WEST VIRGINIA
US 11 continues to roughly parallel the Warrior’s Path, known to the Shawnee as “Athiamiowee” (Path of the Armed Ones), which connected New York and the Great Lakes with Virginia and North Carolina. Used for thousands of years for hunting, travel, and trade, it became a key, often contested route during colonial conflicts and pioneer migration through the Cumberland Gap. Parts of it were incorporated into the Wilderness Road.
RIDGEWAY
The town was named after a local merchant, Charles J. Ridgeway.
BUNKER HILL
This was the site of the first permanent European settlement in West Virginia by Morgan Morgan in 1726. Historical sites include Mill Creek Historic District and the Bunker Hill grist mill from 1738 which is the only mill in West Virginia with dual water wheels. A small grain silo has been transformed into a “Mega Missile” at a fireworks company on WV-26 just east of US 11.
INWOOD
Named after an early resort that was “In the Woods”, the town featured a Musselmann Company apple processing plant in the 1920’s. Another large apple is in front of the local Musselman High School whose mascots are the Apple Men.
DARKESVILLE
William Darke was a Virginia military officer who had his headquarters in this city, chartered in 1791. The historic district has log cabins built in or before 1810.
PIKESIDE
The city was named after a nearby turnpike. The Copper Still Pub and Grill promotes handmade dishes using fresh local ingredients and is located on US 11.
MARTINSBURG
Martinsburg was founded in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War and named in honor of Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin, a nephew of Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Martinsburg functioned initially as a railroad hub for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and more recently, for Amtrak and MARC lines. The Martinsburg Roundhouse, built in 1842, is the sole surviving cast-iron frame roundhouse in the world. The Van Metre Ford Stone bridge was built in 1832 and is still functioning as a pedestrian crossing of the Opequon Creek just east of Martinsburg. The Belle Boyd House, built in 1853, is a museum and visitor center dedicated to the life of Confederate spy Belle Boyd and the history of Berkeley County. The Wonderment Puppet Theater is a year round children’s puppet theater in a colorful Victorian house. Yet another large apple serving as a time capsule is located at 605 W. King Street. Patterson’s Drug Store in the downtown historic district has been in business for over 80 years with an old-fashioned soda fountain and classic treats. The Garage on King is a food hall in a refurbished warehouse, also in downtown Martinsburg, that offers a variety of cuisines. DeFluri’s Fine Chocolates has been sweetening downtown since 1985 and Anthony’s Pizza has been cooking pies for 40 years on US 11. A large crab is attached to the front of the Chesapeake Crab Company at 1014 Winchester Ave.
James Haines was the first postmaster in 1878 although the post office was dis-established in 1895.
FALLING WATERS
Founded in 1815 on the Potomac River, the town is a familiar address to many boaters as it is the location of the US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center.
US 11 crosses the river here to the state of Maryland on a bridge built in 1909 with renovations in 1979.
MARYLAND
Maryland was named to honor Queen Henriette Maria, the wife of King Charles I of England when the charter for the colony was granted in 1632. The charter was granted to George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, to create a colony in the New World. Lord Baltimore originally considered naming the colony “Crescentia” but ultimately allowed the King to choose, resulting in Terra Mariae, or Maryland.