Built around 1795, a settler cabin, a 19th-century schoolhouse, and a historic district with buildings spanning several centuries: Beverly’s history can be explored through a wide range of landmarks. To plan your trip, take a look at the individual sites and their visiting options.
Historic Buildings and Their Stories
The Jacob Stalnaker Cabin is located behind the Blackman-Bosworth Store. Built around 1795, it is considered an example of an early settler cabin. A distinctive architectural feature is an externally visible post-and-beam extension integrated into the log structure. The cabin brings together an early construction date and a building style that can be seen in the structure itself.
The Subscription Schoolhouse tells a different story. Built in the 1870s, it was moved from Bell’s Farm near Becky’s Creek to its current location in Beverly in 1993. The schoolhouse is considered the last of its kind in Randolph County and possibly the last in all of West Virginia. The building houses a collection of objects from one-room schoolhouses. Visits are possible during the Randolph County Museum’s opening hours or by appointment.
The Beverly Historic District offers a broader perspective. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Its designated areas of significance include architecture, exploration and settlement, military, politics and government, and social and humanitarian concerns. The district’s buildings range from 18th-century residences and commercial buildings to structures dating to the mid-20th century. Different eras and themes thus coexist within a shared townscape.
The Beverly Heritage Center brings together four adjoining buildings in the heart of Beverly to create a heritage attraction. Reenactors and costumed interpreters appear there during Living History Days. The biennial Beverly Heritage Day combines tours of historic homes with traditional crafts, food, music, and living history. If you want to plan your trip around the event, check the dates in advance.
Explore Beverly on Foot and Through Its History
Alongside the buildings, there are other ways to engage with local history. The Beverly Walking Tour has been updated and complemented by informational signs throughout town and at specific buildings. An ongoing scavenger hunt takes you through Beverly using five clues and highlights local history; it can be started at any time. Each offers its own way to explore the town’s historic themes.
The history of transportation is part of the story, too: the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike ran directly through Beverly, bringing trade and travelers through town. Other historic sites include Beverly Methodist Church, built on North Main Street in 1890, and Beverly Cemetery. The cemetery is considered the oldest public cemetery west of the Allegheny Mountains.
A Trip to the Nearby Area
Near Beverly, Hart Farm is located at the Rich Mountain Battlefield. The site has historic markers, numerous information panels, and a loop trail about half a mile long. To reach the battlefield, take Rich Mountain Road west from Route 250; the distance to the battlefield is listed as five miles. Check road conditions before you set out.
When planning your stay, you can choose between historic sites in town and a visit to the nearby battlefield. This lets you explore Beverly according to your interests in architecture, school history, or military history, without combining all the themes into a single walking tour.
Discover more destinations: Elkins, Huttonsville, Dryfork
For the broader travel overview: Randolph County.
