BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -In Mercer County the birth of West Virginia’s statehood and how it impacted residents at the time are part of a traveling exhibit that opens Wednesday in the Paine Gallery at the Bluefield Arts Center.
Called “Born of Rebellion: West Virginia statehood and the Civil War”, that historic transition is featured by presenting stories from state residents who lived through that period and recorded their perspectives.
One person prominently featured is Upshur County teenager who was 16 years old when West Virginia achieved statehood.
Mimi Merritt, chair of the Paine gallery committee for the Bluefield Arts and Revitalization corporation (BARC), says the corporation is committed to bringing exhibits of historical interest to the city.
Merritt says she was excited to work with the West Virginia humanities council to bring in and open the exhibit.
It explores the state’s journey toward statehood through personal reflections and photographs and writings from newspapers and magazines of the period.
“I think for West Virginian natives so often we know bits and pieces of our history, but to see it all connected and to see it come firsthand I think are quite fascinating”
The Paine Gallery will be open for this exhibit, which is free to the public, on weekdays from 9 a.m. To 4 p.m. And by appointment, except on holidays. For more information, please visit barcwv.org.
The exhibit opens tomorrow and runs through Jan. 31, 2025, From 9 a.m. To 4 p.m. Weekdays and by appointment.
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