| MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS |
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Step into a storybook past and discover a history of influence and intrigue at Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. From your sternwheel boat ride across the Ohio River to the beautifully reconstructed Blennerhassett Mansion, you’ll get a feel for the way life on the river was in 18th Century America. Your visit to Blennerhassett Island will give you a glimpse into the days when Victorian opulence met the early American wilderness. The sometimes tragic story of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett and their exquisite estate illustrates the life that greeted European aristocracy arriving in our new land. Tour the reconstructed mansion and gardens, take a wagon ride around the island and learn about its early native inhabitants, or take a long walk or bike ride through the trees and wildflowers to experience the island’s natural beauty and grandeur. However you choose to enjoy Blennerhassett Island, it is a must-see stop in your visit to the Mid-Ohio Valley. Open May-October. Visit our website here. Blennerhassett Museum Many visitors choose to begin their Blennerhassett Island experience at the Blennerhassett Museum, located on the corner of Second and Juliana Streets in downtown Parkersburg. The museum features archeological and historical exhibits from the island, including tools and artifacts from some of the earliest Ice Age hunters who frequented the area almost 9,000 years ago. A highlight of your visit to the museum is a video introducing you to the story of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett and the history of their island. Be sure to visit the unique gift shop. Open year-round. Visit our website here. Julia-Ann Square Historic District Walking Tour Parkersburg development grew largely after the Civil War with the opening of the oil and gas industry. This quickened the pace of traffic on roads, railroads and rivers. The area north of the growing town that included Juliana and Ann Streets and their connecting side roads began filling with people who were the leaders of the community. They constructed the best houses of the time, employing the latest styles and using the finest materials. In 1977 the area became part of the National Register of Historic Places. Take a stroll through this historic part of town and enjoy the magnificent homes of a bygone era. There are 26 homes in all, each marked with a “Historic Walking Tour” plaque. Brochures are also available at the Blennerhassett Hotel and the Oil and Gas Museum. Mountwood Park If outdoor recreation is what you’re looking for, Mountwood Park is the place to go. Just 12 miles east of Parkersburg off of US Route 50, Mountwood Park features 2600 acres of natural rolling woodlands and plenty of activities for everyone from the nature lover to the extreme sports enthusiast. The main attraction is the 50-acre lake full of game fish, including annual trout stockings in the winter and early spring. John boat, paddle boat and kayak rentals are available seasonally at the marina, and a handicapped-accessible fishing pier compliments nearly two miles of shoreline from which you can cast a line. Mountwood has gained fame as a mountain biking destination with 25 miles of single track in addition to a network of roads and nearby access to the North Bend Rail Trail. The trails are also enjoyed by hikers, bird watchers and wildflower enthusiasts. An 80-site campground with full hook-ups as well as primitive sites is conveniently located to all of the park’s facilities. Picnic areas and playgrounds are scattered throughout the park, and a 9-hole disc golf course is also available. Open year-round. Visit our website here Oil & Gas Museum Nothing is more closely associated with the economic and social history of the Mid-Ohio Valley than the boom and bust cycles of the oil & gas industry. Stories of money, power, politics, war, prosperity and more await you in the 20,000 square feet of exhibits at the Oil & Gas Museum at 119 3rd Street in Parkersburg. The Oil & Gas Museum chronicles the people and events that formed the core of Mid-Ohio Valley culture in the 19th Century. Learn about the boomtowns of the 1850s, the fascinating story of West Virginia’s statehood, and the political leaders and prosperity that emerged. Historic photos, equipment, early artifacts and video displays will highlight your visit. Open year-round. Visit our website here.
Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley
The Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley is a not-for-profit association formed by a group of veterans from the Mid-Ohio Valley. The primary purpose of the association is to educate and remind area citizens of the important role veterans have played in the history of this country and in making this country what it is today. With few World War II veterans remaining, and the loss of many Korean and Vietnam veterans, much of the past history of our veterans is being lost. The Veterans Museum will strive to preserve that history. The museum offers 1,700 square feet of displays, memorabilia, photographs, letters, and uniforms. In addition, the museum has a video and book library complete with computers and internet access for research. It is located at 937 Avery Street in Parkersburg and is open March through December.
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