West Virginia is no stranger to making it on the big the screen lately, and now, the Mountain State is mentioned in a Marvel movie – Captain America: Brave New World.
Early in the plot, West Virginia natives will notice inspiration from Green Bank, a quiet town that’s home to the world’s largest steerable telescope. Who knew a town with a population of less than a hundred residents could make such an impact on the Multiverse? We never doubted the possibility.
While a little movie magic made it so Green Bank Observatory wasn’t an actual filming location, there is no question that the scriptwriters went off the grid and discovered how much of a hidden gem West Virginia is. Here is what you should know about this fantastic feature!
Caution: The driving plot of “Captain America: Brave New World” contains minor spoilers, but there are no major plot reveals.
Why Green Bank?
Green Bank is completely off the grid in Pocahontas County because it’s located within the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), designated to protect the sensitive Green Bank Observatory from radio-frequency interference. The 485-foot-tall telescope is the most accurate, versatile, large-dish radio telescope in the world and makes significant contributions to astronomy research. There are several smaller telescopes on the property as well. This is why you will never have cell service when you visit, which makes for the perfect digital detox trip.
A secret location
Sam Wilson, the newly-minted Captain America, and his friend Joaquin Torres (stepping in as the Falcon) are searching for the person behind the plot to kill the newly elected President. The search leads them to a location known as “Camp Echo One,” which Wilson points out is situated in a remote area of West Virginia.
As Captain America and the Falcon approach the facility, the camera pans to a sign on the side of the road that says the two are entering a radio quiet zone, exactly like Green Bank. Two large radio telescopes are prominent features of Camp Echo One, and Wilson comments on this during the movie, saying the radio telescopes must be a front for something more secretive. They strongly resemble that of the observatory in real life. Coincidence?
A second possible location of inspiration
There is another government facility in the NRQZ that could be a better comparison to the secretive Camp Echo One installation — the Sugar Grove Research Station in Pendleton County. While operations ceased in 2015, there are telescopes that strongly resemble the ones found in Brave New World.
Make Green Bank your next mission
When you visit Green Bank, you’ll enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted experience exploring the observatory – unlike Captain America and the Falcon. The Green Bank Observatory offers bus tours of the campus and takes you close to the jaw-dropping 485-foot telescope. While you’re here, explore the Science Center and the Exhibit Hall. Here, you’ll learn in-depth about the telescope’s contributions to research and the history behind the observatory. The observatory also hosts numerous events throughout the year, which boast unique opportunities to learn more about astronomy in West Virginia.
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This article: This Small West Virginia Town Plays a Big Role in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ has been curated from our friends at Visit West Virginia and the original in it's entirety can be found here: https://wvtourism.com/this-small-west-virginia-town-plays-a-big-role-in-captain-america-brave-new-world/
