Until 1861 West Virginia was part of Virginia. Virginia was named to honor Queen Elizabeth of England often referred to as the "Virgin Queen."

Welcome to West Virginia, land of rugged mountains. The "Mountain State," with the highest mean altitude east of the Mississippi River, is also the state with the largest single natural scenic and outdoor recreational area in the eastern United States; the Allegheny Highlands. Eighty percent of the state is forested with over 110,000 square miles of hardwood forest, wind-swept mountains and photo-perfect valley landscapes. All of this can be found within a day's drive of 20 major eastern cities.

Venture into West Virginia, experience the beauty of its unmatched mountain scenery, and learn why the state motto rings so true:

Montani Semper Liberi - Mountaineers Always Free!