Huntington has a range of attractions for the history buff, the arts lover, and families. A number of the city's historic buildings are open to the public and available for tours. The Jenkins Plantation Museum is a brick mansion built in 1835 and is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail. Featured are tours, reenactments and special events. In 2005, the museum is undergoing restoration to restore its original nineteenth-century appearance. The Madie Caroll House, run by the Huntington Park District, was floated into town on a barge in 1810 and survived an attack by federal troops in 1861. The building was home to the Caroll family, existed as an inn, and was the first house of Catholic worship in Cabell County. The Cabell County Courthouse was built in 1901 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Heritage Village, across from Riverfront Park, consists of the restored original B & O Railway station and Huntington's first bank, reportedly robbed by Jesse James in 1875. On display are a period locomotive and Pullman car, and shops and restaurants draw visitors.
Heritage Farm Museum and Village displays Appalachian farm culture by preserving 16 buildings from the 1800s, including a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, meeting hall, a mill, and barns. Collections of farm equipment, a petting zoo, a country store, and four bed and breakfasts are part of the attractions. The Rose Garden at Ritter Park has existed for over 70 years and features more than 2,000 rose bushes. Blenko Glass Company is home to artisans creating hand-made glassware, which can be viewed from an observation area. Camden Park, West Virginia's only amusement park, has been in existence since 1903 but is still going strong with 18 major rides, a Kiddieland area with 9 rides, and a Midway full of games and food. The Tri-City Racetrack and Gaming Center is in nearby Cross Lanes, and features Greyhound racing, slot machines, and video gambling.
The 5th Avenue Theater Company, a non-profit production company, specializes in musicals and theater for children and families. The company performs in the historic Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium in Huntington's City Hall. The Renaissance Theater at Marshall University hosts plays, films, musicians, dance companies, and other touring productions through the Marshall Artists Series. Students from Marshall's Department of Theater also put on productions at the University's venues. Huntington Outdoor Theater presents musicals every July in the Ritter Park Amphitheater. Free Spirit Productions presents classics and new plays at venues in the area, including Marshall University and the Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington Dance Theater performs and teaches ballet and modern dance. In nearby Ashland, Kentucky, the 1,400-seat Paramount Arts Center presents plays, music, and dance performances from national and local groups.
The Huntington Symphony Orchestra presents an average of six classical and three pops performances each season, with classical performances presented at Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium, and pops shows at Harris Riverfront Park in the summer. Marshall University's many ensembles showcase jazz, chamber, orchestral, and choral music. The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District hosts music performances at Veteran's Memorial Field House and Ritter Amphitheater.
Huntington's several museums and galleries appeal to a wide variety of tastes. The Huntington Museum of Art has a broad collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century paintings, drawings, sculpture, glass, silver, folk art, and firearms. Attached to the Museum of Art is the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory, West Virginia's only plant conservatory and home to sub-tropical native plants and seasonal displays. The Huntington Railroad Museum in Ritter Park is home to two locomotives and two cabooses; free tours are available by arrangement. The Birke Art Gallery at Marshall University displays student and professional art. The Museum of Radio and Technology features radios from the 1920s through the 1950s, military radio technology, and vintage computers. Benjy's Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Museum, located in a Harley dealership, shows off an amazing collection of antique and modern motorcycles.
In March, Huntington's Park District holds a St. Patrick's Day Celebration with live music, Irish food, and fun for kids. At Easter time, an Egg Hunt goes on in Ritter Park. The Huntington Dogwood Arts and Crafts Festival takes place in April at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. The city celebrates West Virginia Day, June 20th, with entertainment, food, and crafts. Also in June, Jazz-MU-Tazz, Marshall University'sMarshall University jazz festival, features plenty of free music outdoors, and Old Central City Days has the area's streets busy with flea markets and historic tours. The Fourth of July brings fireworks and music to Riverfront Park. The Cabell County Fair takes place in July and August. Food is first billing in August's Ribfest and September's Chilifest. September also brings the Hilltop Festival to the Huntington Museum of Art and the Pilot Club of Huntington Antique Show and Sale. In October comes the Grecian Festival at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, the Harvest Festival, and the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival. Guyandotte Civil War Days in November brings re-enactors together to commemorate the raid on the town in 1861 with period music, history tours, and craft displays. The Lions Tri-State Arts and Crafts Festival happens in December at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
Fans of Marshall University's Thundering Herd sports program enjoy watching football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball. Other sports at Marshall include volleyball, soccer, golf, tennis, and swimming. Regional college and local high school football and basketball are also enjoyed by residents.
The Greater Huntington Park District offers 11 parks with many sports facilities. The Ritter Park Tennis Center has 11 hard courts with 4 indoor courts and a pro shop. Veterans Memorial Field House is home to indoor soccer, inline hockey, and basketball games. Softball fields, basketball courts, pools and other amenities serve the community. Huntington's YMCA provides many recreational activities, including an indoor pool. An 18-hole golf course is at the Esquire Country Club in nearby Barboursville. Hiking trails, camping, boating and fishing are available activities in the three nearby state parks: Virginia Point Park, East Lynn Lake and Dam, and Beach Fork Lake and State Park.
Huntington's several shopping areas range from the historic to the modern. Old Central City features antique shops and is close to the Railroad Museum and Heritage Farm. Pullman Square, the new entertainment and retail complex opened in 2004, is attracting specialty shops and national chains. The Huntington Mall has more than 100 stores, including clothing, book, electronics and jewelry retailers.
Dining choices at local restaurants vary and are plentiful. For casual eating, Huntington is well-known for its hot dog/root beer stands and "Huntington-style" hot dogs, such as those offered at the Frostop Drive-In, Stewart's Original, Sam's, and Bowincal. The hot dog's sauce, of which Stewart's claims to have invented, makes the difference. Jim's Steak and and Spaghetti House is a Huntington institution, in business for over 60 years and still operated by the original owner. Buddy's Bar-B-Que's killer wings are famous on the Marshall University campus. For more refined dining, fine Italian, American, seafood, Indian, and Mexican food are available. Two restaurants in historic buildings are Savannah's, serving traditional southern food in a 1903 Victorian mansion, and Boston Beanery, at the old B & O Railroad station.
Visitor Information: Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitor's Bureau, PO Box 327, Huntington, WV 25708; telephone (304)525-7333; toll-free (800)635-6329