Wheeling River Front
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Recent Key Accomplishments

  • Leveraging Private Investment - Invested $54,000 in architectural feasibility studies of four abandoned historic structures for adaptive reuse. As a result, the buildings have new owners and have leveraged more than $17 million in public and private investment.
  • Environmental Graphics - Implemented graphics signage program including the installation of interpretive wayside and directional signs along the Wheeling Heritage Trail. The project also included printing of a Heritage Trail map that has been distributed throughout West Virginia.








  • Heritage Port - Held stakeholder workshops that determined the concept design of the public space between WesBanco Arena and Wheeling Heritage Port. Construction began early Fall 2005 and will be completed late Summer 2006.

  • Cultural Conservation - Initiated and organized a community-wide archiving effort. Awarded Heritage Partnership Grants to several small archive initiatives associated with Wheeling businesses, churches and organizations.
  • Partnership Grants - Continued the Wheeling NHA Partnership Grant Program with recent projects including the Appalachian Heritage Festival, the conservation and interpretation of the “It’s Wheeling Steel,” a WWII radio program, the restoration and exhibit of West Virginia Civil War battle flags, and the research and publication of Walking Pleasant Valley – Revisiting the Homes and Lives of Silk Stocking Row.
  • Heritage Tourism - Collaborated in the Wheeling Heritage Tourism initiative with joint marketing and packaging of heritage tourism sites in the Wheeling NHA.





Projects Underway in 2006

  • Adaptive Reuse Studies - Continue to conserve and interpret Wheeling’s historic architecture through preparation of adaptive reuse feasibility analyses and providing technical assistance to property owners. The Wm. Paxton-Peter Zinn buildings (pictured), adjacent to the Capitol Music Hall and the Wheeling Suspension Bridge is a current priority.






  • Wheeling Heritage Port – Completion of Phase III of Heritage Port. The project includes restrooms, extension of the bike and jogging trail, upgrading the public space between WesBanco Arena and the Port and interpretation of Wheeling’s transportation heritage at the historic wharf.









  • Market Plaza - Developed concept designs for the rehabilitation of Market Plaza in downtown Wheeling. The resulting design provides the City of Wheeling the basis and budget for a Transportation Enhancement Program grant.

  • Community Archives - Prepare a community needs assessment for archiving and take action on a priority initiative.

  • Interpretive Waysides - Research, design and install 12 additional interpretive wayside signs focusing on historic neighborhoods.

  • Partnership Grants - Continue the Heritage Partnership Grant Program and collaborating with local groups and organizations involved in the identification, preservation and interpretation of Wheeling’s heritage.

  • Heritage Tourism - Created a full-time Heritage Tourism Coordinator position in partnership with the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau and the National Road Alliance of West Virginia. Early initiatives include developing heritage tour itineraries, refining student tours, and coordinating heritage tourism sites.

  • Document LaBelle Nail - Create a documentary on the LaBelle Nail Works, one of last two cut nail factories in the country and the only one that utilizes original machinery dating from 1852. High definition digital footage documenting the process was produced in 2005 under a Heritage Partnership Grant awarded to the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation. Seek funding from WV Arts and Humanities to create a 30-minute documentary.
© Copyright 2007 Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation