Oglebay Institute
Encyclopedia
Located in Wheeling, West Virginia
, Oglebay Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
incorporated in 1930.
Under the terms of the bequest by the late Colonel E. W. Oglebay in 1926, the area now known as Oglebay Park
was given to the City of Wheeling for "...so long as the people shall operate it for purposes of public recreation and education..." Shortly after acceptance of the bequest by the City of Wheeling two years later, Oglebay Institute was incorporated (1930) with the following stated objects and purposes:
; performing arts; regional history, interpretation and presentation; and visual and creative arts. The objective of Oglebay Institute is to be a leader in its disciplines by improving quality of life through education, recreation, culture and creative outlets for personal and professional growth and enrichment. Grounded in the successful traditions of its past, Oglebay Institute acts singly or collaborates with other organizations; serves a diverse audience; and challenges itself through its expansive vision to continually respond to the needs of its many publics.
The six facilities which encompass OI include: the Glass
Museum, the Mansion Museum, the Stifel Fine Arts Center, the School of Dance, Towngate Theatre & Cinema and the Schrader Environmental Education Center.
. The Glass Museum features 3,000 examples of Wheeling glass and china made from 1820–1939, including the famous Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest piece of cut lead glass
in the world. Other highlights include the Sinclair Pharmacy and Wymer General Store exhibits, and glassmaking demonstrations. The museums are located in Oglebay Park
, Wheeling. The mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
events and cabaret
s. A hands-on teaching facility, the Stifel Center hosts dozens of classes for children and adults. Oglebay Institute Administrative Offices also are housed at the Stifel. The Stifel is located at 1330 National Road, Wheeling.
It is housed at Edemar
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
." The Schrader also operates the beautiful Terra Alta Mountain Camp in Terra Alta, West Virginia
. The Center is located at Oglebay Park in Wheeling.
, tap
, jazz
, hip-hop
, Irish step
, belly dance
, ballroom traditions, fitness and more. Performance troupes and dance concerts bring fine entertainment to area residents and give dancers an opportunity to perform in public. The Institute is located at 1330 National Road, Wheeling.
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Oglebay Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
incorporated in 1930.
History
The organization’s founder, Earl W. Oglebay willed his country estate to the City of Wheeling for use “...as a public park for the enjoyment, recreation and education of the greatest number of people.” Part of Mr. Oglebay’s vision allowed for an organization that would offer cultural and educational activities. Thus, Oglebay Institute was formed to be governed by an elected Board of Trustees.Under the terms of the bequest by the late Colonel E. W. Oglebay in 1926, the area now known as Oglebay Park
Oglebay Park
Oglebay Park is a self supporting public municipal park, the only one of its kind, located on the outskirts of Wheeling, West Virginia on . The park has been open to the public since 1928 when the park's governing body, the Wheeling Park Commission, began operations at the former estate of Earl W....
was given to the City of Wheeling for "...so long as the people shall operate it for purposes of public recreation and education..." Shortly after acceptance of the bequest by the City of Wheeling two years later, Oglebay Institute was incorporated (1930) with the following stated objects and purposes:
Objectives
Today, Oglebay Institute is committed to offering quality programming for lifelong learning with a multidisciplinary approach. Five departments offer programs in dance; environmental educationEnvironmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
; performing arts; regional history, interpretation and presentation; and visual and creative arts. The objective of Oglebay Institute is to be a leader in its disciplines by improving quality of life through education, recreation, culture and creative outlets for personal and professional growth and enrichment. Grounded in the successful traditions of its past, Oglebay Institute acts singly or collaborates with other organizations; serves a diverse audience; and challenges itself through its expansive vision to continually respond to the needs of its many publics.
The six facilities which encompass OI include: the Glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
Museum, the Mansion Museum, the Stifel Fine Arts Center, the School of Dance, Towngate Theatre & Cinema and the Schrader Environmental Education Center.
Museums of Oglebay Institute
Purchased by Colonel Earl W. Oglebay in 1900 as his summer retreat, the Mansion Museum features period antiques and depicts Wheeling’s history from Pioneer times through the Victorian eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. The Glass Museum features 3,000 examples of Wheeling glass and china made from 1820–1939, including the famous Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest piece of cut lead glass
Lead glass
Lead glass is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40 weight% lead oxide , while modern lead crystal, historically also known as flint glass due to the original silica source, contains a minimum of 24% PbO...
in the world. Other highlights include the Sinclair Pharmacy and Wymer General Store exhibits, and glassmaking demonstrations. The museums are located in Oglebay Park
Oglebay Park
Oglebay Park is a self supporting public municipal park, the only one of its kind, located on the outskirts of Wheeling, West Virginia on . The park has been open to the public since 1928 when the park's governing body, the Wheeling Park Commission, began operations at the former estate of Earl W....
, Wheeling. The mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center
The Stifel Center brings experiences in visual and performing arts to the public. Programs include changing art exhibitions in the Hart Galleries, jazz concerts, wine tastingWine tasting
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards...
events and cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
s. A hands-on teaching facility, the Stifel Center hosts dozens of classes for children and adults. Oglebay Institute Administrative Offices also are housed at the Stifel. The Stifel is located at 1330 National Road, Wheeling.
It is housed at Edemar
Edemar
"Edemar", also known as Stifel Fine Arts Center, is a historic house and national historic district located at Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. The district includes two contributing buildings and two contributing structures. The main house was built between 1910 and 1914, and is a 2...
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
Schrader Environmental Education Center
Attractions include the A.B. Brooks Discovery Trail System, Children’s Awareness Area, EarthTrek Exhibit Hall and the Corson Wildflower and Butterfly Gardens. From tipi stays to maple sugaring, this hands-on facility offers seasonal events for nature lovers of all ages and is one of the region’s best examples of "Green ArchitectureSustainable architecture
Sustainable architecture is a general term that describes environmentally conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. Sustainable architecture is framed by the larger discussion of sustainability and the pressing economic and political issues of our world...
." The Schrader also operates the beautiful Terra Alta Mountain Camp in Terra Alta, West Virginia
Terra Alta, West Virginia
Terra Alta is a town in Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,456 at the 2000 census.-History:The James S. Lakin House and Terra Alta Bank are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-Geography:...
. The Center is located at Oglebay Park in Wheeling.
Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance
Dance is vibrant at Oglebay Institute with more classes for all ages than any other studio in the region. Classes include balletBallet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, tap
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
, jazz
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
, hip-hop
Hip hop dance
Hip-hop dance refers to dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans and made popular by breaking, locking, and...
, Irish step
Irish stepdance
Irish stepdance is a type of performance dance originated in Ireland from traditional Irish dance, characterised by solo dancers who dance with hands by their sides and upper body stiff, making quick, intricate movements of the feet, often with a troupe. Irish stepdancing was popularized by the...
, belly dance
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
, ballroom traditions, fitness and more. Performance troupes and dance concerts bring fine entertainment to area residents and give dancers an opportunity to perform in public. The Institute is located at 1330 National Road, Wheeling.