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Where the Little Kanawha River empties into the Ohio, Parkersburg grew rich on oil, gas and river trade, and the Victorian mansions of the Julia-Ann Square district still show it. The city of about 29,000 is the seat of Wood County and the hub of the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Its most famous story unfolded offshore. On Blennerhassett Island, a wealthy Irish couple built a grand Palladian mansion in the 1790s, and their friendship with Aaron Burr later drew them into his alleged conspiracy. A sternwheeler ferries visitors from Point Park to the rebuilt mansion each summer, while the Blennerhassett Museum downtown displays artifacts from the island and the region.
Back in town, the floodwall along the river is painted with murals of local history, the Oil and Gas Museum tells the story of the 1860s boom, and Fort Boreman Historical Park overlooks the meeting of the rivers. The Smoot Theatre brings shows to a restored 1920s stage, and Marietta, Ohio, is only 15 minutes upriver.
A state park on an Ohio River island reached by sternwheeler from Point Park. Tour the reconstructed Blennerhassett Mansion, tied to the Aaron Burr conspiracy, then take a horse-drawn wagon ride or rent a bike to explore the island. The boat runs from spring to fall, so book tickets ahead on weekends.
An Italianate brick mansion north of Parkersburg near Williamstown, home to the same family for generations and preserved with its original furnishings, books and papers. Tours are offered on a limited schedule, so check ahead. The house overlooks the Ohio River valley from a quiet rise.
A downtown museum with three floors of exhibits on the Blennerhassett family, prehistoric Native American finds from the valley and pioneer life along the Ohio. A short film introduces the island story. Buy combination tickets here for the museum, sternwheeler and mansion tour together.
A volunteer-run museum packed with engines, tools, photographs and documents from the 1860s oil boom that transformed the Mid-Ohio Valley. Guides love to explain how early wells and pumps worked. It sits a short walk from Point Park, and a visit takes about an hour.
A series of large murals painted on the river floodwall near Point Park, each showing a chapter of Parkersburg history, from Native American life and riverboats to the oil boom. Walk the wall in order for a quick outdoor history lesson, then step through the gate for views of the rivers.
A hilltop park on the site of a Union fort built during the Civil War to guard the rivers and railroad. Short trails lead to interpretive signs and an overlook with sweeping views of downtown, the Little Kanawha and the Ohio. Sunset is the best time, and the drive up is steep but paved.
Tree-lined blocks of grand Victorian, Queen Anne and Italianate homes built by Parkersburg's oil, timber and banking families in the late 1800s. It is a pleasant self-guided walk of about an hour. The houses are private, so admire them from the sidewalk, and look for the historic marker on Juliana Street.
A 1926 vaudeville and movie house downtown that was rescued from demolition and restored by volunteers. It now hosts concerts, touring acts, dance and community shows under its ornate ceiling. Check the season calendar online and arrive early to look around the lobby.
A large shaded city park with a fishing lake, walking paths, picnic shelters, a playground and a historic log cabin moved here from the countryside. It is the city's favorite spot for summer concerts and family reunions. The paths around the lake make an easy evening stroll.
A red-brick downtown hotel built in 1889 by a local businessman, with a Victorian lobby, wood paneling and a restaurant that serves as a local gathering place. Even if you stay elsewhere, step inside for a drink or a meal and to see the period details and old photographs.
A large county park east of the city with a lake for fishing and paddle boats, miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, and the remains of Volcano, an oil boom town that burned in the 1870s. Trails pass old pump equipment in the woods. Bring water and bug spray in summer.
A long rail-trail following the old Baltimore and Ohio line east from the Parkersburg area across rural West Virginia, with old tunnels, trestles and small towns along the way. Ride or walk a short section out and back. Carry a light for the tunnels and check trail conditions after heavy rain.
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West Virginia, United States
West Virginia, United States
West Virginia, United States
West Virginia, United States
West Virginia, United States
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