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Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1
Distance: 0.00mi
Map Pin
Daniel Boone Park, 2901 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25311, USA
POI 1 Tour Image
Daniel Boone Park and Craik-Patton House
On your left is Daniel Boone Park, a peaceful green stretch along the Kanawha River that’s named after the legendary frontiersman himself. Boone actually lived right here in the Kanawha Valley back in the late 1700s, serving as a surveyor, militia officer, and even a member of the Virginia legislature before heading further west. The park today is a favorite local picnic and fishing spot, with boat launches and a walking trail that follows the river’s edge — a reminder that this was once a true frontier outpost.

Just up ahead, also on your left, is the Craik-Patton House, one of Charleston’s finest historic treasures. This elegant Greek Revival home was built in 1834 and has quite a story. It was once the residence of James Craik, whose grandfather was George Washington’s personal physician, and later owned by George S. Patton — the grandfather of World War II’s famous General Patton. The house was actually moved here piece by piece in the 1970s to save it from demolition, and today it’s beautifully restored with period furnishings that show what life was like for Charleston’s early elite.
Place #2
Distance: 0.89mi , Attraction : Government Building, Landmark (Recommended selfie spot).
Map Pin
1652-1630 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305, USA
POI 3 Tour Image
West Virginia State Capitol and Governor’s Mansion
On your right is the stunning West Virginia State Capitol, one of the crown jewels of Charleston. That magnificent gold dome rising above the trees is hard to miss — it’s covered in real 23-and-a-half karat gold leaf, and it actually stands taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The Capitol was designed by the legendary architect Cass Gilbert, who also designed the U.S. Supreme Court building. Construction stretched through the Roaring Twenties and into the Great Depression, finally wrapping up in 1932. Step inside, and you’ll find gleaming marble from around the world, grand staircases, and a two-ton crystal chandelier hanging beneath that dome — all meant to remind visitors that this little mountain state has big pride.

Just next door — and also on your right — is the elegant Governor’s Mansion, home to West Virginia’s governors and their families since 1925. It was designed in the Colonial Revival style to complement the Capitol’s grandeur, with red brick, white columns, and a stately front lawn that looks straight out of a storybook. Inside are crystal chandeliers, antique furniture, and even a ballroom that hosts state dinners and holiday celebrations.

Every Christmas season, the mansion glows with lights and decorations from all 55 counties of West Virginia, each sending ornaments that represent their unique heritage — from coal mining and glassblowing to fiddle festivals and mountain crafts.

Together, the Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion form the symbolic heart of West Virginia — where government, history, and hospitality all meet on the banks of the Kanawha River. As you drive by, take one last look at that golden dome shining in the sun — it’s Charleston’s way of reminding you that even in the hills, there’s a touch of grandeur.

Read More

  https://culture.wv.gov/statecapitol/Pages/default.aspx
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour

Map Pin Place 1 Daniel Boone Park and Craik-Patton House
Map Pin Place 2 West Virginia State Capitol and Governor’s Mansion
Map Pin Place 3 Holly Grove Mansion
Map Pin Place 4 West Virginia State Museum
Map Pin Place 5 Ruffner Memorial Presbyterian Church
Map Pin Place 6 Ruffner Memorial Park and the Thomas Bullitt Cenotaph
Map Pin Place 7 The Ruffner
Map Pin Place 8 Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC)
Map Pin Place 9 Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences
Map Pin Place 10 Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Map Pin Place 11 Capitol Market
Map Pin Place 12 Slack Plaza and the Charleston Transit Mall
Map Pin Place 13 South Side Bridge and the Kanawha River
Map Pin Place 14 Sunrise (MacCorkle Mansion)
Map Pin Place 15 Charleston Overlook
Map Pin Place 16 Farewell — Charleston’s Riverfront View



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