Pipestem in Summers County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Pipestem Falls

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, July 30, 2017

1. Pipestem Falls Marker

Inscription. Name derived from the hollow stemmed shrub Spiraea alba which grows profusely along Big and Little Pipestem creeks. The first white man to see Pipestem was Christopher Gist, 1750, while exploring for the Ohio Land Company. Shawnee Indians camped near this site in 1774. They used the hollow stemmed shrub, as later did the white settlers, for pipestems. A beautiful, fully equipped State Park is located at the site.

Erected 2008 by West Virginia Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Horticulture & Forestry • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1750.

Location. 37° 32.884′ N, 80° 57.585′ W. Marker is in Pipestem, West Virginia, in Summers County. It is on West Virginia Route 20 ¼ mile north of County Route 18, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pipestem WV 25979, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in the Southern Coalfields.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jordan's Chapel (approx. ¼ mile away); Bluestone River (approx. 2.4 miles away); Farley's Fort / Thomas Farley (approx. 2.4 miles away); Pipestem Knob Primitive Baptist Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); Bluestone National Scenic River (approx. 2.8 miles away); Neely "Plantation" (approx. 2.8 miles away); a different marker also named Bluestone River (approx. 2.8 miles away); Mercer County / Summers County (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pipestem.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Mercer Salt Works (was approx. 2½ miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, July 30, 2017

2. Pipestem Falls Marker

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, July 30, 2017

3. Pipestem Falls Marker

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, July 30, 2017

4. Pipestem Falls Marker

Pipestem Falls image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, July 30, 2017

5. Pipestem Falls

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2019, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 763 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 22, 2019, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.