Midland Trail - Our Projects

Projects of the Midland Trail

Midland Trail Video

We are continuing to work on several projects as part of our goal of providing you with an outstanding visitor experience. We have developed a new web site, a video that tells our history, and published three previous guides. Using major publications to reach the mid-Atlantic region, our marketing and distribution program enables us to have the top requested guide at West Virginia Welcome Centers, 1200+ individual guide requests monthly, plus bulk requests, and guides distributed in all 50 states and several foreign countries.
Our 57-minute broadcast quality video, which has been shown on WV Public Television and the Travel Channel, covers the history and sites along the 119-mile Midland Trail National Scenic Byway from Charleston to White Sulphur Springs. It is available for purchase at $19.99. In 2008, we will release an updated video to include the entire 180 miles.

		New Interpretation Venues We will establish new venues to promote and interpret our rich history and share it with both residents and visitors at strategic points along the Byway, including the South Charleston Adena Mound/Midland Trail interpretive Center.
Midland Trail Web Site Lewisburg Pocket Park Ansted Rails-to-Trails	Midland Trail Web Site We will update our Web site to be more traveler-friendly, offering better trip planning features, and to be more mediafriendly with downloadable pictures and story ideas. Awareness Events We will expand events that raise awareness and bring cutomers to our partners' doors. For example, MTSHA's 15th Anniversary Celebration brought together over 300 supporters to celebrate Midland Trail; and the MTSHA and Harley Davidson of WV Poker Run increased awareness of Route 60 with this market segment. Creating Traveler Amenities Providing guidance to towns and sites along the Trail seeking to develop tourist attractions is a major function of MTSHA. National Scenic Byway (NSB) program has funed improvements to Virginia's Chapel (page 47), The Meadow River Campground (page 65), the Booker T. Washington Institute at Malden (page 43), and Ansted (page 57). Ansted- Hawks Nest Trail was funded by NSB and WV DOH TEA-21 (page 55).	A Pictorial History Across the next three years, visitors will be enjoying Midland Trail Murals Public Art Project. We are commissioning 30 pieces of original art to depict 25 centuries of our history to create the roadside mural exibits across the entire byway and Midland Trail - A Pictorial History booklet to educate students and visitors. When completed, be sure to travel the entire byway and see all our great works of art! Midland Trail Anniversary Celebrations We are preparing for our 220th anniversary of Midland Trail's completion to Cedar Grove (1790-2010) and MTSHA's 20th anniversay in 2009. In Touch with History In Touch with History Interpretive Exhibits will present 25 centuries of Midland Trail history from 500 B.C. to the present day in a fun, engaging, and informative format for all ages, by utilizing interactive touchscreen technology. These interpretive exhibits will be placed at partnering visitor centers or attractions across the 180-mile byway.	Pictorial History Sample Mural- Booker T. Washington Young George Washington Surveys Along Midland Trail In Touch with History Program
	New Blue Markers Watch for the new blue byway mile markers (left) that point the way along the Trail from the Ohio/Kentucky border at Kenova to the Virginia border. The guide corresponds your travel with these markers. For each of the 40+ towns, villages and cities along the Trail, we offer an editorial mix of historical information and today's attractions. The Trail has three distinct areas, each with its own culture and unique offerings, as you will learn on page 6.