Just a few miles from downtown Huntington, Heritage Farm Museum and Village, West Virginia’s first and only Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, offers visitors of all ages a unique, historical Appalachian experience complete with museums and activities not found elsewhere in the region.
Heritage Farm Museum and Village
Heritage Farm and Village is such a special place, don’t be surprised if you don’t want to leave. And with five individual inns on the property, you can enjoy a lengthier farm experience. Stay in one of the beautiful, antique-filled homes, each with fully equipped kitchens, which harken back to a simpler time. Enjoy peaceful views from front porch rocking chairs, a game of checkers, or a hike along the property’s five miles of trails. The 9,000-square-foot Barn Conference and Retreat Center is an 1800s dairy barn that can accommodate large gatherings like camps and church retreats and includes five meeting rooms, two large bunk rooms, a kitchen, and bathroom facilities. One of the newest lodging additions is a N&W Virginian caboose, where guests can experience our railway past.
Kids
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a child. Make friends with miniature horses, laugh with llamas, and pet piglets at the Petting Zoo. At the Children’s Activity Center, kids can play with a typewriter, learn to milk pretend cows, and watch bees building a hive. The Six Simple Machines Discovery Zone is a new interactive playground that features the six simple machines and different types of renewable energy. The newly added MakerSpace is a place for all ages and skill levels to explore and foster creativity.
Parents
Parents will enjoy the seven stand-alone museums that offer glimpses into early Appalachian pioneer life. The Industry Museum invites guests to explore advancements in regional industry and commerce like timber and coal, while the Transportation Museum documents the evolution of transportation with an impressive collection of early automobiles, trucks, and even a stagecoach. The Progress Museum showcases the evolution of domestic life since the 1850s and houses the fully functional Artisan Guild Print Shop. Enjoy downhome cooking at The Daily Bread Café, and then watch a blacksmith forge a tool at the Blacksmith Shop.
Grandparents
Don a dunce hat and take a seat in the fully restored One-Room Schoolhouse that sits on the former site of Ratcliff School, or recall a simpler time at the Country Store Museum. The newest museum, The Bowes Doll and Carriage Museum, features one of the best private collections of dolls in the country and will delight children and adults alike. Don’t miss the “Generations” Murals in the MakerSpace, which chronicle pop culture from Pearl Harbor to 9/11. Visit The Artisan Center and watch skilled tradespeople demonstrate traditional Appalachian arts and crafts.
Events
A great way to sample all that Heritage Farm and Village offers is by attending one of their popular festivals, so mark your calendar! Festival tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children.
Spring Festival | May 5
This is your chance to see the entire village brought to life. Tour all the museum buildings, watch artisans craft handmade products, visit with the farm animals, and witness machinery from yesteryear. Food vendors, live music, and special activities like sheep shearing help make this a one-of-a-kind event.
Summer Festival | July 7
The Farm will celebrate America all July long, and it starts with the Summer Festival on July 7th. This tribute to America features one of our nation’s oldest traditions—the ice cream social. Enjoy special recipe homemade vanilla ice cream for sale in the village, as well a host of special activities.
Fall Festival | October 13
This year’s Fall Festival is jam-packed.
Not only will Heritage Farm be hosting its annual Cast Iron Cook-Off, but guests can also enjoy the third Mountain Games event—a series of 10 scored games that embrace the Appalachian heritage of our region.
Christmas Village | Nov 30–Dec 15 (Fridays & Saturdays)
Enjoy the festive pioneer village, live Nativity scene, visits with Santa, baked goodies, and all sorts of handmade Christmas gifts.
*Special admission is $5 (ages 3 and up)
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