West Virginia Culture Center & State Museum

The museum is located on the lower level of the Culture Center which was dedicated in 1976 and adjacent to the state capitol, where the museum had been located from the time of the capitol's construction until the completion of this dedicated facility. The museum is open without charge to all visitors and guests can choose a guided tour or walk at their own pace through the museum’s twenty-six rooms of exhibits. The museum rotates some of their exhibits, displaying different items from its collection of 60,000 items. Some popular artifacts in the museum include John Brown's noose, a baseball signed by Babe Ruth, and veteran uniforms ranging from World War I to present day.Starting in 2001 and completed in 2008, the museum underwent major renovations that modernized, improved, and expanded the exhibits. In addition to exhibits, the museum offers a gift shop on the entry floor that features art, jewelry, food, and assorted baubles produced by West Virginia natives.

The Culture Center complex also holds the West Virginia State Archives and History Library which is also available to residents and visitors at no cost. The Bureau of Archives and History was created in 1905. It then became a department in 1925 and remained a department until 1977. Since West Virginia was part of Virginia until June 20, 1863, the Archives and History Library contains some materials on Virginia among the West Virginia material. Resources available include an online database of material held at the Library. The Archives and Library hold primary state records including births and deaths in West Virginia since 1853, marriages, wills, deeds, and estate records. Additionally, the public can access census records, military records, and other records via microfilm, maps, manuscripts, and photographs.