Wood: Historic Parks and River Landscape

Wood combines the banks of the Ohio River with historic sites, museums and varied trails. The county’s visitor appeal extends from the river to the mountain corridor along Interstate 77. This allows you to shape your stay entirely around your interests: with culture and regional history, nature experiences by the water, or longer tours on foot and by bicycle.

History Along the River and on the Island

A special excursion leads to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. The park includes a reconstructed Palladian mansion on an island in the Ohio River. From Point Park on 2nd Street in Parkersburg, the island can be reached by a paddle-wheel riverboat. On site, you can take guided tours of the grounds and mansion; carriage rides are also available. Tours on Blennerhassett Island are offered during the park’s opening season from May through the last weekend in October. This schedule is particularly important when planning a day of culture and excursions.

Henderson Hall offers further historical insights. The house, its grounds and the Henderson family cemetery make up the Henderson Hall Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, original furnishings preserve impressions of life on the frontier from the 18th century through the days of the 20th-century oil boom. A working blacksmith shop adds a vivid craft element to the visit.

Museums, Local History and Living Culture

At Mountwood Park, the Volcano Museum recalls the history of Volcano with artifacts and information. The museum is open from May 1 through October 31 on Saturdays, Sundays and during special events from 1 to 4 p.m. Mountwood Park is located on land that was once part of the 19th-century oil-boom town of Volcano. After additional oil fields were discovered near Volcano, Wood County quickly became an important oil market; an oil pipeline connected Volcano with Parkersburg. The Oil & Gas Museum is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The townscape also tells a story. The Julia-Ann Square Historic District includes about 126 houses in the Second Empire, 19th-century eclectic and Queen Anne styles, dating from approximately 1850 to 1910. The district’s historic walking tour includes 54 houses, a historic church and one of the area’s earliest cemeteries. At Fort Boreman Historical Park, you can see Union Civil War trenches and interpretive signs. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 and offers views of Parkersburg as well as the Ohio River and the Little Kanawha River. For an evening of culture, the Smoot Theatre offers live entertainment throughout the year.

Trails, Water and Family Experiences

Those who want to stay active during their visit will find nearly 30 miles of singletrack trails for hiking and cycling at Mountwood Park. The North Bend Rail Trail stretches for 72 miles from Interstate 77 near Wood County to Wolf Summit in Harrison County. It is reserved exclusively for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. For shorter nature experiences, the visitor center at Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge offers short hiking trails as well as access for fishing and canoeing or kayaking. The refuge preserves habitats for native wildlife along the river and in its floodplain. Boating on the Ohio River, as well as canoeing and hunting in inland Wood County, are also listed as recreational opportunities.

Veterans Memorial Park is a day-use park with picnic and playground facilities, as well as opportunities for catch-and-release fishing on a wooded hill. For children and families, Discovery World on Market offers hands-on STEAM learning experiences. Exhibits and activities include River Adventure, Ball Factory, Design Studio, Makerspace Lab and Design Zone Room. This makes it possible to plan a varied stay in Wood that combines historic sightseeing, outdoor activity, water experiences and playful learning.

The Right Base for Your Trip

When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home, you can base your choice on your preferred daily itinerary. Those who want to focus on the region’s history can plan their sightseeing around mansions, historic districts, museums and the theater. For longer excursions by bicycle or on foot, the trails and parks are the defining themes. Families can also take Discovery World and the day-use atmosphere of Veterans Memorial Park into account. When choosing your accommodation, consider which attractions you want to combine during your stay, and select a location that suits this personal travel plan.

Discover More Places

For further travel planning, you can also visit Vienna or Mineral Wells. Other destinations in the same navigation section are Greenbrier, Randolph County, Wetzel County, Summers and Logan.

For the higher-level travel overview: West Virginia.