Wheeling: First Capital and the Suspension Bridge
Wheeling sits along the Ohio River in the northern panhandle and served as the first capital of West Virginia from the state's 1863 creation until the government moved to Charleston in 1870. The Independence Hall at 16th and Market Streets, where the constitutional convention that created the state was held, still stands and operates as a museum. For most of the nineteenth century Wheeling was the largest city in what is now West Virginia and a major industrial center tied to river commerce, glass, tobacco, and steel.
The Wheeling Suspension Bridge, completed in 1849 by Charles Ellet Jr., spans 1,010 feet across the Ohio River to Wheeling Island and is the oldest vehicular suspension bridge still in use in the United States. For several years after its opening it held the record as the longest single-span bridge in the world. The bridge has undergone periodic rehabilitation but retains much of its original character, and a weight restriction limits crossing to passenger vehicles.
Wheeling Steel, later part of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, dominated local manufacturing for more than a century before successive bankruptcies reduced the industry to a fraction of its former size. The Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL play at WesBanco Arena downtown. Oglebay Park, a 1,700-acre municipal resort east of the city, operates a golf course, lodge, zoo, and winter light display.
The city population peaked above 61,000 in 1930 and has since declined to roughly 27,000. Wheeling Jesuit University operated until financial difficulties in 2019 led to its restructuring as Wheeling University. The Capitol Theatre on Main Street hosts Wheeling Symphony Orchestra performances and touring acts.
Escort websites serving the Wheeling area are reviewed and listed on Escortservice.com. The directory does not arrange appointments, verify any form of licensing, or serve as a go-between for any party. All visitors must be at least 21 years of age.
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Wheeling sits along the Ohio River in the northern panhandle and served as the first capital of West Virginia from the state's 1863 creation until the government moved to Charleston in 1870. The Independence Hall at 16th and Market Streets, where the constitutional convention that created the state was held, still stands and operates as a museum. For most of the nineteenth century Wheeling was the largest city in what is now West Virginia and a major industrial center tied to river commerce, glass, tobacco, and steel.
The Wheeling Suspension Bridge, completed in 1849 by Charles Ellet Jr., spans 1,010 feet across the Ohio River to Wheeling Island and is the oldest vehicular suspension bridge still in use in the United States. For several years after its opening it held the record as the longest single-span bridge in the world. The bridge has undergone periodic rehabilitation but retains much of its original character, and a weight restriction limits crossing to passenger vehicles.
Wheeling Steel, later part of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, dominated local manufacturing for more than a century before successive bankruptcies reduced the industry to a fraction of its former size. The Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL play at WesBanco Arena downtown. Oglebay Park, a 1,700-acre municipal resort east of the city, operates a golf course, lodge, zoo, and winter light display.
The city population peaked above 61,000 in 1930 and has since declined to roughly 27,000. Wheeling Jesuit University operated until financial difficulties in 2019 led to its restructuring as Wheeling University. The Capitol Theatre on Main Street hosts Wheeling Symphony Orchestra performances and touring acts.
Escort websites serving the Wheeling area are reviewed and listed on Escortservice.com. The directory does not arrange appointments, verify any form of licensing, or serve as a go-between for any party. All visitors must be at least 21 years of age.
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