Mathias, located in beautiful Hardy County, West Virginia, is a relatively small dot on the map, even by West Virginia standards — but it houses a surprising number of incredible historic sites and attractions that are well worth a weekend’s exploration … including Robert E. Lee’s father’s summer home dating back to 1800, a historic homestead that was built even a few years prior, in 1797, and multiple buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the much more recent but still historically significant 1930s.
Mathias, located in Hardy County, West Virginia, was established by John Mathias, whose late 18th century homestead still stands at the corner of WV-259 and Howards Lick Road.
Inside the house, if you're lucky enough to catch it open, is decorated with historic and period furnishings, allowing you to relive some of the early pioneer days of this beautiful area of West Virginia.
Once you've toured this historic site, keep on down Howards Lick Road to Lost River State Park, where you'll find another site of historic significance: the summer home of Robert E. Lee's father, Henry "Light-horse Harry" Lee, a Revolutionary War hero.
This painted log cabin, located just across the road from the Lost River State Park swimming pool, is also open periodically, especially during the summer months, and it is also furnished with period furnishings, providing a fascinating "house museum" experience.
The grounds of the Lee House are pleasant, with a geologically significant sulfur spring just a few steps from the house and an old-fashioned playground for kids within easy reach as well.
Finally, round out this weekend back in time with some up-close-and-personal appreciation of some of the CCC workmanship found throughout Lost River State Park.
From log cabins to a stone pool house to the iconic Cranny Crow lookout shelter, these examples of CCC workmanship mark another significant historic era.
Spending the night in one of the park's legacy cabins, for example, will give you a bit of a taste of what it might have been like to live in a log cabin during the pioneer days, although you will get to enjoy certain luxuries (like a fully plumbed kitchen and bathroom!) that the early settlers definitely did not have access to.
Have you ever visited any of these historic sites tucked away in Mathias, West Virginia? Have you stayed in a Lost River State Park Legacy Cabin? To round out your small town adventure even more, swing by nearby Lost River Trading Post for a meal.
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