Local Activities
Tygart Lake
Tyagrt Lake State Park in Taylor County, West Virginia is a scenic outdoor recreation destination anchored by the 1,750 - acre Tygart Lake, along a forest-lined reservoir created and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1938. The park was established in 1945 and offers year -round opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and hiking amid the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. Visitors can stay in cabins, campgrounds, or a lodge with lake views, enjoy picnicking and nature trails, or access the marina for watercraft rentals. In summer, the lake's clear waters draw boaters, bass anglers, and families seeking lakeside fun, while the wooded setting provides a peaceful backdrop for outdoor activities and wildlife watching.
International Mothers Day Shrine
Mother's Day was established by former Grafton resident Anna Jarvis in memory of her Mother Anna Reeves Jarvis. She was inspired to establish the holiday by a speech her Mother made to her Sunday School class in which she said " I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother's day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it. " The first celebration was held at Jarvis's church, Andrews Methodist Episcopal in Grafton, West Virginia on May 10, 1908 and has since become a National Holiday held the second (2nd) Sunday of each May. In 1962 the church was renamed in honor of the First Mother's day celebration that had been held there in 1908. In an effort to show there much valued appreciation to this effort and great cause the West Virginia chapter of the teacher's sorority Alpha Delta Kappa donated the sculpture that still remains outside the shrine today "Mother with Children" by William Hopen. The church became a National Historic Landmark in 1992. Tours are available by appointment only which can be booked at
Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museam
Anna Jarvis Museum in Grafton, West Virginia is a small historic house museum honoring the birthplace and legacy of Anna Jarvis, the woman credited with founding Mother's Day in the United States. Housing in the two-story wooden home where Jarvis was born in 1864, the museum preserves period furnishings and family artifacts while also telling the story of her life and the origins of Mother's Day. The building also has Civil War significance, having been briefly used as field headquarters by Union General George B. McClellan. Visitors can take guided tours to learn more about the Jarvis family's history, Anna's campaign to honor mothers, and the local community's role in the beloved holiday.