Charleston Century

West Virginia - and Charleston, in particular - has a distinctive beauty to it that's unlike any other. Its mixture of meandering rivers, rolling hills, and lush greenery is unlike almost any other.

And then, there's the history. As you drive into town on U.S. Highway 60, you can't miss the sight of the golden Capitol dome. It's every bit as majestic as the Capitol building in D.C., but it's even more spectacular when the sun is shining. Its rays reflect off the golden dome and the Kanawha River in the foreground, providing a glorious scene that's sure to widen the eyes of any first-time visitor. I know it did mine.

There is, of course, a lot more to Charleston's story than its role as the state capital. It's the birthplace of the nation's petrochemical industry. An oil field near Cabin Creek supplied the raw material that made the Pure Oil company a leader in the field. And speaking of Cabin Creek, if that name sounds familiar, it's probably because an NBA Hall of Famer went to high school there. Jerry West, aka "Zeke from Cabin Creek," became an pro basketball star, top executive, and the inspiration for the league's iconic logo.

The Shoney's restaurant chain got its start in Charleston as the Parkette Drive-In. And one of the nation's most mysterious unsolved murders happened in the city. Country music star Kathy Mattea was born in South Charleston, and the city had an undefeated pro football team seven years before the Miami Dolphins pulled off the feat.

Charleston was the site of a Civil War battle, and it became the state capital in 1875. More recently, in 2003, it became home to the Clay Center for Arts and Sciences and has continued to evolve into a 21st century city. Charleston Century is the story of what happened in between.