Portions of West Virginia feature wide valleys covered with rich soil, well-suited to farming, but others do not. Eking out an existence among the steep slopes and narrow hollows of the New River Gorge region, for example, was no easy task for early pioneers. Subsistence farming, where a family produced everything they needed to survive, only bartering with neighbors as necessary and rarely purchasing "store-bought" goods, was an extremely difficult life requiring all of a person's time and energy and leaving little to no margin for error or disaster. Often such farmers could only barely produce enough to meet their own needs without any left over to sell or trade. Yet it was the reality for many West Virginians over the years, and there's nowhere better to glimpse this difficult lifestyle than at two homestead museums in the Sandstone Falls area of the New River Gorge National Park.

The easiest of the two well-preserved examples of subsistence farming to locate is the Richmond Hamilton Farm near Hinton, West Virginia.

Nestled in a portion of the New River Gorge known as "Richmond's Bottom," the farm was first owned by Revolutionary War veteran William Richmond. Even Sandstone Falls used to be called Richmond's Falls in this family's honor, and much of this narrow valley bordering the river is still owned and settled by William's descendants.

To get to the farmstead, cross the New River on Route 20 in Hinton and turn right (north) onto New River Road. The farm will be two miles down New River Road on your left.

Park in the small lot and walk to the farmhouse and outbuildings, which include a hand-hewn log barn.

Another option that's a little harder to find but also offers a fascinating glimpse into the past is the nearby Trump Lilly Farm, a gift from William Richmond to his daughter, Mary Richmond Trump.

After this gifting, it was sold several times, eventually winding up in the hands of a man named Aden Lilly. It is the Lilly family's experience that is now showcased on the farm.

This farm is also located north on New River Road from Route 20 in Hinton. After 50 yards on New River Road, take the first left after Madam's Creek Bridge onto a small gravel road marked Freezeland Mountain. This road is steep and characterized by sharp curves, but stick with it all the way to a small parking lot at the farm where you can park and walk to the nearby buildings.

Because this area is largely unmarked, be sure to ask for additional directions at the Sandstone Visitor Center if you are unsure how to reach it!

Visit the National Park's website to find information about the Richmond Hamilton Farm and the Trump Lilly Farm. And if you find yourself passing through Hinton on your way to these two farms, make sure you stop at the Hinton Dairy Queen for a hot dog!