These 10 Towns in West Virginia Have Beautiful Architecture

Appropriately called The Mountain State, West Virginia is mostly known for its surrounding mountains and rolling hills that give a scenic backdrop to its towns and cities. However, there is more to the state than just its mountain views and natural wonders. As majestic as the Appalachian Mountains are, this list will highlight West Virginia’s man-made attractions instead, particularly its beautiful architecture.

Here are ten towns in West Virginia that have beautiful and eye-catching structures. From the red brick buildings in Elkins to Shepherdstown’s German heritage, discover a different kind of beauty in this Mid-Atlantic state. Ready your cameras for these postcard-perfect sights!

Harpers Ferry

Not only is Harpers Ferry one of the most charming towns in West Virginia, but its buildings also hold huge significance to America’s colonial and Civil War past. The most notable out of all these buildings is John Brown’s Fort, a brick firehouse built in 1848 where abolitionist John Brown sealed himself up after his raid. This establishment continues to be West Virginia’s most visited tourist site.

Not far from the fort is the Ruins of St. John's Episcopal Church, an 1852 church—beautiful in its heyday—that doubled as a hospital and barracks during the Civil War. This church is also near Harpers Ferry’s historic downtown, where most buildings are from the 18th century, including the 1799 Inn and the pre-Civil War stone houses of The Town’s Inn. Take O’Be Joyfull’s historic walking tour and their spooky ghost tours of Harpers Ferry to see the town’s architecture up close while learning a thing or two about its history.

Charles Town

Strolling through the hip and historic Charles Town, you will immediately notice a few striking red brick houses, particularly the Jefferson County Courthouse. This was where John Brown was tried after his unsuccessful raid on Harpers Ferry. The initial building was built in 1803 but was destroyed in a fire. The current structure that dominates the townscape was constructed in the 1830s. Today, with its Georgian style and Doric columns, it stands proud in Charles Town as an icon of democracy and proof of the resiliency of the American people.

Other notable buildings in town are the 110+-year-old Old Opera House Theatre Company, the 19th-century Federal-style bed and breakfast of The Carriage Inn, and the Neoclassical-style Charleston City Hall.

Buckhannon

For another quaint town with a bustling district filled with well-kept architecture, look no further than Buckhannon. With Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Classical Revival styles, meandering in its historic downtown is a feast for the eyes.

Start with the Upshur County Courthouse, a Colonial Revival structure built in 1899 and a symbol of Buckhannon’s government. Mosey over to the Colonial Arts Center, where you can get your hands on the tickets to watch the latest theater production or a gallery exhibit in a 1924 rustic red brick building. Even Buckhannon’s Dairy Queen is a historic architectural delight itself since it is one of the two oldest operating Dairy Queens in West Virginia, with this one using Roadside Architecture. Grab a sweet treat for a job well done after touring Buckhannon’s architectural wonders!

White Sulphur Springs

While White Sulphur Springs’ Main Street evokes a tidy, charming, and pleasant vibe, what put this southeastern West Virginia city on the map is its grand, clad-in-white luxury resort. An impressive architectural marvel, The Greenbrier in the Colonial Revival style is on 11,000 acres of land, with more than 700 signature resort rooms, over 19 dining options, numerous lounges, and in-house activities. Whether you stay a night in it or just pass by outside for pictures, do not miss out on taking a gander at it!

Aside from The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs has shown its penchant for preserving and transforming historical establishments into other projects. Its Public Library, a splendid brick building, was rebuilt in 1987, but its historical site is still intact. The Schoolhouse Hotel, the first full-service boutique hotel in the city, is the former historic White Sulphur Springs schoolhouse rocking the classic red bricks.

Elkins

With its brick buildings dotting downtown and historic railroad depot, Elkins gives off an irresistible old-world charm—especially for train enthusiasts! Start your visit by going to Railroad Avenue to see the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, a delightful red brick structure with a Richardsonian Romanesque style that has seen through Elkins’ evolution over centuries. It doubles as a visitor center and a place where you can catch a ride on the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

The Tygart Hotel in the heart of downtown Elkins is yet another Beaux-Arts design edifice from 1906 and has been lovingly preserved and restored over the years. With six floors, it towers over and stands out from the nearby buildings, making it an eye-catching downtown icon. Other shops in the same iconic red-brick row are the Guilty Pleasures Sweet Shop, the antique store of The Mossy Merchant, Mycelium’s art store, and Byrd’s House of Donuts. After your downtown stroll and snack, take one last peek at Elkins via the Richardsonian Romanesque style of its seat of power: the Randolph County Courthouse and Jail.

Snowshoe

From chalets to other Alpine-style lodgings, Snowshoe has embraced its mountain ski resort status well with its architecture. Initially made to adapt to harsh, snowy environments in the mountains, this style of architecture is perfect for the town since its winter temperatures can go as low as 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Stay at Snowshoe Mountain Resort’s Timbers or Rimfire Lodge to experience Alpine-style chalet living. You can do scenic lift rides to take in the stunning architectural views of this cozy winter wonderland from above.

Many parts of Snowshoe are walkable. Next to Rimfire Lodge, get coffee from its picture-perfect Starbucks, also styled in ski resort aesthetics. Then walk across to get pizza from Cheat Mountain Pizza and a stout from Old Spruce Tavern. A little ways from there is the adorable Waffle Cabin and the Ballhooter Lift that will get you further up for skiing. Cozy, practical, and stylish—that is Snowshoe!

Morgantown

Morgantown has been praised for its active and thriving downtown, but that admiration should be extended to its historic and well-preserved brick buildings, particularly West Virginia University. This spectacular establishment started in 1867 and includes several buildings with appreciable design, like Stewart Hall’s Beaux-Arts Revival style building.

Walking through downtown, particularly in the Wharf District, you can still see remnants of Morgantown’s colonial past and economic boom in the 1920s. The historical brick buildings have now been converted into eateries and shops, like Flour and Feed’s American restaurant, the vernacular brick Historic Kincaid and Arnett Feed and Flour warehouse, the pub of Mountain State Brewing Co., and the Italian place of Oliverio's Ristorante On The Wharf. Other historical places within the downtown area are the recently renovated Hotel Morgan and the Classical Revival style of Metropolitan Theatre, both from the 1920s.

Weston

For history buffs who are eager to stretch their legs in Weston, you can organize your walking tours in the town’s national historic district. The Weston Downtown Historic District goes through spots like the Gothic Revival style of the First Baptist Church (1915) and the Art Deco style of Citizens Bank. If you need a break, South Texas Barbecue Company is right across the church, while The Museum of American Glass is on the next block.

The most notable of all historic buildings in town is the old Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. This behemoth of an establishment mixes Gothic Revival and Tudor Revival styles, amongst many things. It started its operations in the mid-1800s and only stopped in 1994. Whether you are fascinated by its architecture or curious about its origins, you can explore this 160-year-old structure through seasonal historic and paranormal tours. Just make sure you’re brave enough to face its spooky atmosphere!

Lewisburg

From the Romanesque Revival architecture of the old 1897 Greenbrier Bank-Elks Building to the Federal style of the North House Museum, history and architecture enthusiasts should not skip out on stunning Lewisburg. You can do your own historic walking tour via an online guide or join a guided tour from the North House Museum.

Perhaps one of the most popular historical buildings in town is Carnegie Hall, Lewisburg’s cultural center and hub for theater, music, and other live performances. Built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1902, this Classical Revival-style structure grew into an iconic West Virginia landmark for performing arts. After your architectural sightseeing in town, catch a show in its halls!

Shepherdstown

As one of West Virginia’s oldest towns, downtown Shepherdstown is a treasure trove of truly old and historic architecture. Catch a show at the century-year-old Shepherdstown Opera House, which evolved from vaudeville performances to the modern cinema you see today. The Trinity Episcopal Church looms over the town with its Gothic Revival style. Meanwhile, the barely-changed Mecklenburg Inn remains an important pillar in Shepherdstown’s tradition of inns and taverns.

However, the most important piece of architecture in town is still the 1780s Federal-style Entler Hotel. From surviving fires and keeping the injured during the Civil War to becoming the main social hub and housing the town’s main museum, the Entler Hotel has seen it all.

Discover West Virginia's Architectural Gems

When visiting West Virginia, most travelers get too focused on enjoying its mountain spectacles, pristine springs, and picturesque forests. It is hard to blame them since The Mountain State of the United States is undeniably blessed by Mother Nature—with the magnificent Allegheny Mountains and the purportedly healing waters of Berkeley Springs as prime examples. However, next time you are in the state, try to get to know the place through its historical buildings instead!

With a rich history, active preservation efforts, and great taste in style, these towns in West Virginia should not be underestimated when it comes to beautiful architecture. Harpers Ferry’s quaint town, Snowshoe’s Alpine lodges, Morgantown’s Wharf District, and White Sulphur Springs’ grand Colonial Revival resort are just some of West Virginia’s crème de la crème architectural tourist spots. Not only will your eyes enjoy the structures, but you get to learn a bit of history as well!