Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia Summer

A friend’s post of West Virginia’s political economy today pointed me right back to my own research – because history is never that far away.

West Virginia’s history is key to its future. When I worked on my dissertation, I focused on the immense political acumen and ambition of the men who steered the statehood convention. Aligning themselves with government resources to fund transportation as a market tool to expand the economic potential of their region was key for decades prior to the Civil War. Couching our memory of statehood with only the events of the Civil War continues to cloud our ability to take hold of the reins of our own resources. Take time this summer to re-invest in West Virginia. Enjoy the mountains and rivers, buy local produce, visit some of the uniquely West Virginia historic sites.

We all know and quote the motto “Montani Semper Liberi” – “Mountaineers are Always Free” which appears on the front of our state seal. The obverse of the seal is rarely seen. It’s motto? “Libertas E Fidelitate” – “Freedom and Loyalty” sits above a scene of hills, farms, trains, factories, and rivers. Be loyal to your state and enjoy the freedoms we have here – keep some of your entertainment and grocery budget within the beautifully odd contours of West Virginia.