History Alive with Gabriel Arthur

Arthur is believed to be the first white man to see the Kanawha Valley while traveling with a band of Indians in 1674. He was sent with a partner and others from Fort Henry (present Petersburg, Virginia) to explore western lands and trade with the Indians. His partner was killed and Arthur traveled widely with the natives, apparently participating in raids in the Ohio Valley and elsewhere. During this time, he followed the Big Coal River to its mouth at the Kanawha River. Arthur and the southern Indians with whom he traveled were welcomed at the large Moneton Indian village at present St. Albans before returning to Fort Henry with a load of furs. Portrayed by Doug Wood of Hurricane, WV, at Beech Fork State Park Headquarters building, 7:00 p.m. Program lasts about one hour. Family-friendly. Open to the public at no cost.

The Gabriel Arthur presentation is a History Alive! program made possible by the West Virginia Humanities Council and West Virginia State Park system.