Civil war battle site in Wheeling, West Virginia

West Virginia Independence Hall, located at 1528 Market Street in Wheeling, West Virginia, is a museum and tourist attraction that played a crucial role in the state's history. Governor Pierpont used this building as his office during the time of the “Restored Government of Virginia,” where he composed the telegram urging President Lincoln to sign the bill for West Virginia statehood. The building was not the capitol of West Virginia, but rather served as the capitol of the “Restored Government of Virginia” from 1861-1863. The US government recognized the existence of the “Restored Government of Virginia” at the second Wheeling convention in 1861, laying the groundwork for West Virginia's statehood. The building, originally the Wheeling Custom House, post office, and federal court, played a major role in the statehood movement by providing a space for political discussions and meetings of the constitutional conventions.