The Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike Alliance
The Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike Alliance |
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The Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike Alliance was formed in the fall of 1994 to further preservation and promotion of area historic sites.
Our Statement of Purpose is:
The Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike Alliance consists of individuals and independent organizations in Virginia and West Virginia who seek through public - private cooperation to:
Partners who have been active in the collaboration include:
Behind the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike Alliance
The collaborative effort arose out of several interrelated needs. One was the need to coordinate research, interpretation, and presentation of the related Civil War sites of the 1861 Mountain campaign, including the central Battle of Rich Mountain. In telling the story of Rich Mountain it is important to present the story in context of what happened before and after, to tell why the battle was fought where it was - for control of the Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike, and to show why it was significant. Another need is to help encourage tourism to the area and to develop tourist destinations which will encourage visitors to stay longer. This is particularly important for some of the areas along the Pike, like the upper Greenbrier Valley of northern Pocahontas County, which have been struggling with lost jobs and economic decline. Also, by recognizing, preserving, and valuing the historic sites, local communities will find increased pride in their heritage and their locality, and come together in joint projects for the good of the community.
Research by Alliance members has helped identify the significance and the historic resources of the Turnpike. The Staunton - Parkersburg Turnpike was the primary historic transportation route connecting the upper Shenandoah Valley with the Ohio River. The building of the road opened up much of western Virginia to settlement and development. The Civil War campaign fought for control of the Turnpike is nationally known as the campaign that brought General George McClellan to prominence, and that tarnished the reputation of Gen. Robert E. Lee. It was doubly significant in the formation of the state of West Virginia, both because the struggle to get this route built was an important component in the political dissension leading to the separation of western Virginia, and because military control of the turnpike and northwestern Virginia made statehood possible.
The most developed of the historic resources are the Civil War sites. Rich Mountain Battlefield, Cheat Summit Fort, Camp Allegheny, and the Beverly Historic District are interpreted and open to visitors, as is the related site at Philippi. Additional sites such as Camp Bartow and Elkwater are highly significant, and need better development.
The turnpike itself provides a valuable resource. In many cases it now follows the modern highway, and a few sections of the turnpike have been abandoned altogether, such the section from Cheat Summit Fort to Red Run. But most of the remaining bypassed sections are now secondary roads, many of them still in gravel. Most notable of these are the section from Camp Allegheny to Bartow, and from Beverly over Rich Mountain to Mabie. Both of these are scenic, little developed roadways with excellent integrity to the early appearance of the turnpike and with strong Civil War associations. They offer a unique experience for the tourist looking for something genuine and unusual.. A number of historic homes and communities, many significant to later development along the pike, are currently unrecognized but have much potential to contribute to the overall story of the turnpike.