W.Va. To Celebrate Nation’s 250th Anniversary With Lights And Sound

West Virginia’s celebration of the nation’s 250^th anniversary will take place at the Capitol Complex July 2 through 5 – the same days the capitol city will celebrate its annual Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, less than two miles away.   

“That’s going to make a wonderful week-long festival for West Virginians, and so we think that every family is going to have a chance to join the fun,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said at a press conference Tuesday. “We know that there’ll be free shuttle services, and so this is going to be something for people to truly remember for many, many years.” 

Among the attractions at the Capitol: the America 250 wheel. Said to be the world’s largest portable Ferris wheel, it stands 230 feet tall, accommodates about 1,600 people per hour – all free of charge – on 45 gondolas, each representing a different U.S. president. At night it lights up with a 256-color LED display 

Each evening, Morrisey said spectators can gather in front of the gold-domed Capitol.  

“There you’re going to witness a stunning light show that’s projected directly onto the capitol building, and this is actually inspired by a lot of the displays you’ve seen with the Washington Monument,” Morrisey said. “This Liberty and Light show is going to paint the story of our state and our nation in light and sound, highlighting the triumphs of West Virginia and the enduring strength of the United States. I think this is going to be a show very much worthy of the history books.” 

County commissioners in all 55 counties will have promotional materials and resources to plan their own festivities, Morrisey said.  

He didn’t have a specific price tag for the celebration but said it would be several million dollars. 

“Obviously when you’re doing something of this magnitude, whether you’re talking about the fireworks, whether you’re talking about the Ferris wheel, that does cost something, but I think it’s also really, really important to celebrate America’s 250,” Morrisey said. 

 “This is so critical that everyone across West Virginia get a really wonderful education about our state’s founding, our country’s founding, and so I’m really proud of the effort that we’re going to put together, but it does cost some resources.”  

Morrisey also announced the Governor’s America 250 Task Force, made up of the following individuals: 

• West Virginia University President Michael Benson 

• Senator Brian Helton 

• Cabinet Secretary Eric Householder 

• Former Delegate Kayla Kessinger 

• Jim Laurita 

• Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt 

• Conrad Lucas 

• Jim Martin 

• Delegate Pat McGeehan 

• First Lady Denise Morrisey 

• Jim Ruland 

• Secretary of Tourism Chelsea Ruby 

• Adjutant General Jim Seward 

• Lee Snyder  

• Marshall University President Brad D. Smith 

For more event information and updates, visit wv250.com and follow @westvirginia250 on Facebook and Instagram.