Vandalia was the proposed name for a British Colony encompassing what is now West Virginia and eastern Kentucky.  Although the colony was never formally recognized by the British Crown and never became a state due to claims on the territory by both Virginia and Pennsylvania, many in West Virginia continue to honor our history and heritage by using the name Vandalia for business entities or cultural events.

In the springtime each year, the Vandalia Gathering (http://www.wvculture.org/vandalia/)  invites story tellers, artisans, dancers, and musicians to the state Capitol Complex to showcase our Appalachian culture–from sharing stories and oral histories to playing traditional mountain music and demonstrating traditional arts and crafts. The Gathering gives West Virginians and our friends from out of state a time to come together to celebrate our heritage.

If you’re in Charleston, you may want to stop by one of my favorite restaurants–the Vandalia Grille (http://www.vandaliagrille.com/ordereze/1000/Page.aspx). I highly recommend the Harvest “burger” with sweet potato fries!

For your biotechnology needs, check out Vandalia Research, Inc. (http://www.vandaliaresearch.com/) in Huntington. They offer custom DNA manufacturing services and have an active R&D division.

Or perhaps you’re interested in historic preservation and economic revitalization in north central West Virginia. The Vandalia Heritage Foundation (http://www.vandalia.org/) probably has just what you’re looking for! Their Legacy Project will interest you if you’re interested in cultural preservation, too.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History has an extensive description of the original Vandalia here: http://www.wvculture.org/HISTORY/journal_wvh/wvh40-4.html.