Parkersburg: History, Museums and Trails

Parkersburg combines tangible history with a variety of excursions into nature. A special starting point is Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, which you can reach from Point Park on 2nd Street by paddlewheel steamboat. There, guided tours of the grounds and mansion are just as much a part of the experience as horse-drawn carriage rides. Anyone looking for a vacation rental in Parkersburg for their trip can use their stay to focus entirely on historical discoveries, museum visits and active days.

History in Museums and Historic Districts

The Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History extends over three floors and explores the history of the Blennerhassett family and the Mid-Ohio Valley area. The exhibitions change on the second floor, allowing museum visits to cover different topics. The Oil and Gas Museum also tells part of the region’s history. It is located in the W. H. Smith Hardware Store and covers both the history and the current effects of the oil and gas industry in the Appalachian Basin. The former W. H. Smith Hardware Store also houses the region’s Civil War Museum and additional military history exhibitions.

For a trip involving several cultural interests, Parkersburg therefore offers various ways to explore the past: family history, industry, the Civil War and regional development. The Henry Cooper Log Cabin Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Admission to the Parkersburg Art Center is free during regular opening hours.

Historic Trails and Special Views

The historic walking tour through the Julia-Ann Square Historic District includes 54 houses, a historic church and one of the region’s first cemeteries. The district is considered the largest and oldest historic district in West Virginia. The tour is therefore particularly suitable for anyone who wants to combine architecture, local history and exercise without spending the entire day indoors.

Fort Boreman Historical Park also combines history with scenery. Union trenches from the Civil War have been preserved there. At the same time, the park offers views of Parkersburg as well as the Ohio River and the Little Kanawha River. This combination makes the site a destination in its own right for trip planning in which historic sites and scenic experiences stand side by side.

Active Days and Options for Different Interests

The North Bend Rail Trail begins at its western end in Parkersburg and leads to Clarksburg at the eastern end. In total, it stretches for 72 miles through the northern central region and western West Virginia. The hiking trails also serve as bicycle paths. This allows trip planning to be based on the preferred mode of transportation, without the same route being limited to just one activity.

The Smoot Theatre, with live entertainment throughout the year, and The Ball Factory at Discovery World on Market provide entertainment. The Ball Factory has a large climbing structure. The entire space is designed with factory-themed exhibits that convey concepts from science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The design draws on local processes and Parkersburg’s industrial history. Parkersburg City Park also has a splash park and swimming pool, miniature golf, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic shelters and a playground.

Parkersburg as a Starting Point for Trip Planning

The variety of destinations speaks in favor of choosing accommodation that suits your desired daily itinerary. If you mainly want to experience museums and historic districts, these topics can form the focus of your trip. For active days, the North Bend Rail Trail, Fort Boreman Historical Park or the facilities at Parkersburg City Park are good options. A vacation rental is therefore the right type of accommodation to search for travelers who want to get to know Parkersburg as a destination in its own right and plan their excursions around the experiences described there.

More travel ideas are available in Vienna and Mineral Wells.

For the overview of the broader travel region: Wood.