It’s time for the 2016 Hidden History Photo Contest, where the rich cultural heritage of southern West Virginia is revealed through photography. Anyone can capture such stories of the past with a creative eye and a camera, sharing the diverse history preserved in this region’s National and State Parks, the National Coal Heritage Area, as well as in our own back yards. Each image is a glimpse into our culture, ranging from the traditions of a family to the national legacies of the coal, timber, and railroad industries. Prizes will be awarded and winning photos will be displayed at Tamarack, history museums throughout southern West Virginia, and online.
 
Photo entry deadline: September 16, 2016. This free contest is open to West Virginia amateur photographers, adult and youth. Photographs can be entered in several history-based subject categories and must be taken within a specified contest area. See contest rules and link to the new online entry platform athttp://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/hidden-history-photo-contest.htm.
 
The Hidden History Photo Contest is coordinated by the National Park Service, National Coal Heritage Area, and Tamarack. This celebration of heritage through the arts is part of southern West Virginia’s annual Hidden History Weekend (September 23 – 25, 2016), which highlights the cultural significance of this region for visitors and locals alike. See this year’s event schedule at www.nps.gov/neri.  
 
Photo caption: Childhood Memories © Arlene Russell. 2015 Hidden History Photo Contest – Best in Show.  (Water tank at Camp Brookside in Brooks, West Virginia.)