Today all can explore Seneca Rocks because it is public land that sits within the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, the first congressionally designated national recreation area established by the USDA Forest Service. Modern-day visitors to the Seneca Rocks Unit of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area appreciate the unique amalgam of geological history, rich culture, and fruitful recreational opportunities. Although the rock face is wont to steal the spotlight, the diversity and wealth of culture associated with the area is equally - if not more - deserving of it.
Remembering West Virginia's Indigenous History
Many contemporary people believe West Virginia was nothing more than a hunting ground for the migratory Native Peoples. People without names, without connection. Yet, in my own survey, I am continuously reminded that West Virginia was home to many Indigenous communities, and these connections were held tight by long-term settlements. We see this by the traces they left behind, such as pottery, copper, shell, luxury items, burial sites, and old-growth trees. Many of the sites that archaeologists research are my direct ancestors, and the ancestors of existing descendant communities throughout the Eastern United States.