America's Smallest Community Museum

It may be tiny, but Ripley has a museum! Ripley where, you say?

Ripley, WV! We are only a few miles away from other Ripley's in the world.

I love museums. I have often thought of how great it would be to work at a museum - or to even have one of my very own. So, when I found out we had one right here in our little town - no matter how small it was, I just had to have a look see.

Our town was named after Harry Ripley, a circuit riding minister who tragically died in 1830. Legend has it that he fell in love with a local girl, believed to be the daughter of Capt. William Parsons. He drowned days before the wedding while attempting to cross Mill Creek. Their wedding certificate was found in his coat pocket.

 

The picture above is of West Virginia's last public hanging. It occurred in Ripley, Thursday, December 16, 1897.  

There was a CCC Camp located in Ripley. 

I never knew that!

It does live up to its claim - it is small. At 7-feet, 7-inches wide and 15-feet, 7-inches long, the new museum at the Ripley Convention & Visitors Bureau measures approximately 120-square feet. But, no matter how small, I love  museums. If you are ever in our neck of the woods, check it out. It is located at the corner of North and Church Streets.

Want to read about another small museum in West Virginia. Go here to another post and read about Shoney's Big Boy.