Day.

As she prepares to retire later this year, Jones reflected on her final West Virginia Day celebration as site manager.

“This will be my last West Virginia Day celebration serving in my role here,” an emotional Jones told the crowd gathered outside the building. “It will be hard to leave. I couldn’t have asked for a better place, a better town or better people to be with here.”

Jones said Wheeling’s important role in West Virginia’s history will continue to shine for future generations, especially each June on West Virginia Day.

“I hope it continues for many more years, and I’m sure it will,” she said.

Photo by Eric Ayres An actor in period costume stands guard outside of West Virginia Independence Hall on Saturday during the annual West Virginia Day celebration in Wheeling, the birthplace of the nation's 35th state.

President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by John W. King, and other costumed performers stand on the steps of West Virginia Independence Hall on Saturday, welcoming a crowd of guests for the annual West Virginia Day birthday celebration.