On August 30, 2025 from 1-3PM Friends of Blackwater hosted an incredibly successful Grand Opening Event celebrating the new Tucker Heritage Art Exhibit, a remarkable collection of Tucker County historical signage created by award-winning graphic artist and historian David Vago, open to all on weekends from 11AM – 5PM.
“The presentation and depth of the exhibition had been upgraded since my visit during its soft opening earlier in the month,’ noted Carl Feather in his trip report on his blog, Wandering Back-Roads W.Va. “Although my wife and I had seen many of the panels on our walks along the trails that host the signage, accessing them in a single location provided a continuity and an immersive experience. Videos with Vago and Tom Rodd narrating the stories enhanced the exhibit.”
Feather continues to report that the exhibit located in the basement of the former Babcock Building offers an industrial setting that dovetails with the stories and historical photographs of the coal, lumber and railroading industries that built and sustained Tucker County from 1885 to 1950.
This vibrant collection of heritage panels that will continue to grow with new additions through the season brings stories and local legends of the county’s rich and diverse history to life, organized into four different collections representing Tucker County: Parsons Depot The Thomas Rail Trail The Davis City Park William Avenue (Mainstreet) in Davis Blackwater Falls State Park
Thanks to a generous grant from the Benedum Foundation, the exhibit’s Grand Opening event saw a constant flow of visitors throughout the day, as well as volunteers to host the exhibit.
“Since Friends of Blackwater began this project in 2017, we’ve erected 38 panels for locals and visitors to enjoy,” explains Judy Rodd, Director Director of Friends of Blackwater. “We are incredibly proud of the volunteers who have helped us host this engaging collection by David Vago and navigate residents and visitors through the rich heritage of Tucker County that it chronicles.”
Anyone interested in volunteering to host the Tucker County Heritage Art Exhibit on Saturdays and Sundays from 11AM-5PM (whole or half shifts available) through October can contact Lesley Stokes, Friends of Blackwater Project Manager at 304-345-7663×103 or lesley@saveblackwater.org.
