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Wheeling Heritage Annual Appeal 2025-2026

The work we do at Wheeling Heritage isn’t possible without your support. Every dollar you give directly supports the programs and services that make Wheeling a more vibrant place to live, work, and enjoy together. Donate today and be a catalyst for revitalization with us!

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Wheeling Heritage Timeline

A Year in Review

Through historic preservation, community development, and the arts, we help to tell Wheeling’s story and shape its future. We seek to improve the quality of life in Wheeling by preserving and investing in our city, collaborating with others, and engaging the citizens of Wheeling in our work.

Wheeling: Live Here

Originally published on Weelunk in the spring of 2021, the Wheeling: Live Here guide has undergone extensive revisions to further highlight Wheeling’s unique assets and answer the question, “Why Wheeling?” This guide serves as a valuable resource for those looking to relocate to our city, or simply explore. It was created with both newcomers and long-time residents in mind, highlighting key aspects of the community – such as housing, schools, culture, and entertainment. Businesses and organizations can also use Live Here Guide to attract potential employees and showcase the benefits of living in Wheeling.

Part of this new initiative was creating a printed version of the guide for the first time, as well as providing digital materials to those wanting to promote the guide on their website.

Wheeling Revitalization Subgrant Program

Wheeling Heritage received a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior to create this program in 2021, and then for a second time in 2023 to continue the program. With each of these grants Wheeling Heritage was awarded $750,000 to fund this program and to subgrant to qualified projects.

More than 10 major renovation projects in Wheeling have received funding from this program. That list of projects continues to grow as the first round of funding received by the National Park Service is awarded, and the application process begins for the second round. The purpose of this subgrant program is to support the revitalization of Wheeling through the redevelopment of commercial downtown properties, and catalytic redevelopments in our urban neighborhoods.

City of Lights Initiative

As the city’s streetscape project is being completed, plans to encourage the community to explore downtown are also taking shape. Thanks to a partnership between the City of Wheeling, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), Wheeling-Ohio County CVB, Wheeling Heritage, West Liberty University’s Department of Media and Liberal Arts, and the Parade Committee, this holiday season will have a fresh new look.

60 local businesses and families have come together to donate over $35,000 to purchase new LED snowflakes to display from the new light poles installed during the streetscape project on Main and Market Street. Some of the other new additions include a new giant Christmas tree at Market Plaza, dine-in igloos that can be reserved for catering in partnership with local restaurants, and a new City of Lights logo designed by West Liberty student, Ella Smith.

Small Business Development Programming

As a Main Street West Virginia Community, Wheeling Heritage provides programs and services that focus on small business development, city planning and public art. Our goal is to enhance economic growth through business development and innovation. We provide skills and resources to small business owners that strengthen the local economy and culturally enrich our community.

Our Show of Hands program is a community-supported crowd-funding event that has awarded over $154,000 to help small businesses expand or achieve a specific goal. CO.STARTERS, in partnership with Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), is a ten-week program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn business ideas into action and turn a passion into a sustainable and thriving business.

Beacon Light: A History of OVGH/OVMC

Wheeling Heritage had the honor of creating a documentary film telling the story of Ohio Valley General Hospital (later known as Ohio Valley Medical Center). This documentary was made to illustrate the impact this historic institution made, and to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary staff who made OVGH and OVMC a cornerstone of compassion and care for over a century. The surprising closure and demolition of the complex left the surrounding area heartbroken. Although the buildings are no longer standing, its legacy continues on in the families of those it served, and those who served within it.

A premiere was held at the J.B. Chambers Performing Arts Center at Wheeling Park High School, and it is now available to watch online.

Wheeling Artisan Center Gallery

The mission of the Wheeling Artisan Center Gallery is to promote and support artists by providing a platform for showcasing their work, fostering community engagement, and contributing to Wheeling’s vibrant art scene. We’re excited to offer several art shows throughout the year at our gallery space at 1400 Main Street.

Some recent exhibits include River City Enlightenment – a solo exhibition by local photographer Dennis Jones, The Art of Possibility – A colorful and inspiring showcase of student artwork from Wheeling Country Day School, and Locally Centered – part of the four-day event, Ceramics Take Over Wheeling, a citywide celebration of ceramic artists and clay enthusiasts!

We are grateful to the Elizabeth Stifel Kline Foundation for their generous support of our gallery. Their contribution has helped provide essential enhancements to the space.

2026 Initiatives

Support Our Journey

Artisan Center 3rd Floor Renovation:

Contribute to transforming the Wheeling Artisan Center into a community hub for arts and culture. An updated third-floor conference and event space is one of our goals that also helps our organization become more sustainable.

The Blue Church:

Assist our efforts to redevelop the former St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church into a space that is utilized once again by our community. Pre-development work is underway thanks to a Survey and Planning grant awarded by the State Historic Preservation Office.

Continued Expansion of Historic Districts:

Additional signage is needed to serve as markers for historic districts in the city, and some existing signs are in need of maintenance. As eligible areas are identified, we intend to continue the surveying and nomination of future districts.

Wheeling Gateway Visitors & Heritage Experience:

Shape the city’s future through development support for the Wheeling Gateway Project.

In 2024, National Heritage Areas continued to serve communities and support their partners. In summary, NHAs:

Leveraged $60 million in cash and in-kind support to carry out heritage projects and programs, creating over a 2:1 impact of the $28.1 million in federal Heritage Partnership Program funding received.
Engaged 2,021 formal partners and 3,245 informal partners in heritage area activities.
Benefited from 18,525 volunteers contributing over 178,740 hours for heritage area projects equally over a $5.7 million value.