Tag: State Capitol

Geospatial Professionals Raise Awareness About Their Field

Geospatial professionals gathered at the West Virginia Capitol on Wednesday to raise public awareness about their field.

Geospatial professionals from across West Virginia gathered at the Capitol today to teach the public about their field.

Geospatial science is colloquially known as the study of “where,” and examines geography trends. Plus, it can be applied across industries, according to Taryn Moser, state geographic information system (GIS) coordinator with the West Virginia Office of GIS Coordination.

“We are not just maps,” Moser explained. “We work in real estate. We work in banking and business. We work in the DNR. There’s a wide spectrum of disciplines here today, and a wide spectrum of geographic data within the state of West Virginia.”

Today’s displays showed how geospatial science helps professionals make informed decisions in fields like geology and meteorology. Meryl Friedrich, who works for the Division of Natural Resources, said it even helps identify regional trends in wildlife conservation.

“We’ve been doing a lot of citizen science surveys, where we allow the public to report any animals that they see,” Friedrich explained. “Specifically, box turtles, fireflies, hellbenders and mud puppies and river otters are the ones we’re looking at now.”

Friedrich said that the DNR uses geospatial science to analyze trends in citizen science reporting. “It’s really great to get the public involved in those projects,” she added.

Moser and Friedrich both said they hope today’s session helped West Virginians better understand the geospatial resources and opportunities available to them. To view some of these resources, residents can visit the Office of GIS Coordination website.

West Virginia Tree, 63 Feet And 8,000 Pounds, Headed To U.S. Capitol

For the first time in more than 40 years, the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is from West Virginia. It was harvested in the Monongahela National Forest in Randolph County on Nov. 1.

Thousands gathered at the state Capitol Tuesday to see the tree that’s going to the U.S. Capitol for Christmas.

For the first time in more than 40 years, the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is from West Virginia. It was harvested in the Monongahela National Forest in Randolph County on Nov. 1.

“It’s a Norway Spruce. It came from Laurel Fork Campground in Randolph County,” said Meadow Arbogast, a conservation educator with the U.S. Forest Service. “It’s 63 feet tall and weighs about 8,000 pounds.”

She said the tree comes from a different region every year.

Meadow Arbogast is a conservation educator with the U.S. Forest Service.

“Every year, a different national forest is selected to provide the tree for the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree. It usually goes by region, so there are 10 regions of national forests in the United States, and Region 9 was selected'” she said. “There are a few states in Region 9, but finally, it came back to West Virginia. We’ve done this project two other times, in 1970 and 1976.”

It was 67 degrees in Charleston on Tuesday evening, and Arbogast said it was nothing like that the day the tree was cut down.

“Our harvest day was 19 degrees, and it was snowing,” she said. “So, this is incredibly different than cutting it down!”

Charleston won’t be the last place West Virginians can see the tree, though it is bundled up and loaded on a 100-foot flatbed truck.

“We have quite the journey still,” Arbogast said. “It will be delivered on Nov. 17, and we have more stops to come. I think this is stop No. 5 of our 19-stop tour.”

The tree came to Huntington on Wednesday. Wheeling is next, followed by Morgantown, Davis, Romney and Harpers Ferry. The tree will be lighted on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol after Thanksgiving. 

West Virginia Tour Schedule

  • Thursday, Nov. 9 (Wheeling) 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. White Palace at Wheeling Park
  • Friday, Nov. 10 (Morgantown) 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. 84 Lumber
  • Saturday, Nov. 11 (Morgantown) 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Operation Welcome Home at Mylan Park and 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. WVU, 243 High St.
  • Sunday, Nov. 12 (Upper Tract) 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Swilled Dog/Raymond’s Gymnastic Center
  • Monday, Nov. 13 (Davis) 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 533 Building
  • Tuesday, Nov. 14 (Romney) 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 15 (Harpers Ferry) 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center
  • Thursday, Nov. 16 (Prince George’s County) 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Joint Base Andrews (Base only)
  • Friday, Nov. 17 Delivery to West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building

August 7, 1877: West Virginia Voters Choose Charleston as Permanent State Capital

In a referendum on August 7, 1877, West Virginia voters chose Charleston to be the permanent state capital. The capital’s location had become a running joke, as government records had been moved from Wheeling to Charleston and then back to Wheeling again, all in 14 years.The capital was on the move so much on West Virginia riverboats, it earned the nickname of “the floating capital.”

Tired of the constant shuffling, legislators allowed state voters to decide the issue once and for all. Democrats in the legislature took one last poke at their current capital of Wheeling, which was staunchly Republican. Despite being West Virginia’s largest city at the time, Wheeling was left off the ballot entirely, in lieu of Charleston, Clarksburg, and Martinsburg, all of which launched promotional campaigns. Charleston supporters even traveled with a circus, giving their sales pitch along the way. And educator Booker T. Washington gave speeches urging black citizens to vote for Charleston.

In the 1877 referendum, Charleston won easily, capturing more than half the votes. So, the capital changed cities one last time, moving from Wheeling to Charleston in 1885.

January 7, 1924: Ground Broken on New West Virginia Capitol Building

On January 7, 1924, ground was broken for West Virginia’s new state capitol building in Charleston’s East End. The previous capitol, located in downtown Charleston, had been destroyed by fire three years before.

The new capitol was designed by architect Cass Gilbert, who’d previously designed the Woolworth Building in New York and state capitols for Arkansas and Minnesota. He’d later design the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington.

The new West Virginia Capitol was built in three stages. The West Wing was completed in March 1925. The East Wing opened in December 1927. The main building, constructed between 1930 and 1932, features a striking rotunda, a Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier, and a towering dome that stands four feet taller than the U.S. Capitol.

The entire project cost nearly $9.5 million and was completed during the worst throes of the Great Depression. Due to money constraints, some of Gilbert’s design elements had to be reworked or eliminated from the final construction. West Virginia’s capitol is considered one of the most beautiful in the country and is a great source of pride for West Virginians.

August 7, 1877: West Virginia Voters Choose Charleston as Permanent State Capital

In a referendum on August 7, 1877, West Virginia voters chose Charleston to be the permanent state capital. The capital’s location had become a running joke, as government records had been moved from Wheeling to Charleston and then back to Wheeling again, all in 14 years.The capital was on the move so much on West Virginia riverboats, it earned the nickname of “the floating capital.”

Tired of the constant shuffling, legislators allowed state voters to decide the issue once and for all. Democrats in the legislature took one last poke at their current capital of Wheeling, which was staunchly Republican. Despite being West Virginia’s largest city at the time, Wheeling was left off the ballot entirely, in lieu of Charleston, Clarksburg, and Martinsburg, all of which launched promotional campaigns. Charleston supporters even traveled with a circus, giving their sales pitch along the way. And educator Booker T. Washington gave speeches urging black citizens to vote for Charleston.

In the 1877 referendum, Charleston won easily, capturing more than half the votes. So, the capital changed cities one last time, moving from Wheeling to Charleston in 1885.

Gun-friendly West Virginia to Put Metal Detectors in Capitol

West Virginia is limiting public entry points at its Capitol and making visitors walk through metal detectors to enter the building.

The Division of Protective Services said Wednesday one public entrance will be available on the building’s west wing starting Jan. 8. An east wing entrance will also be available starting Jan. 10 for the upcoming legislative session.

Visitors will pass through metal detectors and an X-ray machine will scan their items. People with electronic access cards, including state employees and certain media, can still enter any door.

Weapons are already illegal at the Capitol Complex in most instances. Concealed carry permit holders can leave guns locked in cars, for example.

State officials previously loosened gun restrictions around the state, including eliminating gun bans at city centers hosting afterschool activities.

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