Clarksburg History Museum Celebrates Tourism Partnership, Honors First History Keeper Award Recipient
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Clarksburg History Museum is celebrating a pair of milestones as the organization continues its mission of preserving and promoting the history of Harrison County.
The museum recently announced it has become an official West Virginia Tourism Partner, joining the state's tourism network as it continues welcoming visitors from across West Virginia, the United States and beyond. Museum officials said the partnership will help expand awareness of the museum while encouraging more travelers to discover Clarksburg's history and downtown attractions.
The announcement follows the museum's inaugural History Friends Gathering, held June 26 at The Morris. The fundraising event brought together supporters, local historians and community members to celebrate local history while raising funds for the museum's educational programming and preservation efforts.
During the evening, the museum presented its first-ever History Keeper Award, created to recognize individuals whose lifelong dedication to preserving local history, serving others and protecting the stories of Harrison County has left a lasting impact on the community.
The inaugural award was presented to Patricia Rummel, whose decades of service have included work as a U.S. Army nurse, a career with the FBI, leadership in Community Educational Outreach Service (CEOS), advocacy for veterans and volunteer service throughout Harrison County. Most recently, Rummel helped lead the successful effort to have the West Virginia State Flag Pledge formally recognized by the West Virginia Legislature.
The museum also recognized eight additional nominees for the inaugural History Keeper Award:
- Wanda F. Ashcraft
- Sylvia Basile
- Marilyn Blake
- Brenda Tharp
- David Houchin
- Jim Winters
- Lyda Lister
- Rod Rogers
Museum leaders also expressed appreciation to The Morris for serving as the event's title sponsor, along with local businesses, donors, photographers and volunteers whose support helped make the inaugural gathering a success.
As the Clarksburg History Museum continues to grow, museum leaders say initiatives like the West Virginia Tourism Partnership and the annual History Friends Gathering will help preserve Harrison County's history while introducing more visitors to the people, places and stories that have shaped the community.
