Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Encyclopedia
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
. While the original mansion burned to the ground long ago, a detailed replica, which can be toured, has been built on its foundations. The Blennerhasset Mansion greatly resembled George Washington's Mount Vernon
, due to its Palladian style.
The park is accessed via sternwheeler riverboat
from Point Park on 2nd Street in Parkersburg, West Virginia
. The riverboat ride takes about 20 minutes. In 2009, the sternwheeler will depart from Civitan Park in Belpre, Ohio
due to the riverfront development in Parkersburg.
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.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located on Blennerhassett Island
Blennerhassett Island
Blennerhasset Island, an island on the Ohio River below the mouth of the Little Kanawha River, is located near Parkersburg in Wood County, West Virginia, USA....
, a small island in the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, located in Wood County, West Virginia
Wood County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. The population density was 240 people per square mile . There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile...
, USA. The property was the site of a Palladian mansion owned by Harman Blennerhassett
Harman Blennerhassett
Harman Blennerhassett was an Irish-American lawyer, born in Castle Conway in County Kerry, Ireland to Conway Blennerhassett and Elizabeth Lacy. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1790 was called to the Irish bar...
, a participant in some of the alleged intrigues
Burr conspiracy
The Burr conspiracy in the beginning of the 19th century was a suspected treasonous cabal of planters, politicians, and army officers led by former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. According to the accusations against him, Burr’s goal was to create an independent nation in the center of North...
of Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
. While the original mansion burned to the ground long ago, a detailed replica, which can be toured, has been built on its foundations. The Blennerhasset Mansion greatly resembled George Washington's Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
, due to its Palladian style.
The park is accessed via sternwheeler riverboat
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
from Point Park on 2nd Street in Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
. The riverboat ride takes about 20 minutes. In 2009, the sternwheeler will depart from Civitan Park in Belpre, Ohio
Belpre, Ohio
Belpre is a city in Washington County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,441 at the 2010 census....
due to the riverfront development in Parkersburg.
Blennerhasset Museum of Regional History
The Blennerhasset 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
- Souvenir shop
- Picnic shelters
- Bicycle rentals
- Hiking
Accessibility
West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
assessed the park's accessibility
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
to the disabled in 2005, and rated its facilities as "accessible" by the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
See also
- Blennerhassett Island BridgeBlennerhassett Island BridgeBlennerhassett Island Bridge opened to traffic June 13, 2008. The bridge is a Network Arch Bridge constructed at a cost of $120 million over the Ohio River between Belpre, Ohio and Parkersburg, West Virginia. Construction of the bridge was completed by the Walsh Construction Company of Chicago.The...
- List of West Virginia state parks