Buckhannon in Upshur County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Chief Buckongahelas

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 24, 2025

1. Chief Buckongahelas Marker

Inscription.
Chief Buckongahelas, known as the Washington of the Delaware, holds his son, killed by Capt. White in 1773.
The Buckhannon River and later this town were believed named for this great Delaware Chief.

Sculptor Ross Straight

Based on oral history and book by J.C. McWhorter.

Erected 2000 by The City of Buckhannon and Ross E. Straight.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1773.

Location. 38° 59.564′ N, 80° 13.67′ W. Marker is in Buckhannon, West Virginia, in Upshur County. It is on South Florida Street north of Madison Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the east side of Jawbone Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 South Florida Street, Buckhannon WV 26201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Central West Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern

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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 walking distance of this marker: Ross E. Straight (here, next to this marker); Horseshoe History & Rules (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Horseshoe History & Rules (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chief Chesley G. Mearns (about 300 feet away); The Bicentennial Sycamore Tree (about 300 feet away); In Honor of Jerry Kimble and Jim Farrell (about 300 feet away); Buckhannon's Bicentennial Boulder (about 300 feet away); Wilbert H. "Webb ” Grubb & the story of “Wilbert Grubb Lane" (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buckhannon.

Also see . . . Chief Buckongahelas. Brief biography of Chief Buckongahelas...A statue of Buckongahelas and his fallen son, crafted by Buckhannon sculptor Ross Straight, was erected in Buckhannon's Jawbone Park in 2000. (Submitted on February 27, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.)

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 24, 2025

2. Chief Buckongahelas Marker

Large stone donated by the French Armstrong Family, French Creek, WV.

Chief Buckongahelas Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, February 24, 2025

3. Chief Buckongahelas Sculpture

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 189 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 27, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.