June 16, 2021
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville resumes its public programs and events in June with activities for children, a lecture on “Juneteenth and its History in the Ohio Valley,” and a new featured Artist of the Month. Also of interest are a towering replica stegodon skeleton and a house frame that is the first step in re-constructing a prehistoric Adena house. Both are recent additions to the museum’s exhibits. These programs, activities and the exhibits are open to the public free of charge. Visitors also are welcomed by a newly remodeled gift shop stocked with many locally made items.
A highlight of the month’s activities will be a lecture titled “Juneteenth and its History in the Ohio Valley” by Ronald Scott, Jr., program director, Cultural Diversity and Community Outreach at the Wheeling YWCA on Saturday, June 19, at noon. The program will discuss the freeing of African American slaves in the Ohio Valley, and how their emancipation has been celebrated through the years. Scott is one of the organizers of Juneteenth celebrations in Wheeling and invites everyone to join in remembering those who suffered because of the color of their skin, and to celebrate the rich culture, contributions, and accomplishments of African Americans in our communities.
June 20th marks West Virginia Day, the day the Mountain State separated from Virginia in 1863. This event will be celebrated throughout the month at the museum’s “Discovery” table where visitors can show their Mountaineer pride by making a fan to keep cool this summer. The fan proclaims, “I’m a West Virginia Fan!” and features an outline of the state that can be colored according to the artist’s imagination. The Complex also will open for special hours on Sunday, June 20, from 1 – 5 p.m.
The museum is also pleased to resume its Artist of the Month exhibits. The artist for June is Lydia Grimm. Grimm started working with metal embossing in 2019 when gifted a metal piece her father made in high school. She continues to make metal art and necklaces and has also worked with acrylic paint since 2020. She loves to add local wildlife to her paintings and adds an extra element to her backgrounds. Grimm lives in West Virginia with her husband and their young child and appears at local craft and art shows in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Operated by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex features one of the largest conical burial mounds built by the Adena people between 250 - 150 B.C. and ranks as one of the largest earthen mortuary mounds anywhere in the world. Exhibits and displays in the Delf Norona Museum interpret what is known about the lives of these prehistoric people and the construction of the mound. The complex also houses the West Virginia Archaeological Research and Collections Management Facility.
Admission to Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex is free. The Delf Norona Museum, located at 801 Jefferson Avenue, is currently operating on a modified schedule due to the pandemic. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.
For more information about activities and programs at Grave Creek Mound, contact Andrea Keller, cultural program coordinator, at (304) 843-4128 or andrea.k.keller@wv.gov or visit www.facebook.com/gravecreekmound and www.twitter.com/gravecreekmound.
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