Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park

Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is a state park located on Blennerhassett Island, a small island in the Ohio River, located in Wood County, West Virginia, USA. The property was the site of a Palladian mansion owned by Harman Blennerhassett, a participant in some of the alleged intrigues of Aaron Burr, and his wife Margaret Agnew.[3] While the original mansion burned to the ground in 1811, a detailed replica, which can be toured, was built on its foundations in the 1980s. The Blennerhasset mansion greatly resembled George Washington's Mount Vernon, due to its Palladian style.[4][5]

Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Reconstructed Blennerhassett Mansion, 2008
Map showing the location of Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Map showing the location of Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Location of Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park in West Virginia
LocationWood, West Virginia, United States
Coordinates39°16′19″N 81°37′29″W
Area511 acres (207 ha)[1]
Elevation575 ft (175 m)
Websitewvstateparks.com/park/blennerhassett-island-historical-state-park/
Blennerhassett Island Historic District
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is located in West Virginia
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is located in the United States
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Nearest cityParkersburg, West Virginia
Area508.6 acres (205.8 ha)
Built1799
NRHP reference No.72001294[2]
Added to NRHPSeptember 7, 1972

The park is accessed via sternwheeler riverboat from Point Park on 2nd Street in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The riverboat ride takes about 20 minutes each way.

Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History

The Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History operates in conjunction with the state park. The Museum is located two blocks from the riverboat landing at the corner of 2nd and Juliana Streets. Exhibits focus on the regional history of west and central West Virginia, and include household furnishings, art, clothing, and prehistoric Native American tools, jewelry, weapons and items. Admission is separate from the park.

Features
  • Horsedrawn carriage rides
  • Restored 1802 Putnam-Houser House
  • Gift shop
  • Picnic shelters
  • Bicycle rentals
  • Hiking

Accessibility

West Virginia University assessed the park's accessibility to the disabled in 2005, and rated its facilities as "accessible" by the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.[6]

  • Drawing of the Blennerhassett home, circa 1800.
    Drawing of the Blennerhassett home, circa 1800.
  • North end of Blennerhassett Island
    North end of Blennerhassett Island
  • Drawing from Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography
    Drawing from Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography

See also

References
  1. West Virginia State Parks Facilities Grid, accessed March 29, 2008 Archived March 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. Gibbens, Alvaro F., Historic Blennerhassett Island Home, Global Printing and Binding Co., Parkersburg, WV 1914.
  4. "Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park".
  5. Marlene Hershman (May 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Blennerhassett Island Historic District" (PDF). State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  6. Guide to Accessible Recreation and Travel in WV, WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities web site, accessed July 31, 2006 Archived July 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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