The 5 Best Museums Around Martinsburg

Museums preserve the stories, artifacts and traditions that help communities understand their past. Across the Eastern Panhandle, historical collections explore everything from colonial settlement and Civil War events to transportation, natural resources and everyday life. Interactive exhibits also introduce younger visitors to regional heritage through hands-on learning. The Best of the Best contest features museums that connect residents and visitors with the people, places and events that shaped the region.

Jefferson County Museum

Centuries of regional history are preserved through the collections at Jefferson County Museum in downtown Charles Town. Exhibits explore Native American heritage, European settlement, local industry and military history, including John Brown's trial and the Civil War. Historical artifacts, documents and rotating displays illustrate how Jefferson County developed over time. The museum also maintains archival research collections and offers educational programming, providing resources for students, researchers and visitors interested in understanding the community's cultural and historical foundations.

Belle Boyd House Museum

Civil War history and 19th-century domestic life come together at Belle Boyd House Museum in Martinsburg. Operated by the Berkeley County Historical Society, the Greek Revival residence was the childhood home of Belle Boyd, who became known for her activities as a Confederate spy. Visitors can explore historic rooms and exhibits featuring Civil War artifacts, local industrial history and materials documenting early Berkeley County families. The museum's historical collections provide insight into wartime experiences, household life and the development of the surrounding community.

For The Kids, By George Children's Museum

Hands-on activities introduce young visitors to regional history at For The Kids, By George Children's Museum in Martinsburg. Located inside the historic Martinsburg Train Station, the museum combines interactive exhibits with educational themes drawn from the Eastern Panhandle's past. Children can explore subjects including George Washington's early surveying work, Native American culture and the development of rail transportation. Role-playing activities and creative learning stations encourage children to discover historical concepts through exploration, making the museum an option for family outings and educational visits.

Historic Shepherdstown Commission And Museum

Shepherdstown's colonial beginnings and contributions to American history are central to the exhibits at the Historic Shepherdstown Commission and Museum. Housed in the historic Entler Hotel, the museum preserves artifacts, furnishings and documents illustrating the community's development. Displays explore subjects including James Rumsey's steamboat experiments, Civil War medical activities and local craft traditions. The collections offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the people and events associated with one of West Virginia's oldest communities while exploring a historic building.

Museum of the Berkeley Springs

The natural mineral springs that helped shape Berkeley Springs are the focus of the Museum of the Berkeley Springs. Located on the second floor of the historic Roman Bath House at Berkeley Springs State Park, the museum explores the geological origins and cultural importance of the area's warm springs. Exhibits examine Native American use of the waters, George Washington's visits and the development of colonial bathing traditions. Visitors can also learn how the springs influenced the community's growth as a destination for health, relaxation and tourism.

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