Four women standing in front of a historical display at a museum, reading framed informational posters and photographs.

THE STORIES WE TELL

WHERE THE PORCH POSTS
WERE PLANTED

Our roots run deep, shaped by the rivers we followed, the hills we settled, and the stories passed down from one generation to the next. Long before this region became a destination, it was a gathering place, a front porch where neighbors met, music was shared, and history unfolded in everyday moments. From early river towns and railroads to traditions of craft, resilience, and creativity. The past still lives here in ways you can see and feel today. Step back, take a seat, and discover the stories that continue to shape Appalachia’s Front Porch.

ORIGINS & HISTORY

Every place has a beginning, and ours starts with the land itself. Shaped by rivers, hills, and the movement of people, this region grew from river towns, rail lines, and hard-earned livelihoods into the communities we know today. These origins still guide how we live, gather, and welcome others, forming the foundation of Appalachia’s Front Porch.

A historic wooden covered bridge over a creek, with a historical marker in front of it, surrounded by leafless trees in a foggy setting.

BENNETS MILL BRIDGE
SOUTHSHORE, KY

A view of a covered wooden bridge over a small river with green trees and benches nearby.

OLD TOWN COVERED BRIDGE
GREENUP, KY
PHOTO: NEIL WICKER AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

A rustic wooden house with a red metal roof, surrounded by green trees and a manicured lawn, with a concrete pathway leading to the front door.

The Lyceum is named in honor of Woodson (1875-1950), one of the leading educators of the 20th century, a former West Virginia coal miner and a former resident of Huntington, where he graduated from high school in 1896 and served as the school’s principal from 1900 to 1903. Woodson was the second African American student to receive a Ph.D. in history at Harvard and the first person whose parents were former slaves to earn a doctorate in history from any institution. The lyceum’s name also is inspired by Aristotle’s lyceum, a school founded in 335 B.C. as a place for thinking and learning.

A digital graphic celebrating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month from 1926 to 2026. It features a portrait of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Black History Month, on the left. On the right, large green and black text displays '100,' with white below stating 'Black History' and 'Celebrating an American Milestone.'

At Marshall, The Lyceum will reflect influences of Woodson and Aristotle – while addressing critical issues involving education, freedom of expression and race/ethnicity. The lyceum will support scholarships for minorities and disadvantaged students and encourage full participation of all groups and individuals seeking the American dream.

A young man dressed in a suit with a tie, posing for a formal black and white portrait.

DR. CARTER G. WOODSON WAS THE FOUNDER OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WAS A RESIDENT OF HUNTINGTON, WV.

ARTS & CULTURE

Culture here isn’t something you observe, it’s something you feel. It lives in the music, art, food, and traditions passed down through generations, shaped by resilience, creativity, and a deep sense of community. From front-porch storytelling to center-stage performances, our culture continues to evolve while staying rooted in who we are.

A large mural depicts a historic street scene with buildings, flags, and people, with a stone in the foreground engraved with "Cattletsburg Floodwall Murals." The mural is outdoors, with sunlight and green grass in front.

CATLETTSBURG FLOOD WALL MURALS
CATLETTSBURG, KY

A large stone marker with the words 'Catlettsburg Floodwall Murals' engraved on it, positioned on green grass in front of a mural painted on a floodwall wall depicting a historic downtown scene with buildings, flags, cars, and people.

IRONTON FLOODWALL MURALS
IRONTON, OH

White two-story house with black shutters, a blue door, a covered porch with hanging plants, surrounded by greenery and a flowering tree in front, under a clear blue sky.

MCCONNELL HOUSE
WURTLAND, KY

A sculpture of a woman holding a tree branch with leaves, with a bird perched on her head, set against a partly cloudy sky, and a bridge in the background.
A man with dark hair, wearing a blue shirt and black gloves, is spray painting a colorful mural on a blue wall. The mural features a large geometric design with symbols and a church with a tower, windows, and a door in front of a sky with clouds.

ASHLAND FLOOD WALL MURALS
ASHLAND, KY

An elderly man wearing glasses, a blue plaid shirt, and gloves holding a black pair of pliers, with bright red liquid pouring from a spoon above his head onto the table, creating a puddle.

BLENKO GLASS
MILTON, WV

Black and white photo of a young man in a pinstripe suit sitting outdoors, looking to the side. The Jesse Stuart Foundation logo with the initials 'JSF' is at the bottom right corner.

THE JESSE STUART FOUNDATION

The Jesse Stuart Foundation (JSF), a nonprofit organization established by Jesse Stuart and his wife Naomi Deane Stuart in 1979, is a regional publisher and bookseller that controls the rights to Stuart’s works and republishes his out-of-print works along with books by other Kentucky and Appalachian authors. Jesse Stuart was an educator and prolific writer, Stuart authored books, short stories, and poems which portray Appalachian Ky. He received Guggenheim fellowship, 1937; nominated for Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, 1977. His works include The Thread That Runs So True and Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow.

LEARN MORE
A person sitting at a desk typing on a typewriter, with a pipe in their mouth, surrounded by various objects including shoes and papers, in an indoor setting with a tiled wall background.

Our museums preserve the stories that deserve to be remembered and shared. Through hands-on exhibits, local artifacts, and interactive experiences, they bring history, science, and culture to life for visitors of all ages. These spaces invite you to learn, reflect, and connect more deeply with the people and moments that shaped Appalachia’s Front Porch.

MUSEUMS

The image shows a white historic house with a front porch, surrounded by a well-kept garden with colorful flowers, and a sign indicating it is the Lawrence County Museum established in 1988, located next to a large tree.
Art gallery interior with portraits on the wall, floral displays on pedestals, and a person sitting near a piano.
Exterior of the Huntington Museum of Art building with modern architectural design, brick and concrete walls, and a sculpture visible in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky.

HUNTINGTON MUSEUM OF ART
HUNTINGTON, WV

Exhibit display at a museum dedicated to Joan Thomas, titled "The Legacy of Joan Thomas." The display includes a large yellow informational panel with black and white photographs, and artifacts such as wooden objects encased in glass beneath it.
Two people, a woman and a boy, standing in front of a vintage train with the letters 'CSX' on the front and the year '1998' displayed above the train's windows. The woman is smiling and the boy is wearing a yellow T-shirt with a bear and camping graphic.
Children and adults participate in a robotics workshop at a museum, with exhibits of vintage electronic equipment and instruments displayed on shelves in the background.
A historic village with wooden buildings and a group of people gathering outside, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky with a visible moon.

HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM
HUNTINGTON, WV

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED

Boyd County war memorial with a stone plaque, surrounded by eight flags, and a pavilion in the background, located in a green park with trees and a gravel path.

BOYD COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL
ASHLAND, KY

A man wearing a khaki shirt, glasses, and a navy cap is hanging a navy jacket with gold stripes on the sleeves on a memorial wall with numerous names inscribed on it.

HONORING BOYD COUNTY HEROES MEMORIAL
ASHLAND, KY

U.S. military personnel paying respects at the Greenup County War Memorial, with wreaths and a memorial wall in the background.