Community Cultural Groups - Berkeley Springs West Virginia

Community cultural groups include a history museum, active historical society, public library, quilt group and several community performance organizations including a concert band, choir and theater group.

History of Berkeley Springs, spa town, has always been an alluring topic for study. Experience local history directly.

Art Scene Historic Roots

Berkeley Springs draws on arts and culture from its past. In the 18th century, Berkeley Springs (officially named Bath) was the new country’s only fashionable spa town. Traveling preachers complained that those taking the waters preferred touring actors to hearing sermons.

David Hunter Strother, known as Porte Crayon was an outstanding 19th century sketch artist and one of America’s first travel writers. He owned the 500-room Berkeley Springs Hotel and entertained other writers including the great American author Washington Irving who visited Berkeley Springs and was introduced to lawn bowling.

Cottagers and hotel guests in Victorian Berkeley Springs enjoyed professional bands and often staged amateur theatricals. An Opera House was built in 1902 and movies were first shown there in 1909.

Morgan County Public Library

mocolibrary.com
Berkeley Springs & Paw Paw locations
304-258-3350

Art Scene Historic Roots

Bath Landmark Commission

Berkeley Springs Pride

Ice House Theatre Project

Morgan Community Concert Band

Morgan County Historical & Genealogical Society

Museum of the Berkeley Springs

Morgan County Public Library