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Where is Wheeling located?
- Wheeling is a quaint town in beautiful West Virginia, where many unique attractions and places to visit await anyone curious enough to come and learn while having fun.
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What historical attractions can be found in Wheeling?
- Since the early 1800s, people have built incredible places like a 1,650-acre park, mansions, massive bridges, a world-renowned zoo, theaters, museums, and cathedrals.
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What entertainment and dining options does Wheeling offer?
- The town is home to some of the best restaurants in America, unique shops, a racetrack, an arena, and many other places that are now historical landmarks.
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What can visitors and residents do in Wheeling?
- Both visitors and residents have a lot to see and do in Wheeling, West Virginia.
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1. Walk across the Wheeling Suspension Bridge
This modern marvel was built in 1849 as the largest suspension bridge in the world at the time. The bridge connects the mainland at Wheeling, WV to Wheeling Island, just west, spanning over 1,000 feet across the mighty Ohio River. The Wheeling Suspension Bridge is so old that there are restrictions for how heavy a vehicle can be to cross it, as well as the proper separation between cars so that one spot does not carry too much weight. If visitors are looking for more history on the bridge, it can be found at the local historical society and museums in Wheeling, WV.
Where 10th St. becomes Virginia St. Wheeling, WV 26003
2. Enjoy a sunny day at Oglebay Park
Visitors can find dozens of attractions, historical places, and events within the 1650 acres that make Oglebay Park. The Mansion Museum houses all the history of the lands and the people who made it all possible. The entire park has two professional golf courses, two public golf courses, eleven public tennis courts, public pool, hiking trails, gardens, a greenhouse, and a ski slope. Also located within the park is the Good Zoo, the Anne Kuchinka Amphitheater, the Wilson Lodge which has over 270 rooms and over 50 cottages available to rent, the Shrader Center, Camp Russel, and Schenk Lake. Throughout the year, events are held within the park at all the different locations.
465 Lodge Dr. Wheeling, WV 26003, Phone: 877-436-1797
3. Take the kids to The Good Zoo
The Good Zoo is located with Oglebay Park and was the first zoo ever built as a natural area. Visitors can explore over 50 species from all over the world, some of which are endangered or rare. Many habitats are located within individual sections with animals from different parts of the world. Families and friends can enjoy the zoo in many ways. Visitors can learn about the animals and their habitats, explore the sections of the zoo, participate in different programs and events happening all the time, and take a train ride through the entire zoo. Food and drink vendors can be found around the zoo, along with gift shops, and special activities for the kids.
465 Lodge Drive Wheeling, WV 26003, Phone: 877-436-1797
4. Enjoy a live show at Capitol Theatre
Capitol Theatre was built in 1928 as the largest theater in West Virginia. Today, theatergoers can see Broadway shows, bands, and other live shows. The theater also offers rental opportunities for people who want a lot of class and space. Many use the Grand Ballroom as a beautiful wedding venue. The building is ADA compliant and provides security and strict behavior rules so that everyone has a great time. Many events cater to every age, including shows for toddlers. What makes the Capitol Theatre so unique is that it hosts its radio shows, which plays most shows live on the radio for the public.
1015 Main St. Wheeling, WV 26003, Phone: 304-233-7000
5. Visit the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum
Most guests can guess what to expect at this museum, which includes a lot of toys from bygone eras and everything about trains, but there is so much more to discover. The Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum is dedicated to preserving toys that people remember from their childhood, and to be stewards of the railway history of the area. The trains aren’t toys, though. They are authentic and can be visited within multiple exhibits featuring the history of trains in the area. There are interactive exhibits with operating train engines that people of all ages can have fun with. The museum holds many community events throughout the year as well.
144 Kruger Street Wheeling, West Virginia 26003, Phone: 304-242-8133
6. Learn about history at the West Virginia Independence Hall
The class="ref1" href="https://wvculture.org/explore/wv-independence-hall/" target="_blank">West Virginia Independence Hall was built at the start of the civil war and was used for government operations, even before West Virginia was officially declared the 35th state. Its architecture is fascinating, as the framework is built from wrought iron and stone. Today, people wander the exhibits featuring the history of the building and the impact the people made during the civil war and after. Self-guided tours are encouraged, but visitors can also plan to have a tour guide who professionally reenacts a character from the mid-1800s. Many temporary exhibits come and go during the year, but the first floor is permanently dedicated to the history of the civil war and what the building represents.
1528 Market Street, Wheeling, WV 26003, Phone: 304-238-1300
7. Try your luck at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center
Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center has some of the most popular tourist destinations in West Virginia, including the racetrack. Horse racing has been popular there since before the civil war. The track has greyhound racing and other gaming and gambling activities for adults to participate in. Wheeling Island has hotel accommodations that can suit anyone’s need. Many different types of dining are available, from fast foods to fine dining options, and the track and Gaming Center also has food and drinks available. There are events that happen throughout the year for both adults and the whole family.
1 South Stone Street Wheeling, WV 26003, Phone: 304-232-5050
8. Have fun at Wheeling Park
Wheeling Park is over 400 acres of so many fun and exciting things to do. There is something for everyone at Wheeling Park, including a water park with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a water slide that spans well over 300 ft. in length, and a splash area for the little kids. For golfers, there is an 18-hole and a 9-hole course. There are also outdoor/indoor tennis courts, full-length soccer fields, a skating rink, an amphitheater where bands regularly perform, tons of picnicking spots with shelters and gazebos, natural playgrounds for the kids, walking trails, and more. The White Palace and Good Lake also exist within the borders of Wheeling Park.
1801 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003, 304-243-4000
9. Watch a game at Wesbanco Arena
The Wesbanco Arena is like many other Arenas and Civic Centers across the nation and serves as a home to many sports teams, a large concert venue, and many other events. The arena itself hosts many events like banquets, trade shows, conferences, and other similar public events. There are also many rooms available to rent within the walls of the arena. These rooms are both small and large and can accommodate up to several hundred people. The entire arena is ADA compliant and offers handicap parking that leads straight into the arena. Both residents and tourists frequent the Wesbanco Arena daily.
2 14th Street Wheeling, WV 26003, Phone: 304-233-7000
10. Admire religious art at Cathedral of St. Joseph
The Cathedral of St. Joseph is an architectural work of art that is home to the local Bishop of the Catholic Church. The cathedral was built around 1820 and has been rebuilt and renovated over the last 200 years to serve both the public and the local Catholics. Visitors of Wheeling and residents are all welcome to attend church services happening almost daily. The cathedral itself is open to the public during business hours and can be toured so that visitors can see the massive work of art first-hand. There is plenty of history and beautiful architecture to discover at the cathedral for people of all ages.
1300 Eoff St Wheeling, WV 26003, Phone: 304-233-4121
Plan Your Trip
Table of Contents:
- 1. Walk across the Wheeling Suspension Bridge
- 2. Enjoy a sunny day at Oglebay Park
- 3. Take the kids to The Good Zoo
- 4. Enjoy a live show at Capitol Theatre
- 5. Visit the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum
- 6. Learn about history at the West Virginia Independence Hall
- 7. Try your luck at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center
- 8. Have fun at Wheeling Park
- 9. Watch a game at Wesbanco Arena
- 10. Admire religious art at Cathedral of St. Joseph