Visit Arthurdale

“Eleanor’s Little Village”

Revisit the 1930s in Arthurdale, West Virginia. Established in 1933, by the United States government, Arthurdale is the nation’s first New Deal Homestead Community. Created through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation, the community provided a new chance at life for residents of West Virginia who were suffering from the Great Depression. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt served as the empathetic force behind the community, which became known as “Eleanor’s Little Village” because of her interest. Today, Arthurdale is a National Historic District that features 160 of the 165 original homesteads.

The New Deal Homestead Museum is a multi-building museum comprised of the a forge filled with original tools, a service station reminiscent of a bygone era, the historic Center Hall, the original federal government administration building, and a fully restored Arthurdale homestead. The museum Craft Shop specializes in Appalachian crafts and quality gifts.

The New Deal Homestead Museum is currently featuring an exhibit about other communities created during the New Deal, the Annabelle Mayor Collection, and posters from the New Deal.

Make plans to visit us the second weekend in July for the New Deal Festival!

Museum and Craft Shop Hours

November 1-April 30: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
May 1-October 31: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

Closed Mondays

Craft Shop Open House:

Nov. 26: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Dec. 3-4: Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
Dec. 10: 12-4 p.m.
Dec. 17: 12-4 p.m.

New Deal Homestead Museum Admission Prices

Adults $8.00
Seniors and AAA members (55+) $7.00
Youth (6-12) $3.00
Children 5 and under FREE
AHI Members FREE (Individual and household memberships only)

Group Rates
School Tours
$4.00/student

Preston County, WV K-12 Students: FREE

$5.00/chaperone
(one free chaperone admission per each 10 students)

All other Group Tours*
$6.00/per person**
** Please note that this price is for the basic guided tour only.
*Additional arrangements to use the Historic Center Hall and must be coordinated with the AHI Executive Director.  Membership discounts for renting the Center Hall do not apply to for-profit events. Catering pricing available upon request.

Prices are subject to change.
Tour buses welcome.
Please contact us for more information

Arthurdale Audio

Can’t visit Arthurdale in person?  Learn more about our unique community by listening to new audio narratives covering various topics about Arthurdale.

Planning a visit to Arthurdale?  Each audio file topic also corresponds with buildings on the driving tour of Arthurdale’s historic district and can serve as a companion to the historic district driving tour brochure.

Directions to Arthurdale

GPS COORDINATES: Q-Road and A-Road, Arthurdale, WV  26520

From Baltimore, MD and points east:

I-70 West to I-68 West.  From I-68 West travel approximately 108 miles.  Take Exit 4 — Sabraton — Route 7.   Make a left onto Route 7 East toward Kingwood.  Follow Route 7 East approximately 12 miles to the intersection of Route 7 and Route 92.  At intersection, go straight onto Route 92 S.  Go approximately another 2.5 miles.  Arthurdale Museum Complex is on the right hand side.

From Pittsburgh, PA, and points north:

I-79 South to I-68 East.  From I-68 East travel approximately 5 miles.  Take Exit 4 — Sabraton — Route 7.   Make a left onto Route 7 East toward Kingwood.  Follow Route 7 East approximately 12 miles to the intersection of Route 7 and Route 92.  At intersection, go straight onto Route 92 S.  Go approximately another 2.5 miles.  Arthurdale Museum Complex is on the right hand side.

From Indianapolis, IN, and points west:

I-70 East to I-79 South.  I-79 South to I-68 West.   Take Exit 4 — Sabraton — Route 7.   Make a left onto Route 7 East toward Kingwood.  Follow Route 7 East approximately 12 miles to the intersection of Route 7 and Route 92.  At intersection, go straight onto Route 92 S.  Go approximately another 2.5 miles.  Arthurdale Museum Complex is on the right hand side.

From Charlotte, NC, and points south:

I-77 North onto I-77 North/I-81South/US-11 South toward Wytheville/Bluefield.  Take Exit 72 to merge onto I-77 North.  Take Exit 48 — Summersville/US-19.  Follow US-19 to I-79 North.  Merge onto I-68 East from I-79 North.   Take Exit 4 — Sabraton — Route 7.   Make a left onto Route 7 East toward Kingwood.  Follow Route 7 East approximately 12 miles to the intersection of Route 7 and Route 92.  At intersection, go straight onto Route 92 S.  Go approximately another 2.5 miles.  Arthurdale Museum Complex is on the right hand side.

Photograph of Eleanor Roosevelt Dancing in Arthurdale Courtesy Franklin D. Roosevelt Library