CHARLESTON, W.V. (AP) - West Virginia glass production has a rich history starting from before the Civil War, and an upcoming seminar will trace the industry from the early 1800s to the present.
West Virginia State Museum's chief curator James Mitchel will present his program Thursday evening at the Archives and History Library. Part of Mitchel's seminar will be a video tour of the museum's collection of glass pieces from more than 175 companies and individual crafters, according to The Herald-Dispatch.
Since 1815, about 450 glass factories operated in western Virginia, part of which became West Virginia during the war. Glass producers were drawn to West Virginia because of the abundant supply of silica, limestone and natural gas.
Pilgrim Glass was located in Kenova, and Blenko Glass still operates in Milton.
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