Days Ten and Eleven: Parkersburg, West Virginias

June 23rd & 24th, 2015

Parkersburg, West Virginia is a true gem!  Mom's GPS took us on a tour of the residential area above HWY 14 before we arrived at the hotel.  Some of the homes and lawns were beautiful!

We decided to be adventurous and just start down a list of sites, visiting the ones we really wanted to see.  Our first stop was the Julia Ann Historic District.  This was several blocks of Victorian homes, many dating back to the first years of the state's founding history.

As we were walking through this amazing neighborhood, we met a very nice woman who was sitting on her huge front porch reading the paper.  She gave us an overview of the founding of the neighborhood, and even encouraged us to move to Parkersburg.  She, like many people we have met, was amazed that mom and I are driving this trip, and seemed to believe Missouri and Kansas were a wilderness beyond the Mississippi.  We so enjoyed our brief visit with her, and took her advice for our next stop.

As we left the Julia Ann neighborhood, we went one block to the district's cemetery.  Most of the founding fathers of the city, and many of the founders of West Virginia are buried there. The trees, huge trees, were facinating.  Mom, who is rather camera shy, was convinced to stand at the base of the tall pines on the west of the cemetery.

Mom is the white dot in front of the car!

Next we ventured down to the Blennerhassett Hotel.  This amazing structure was constructed in the late 1800s, just a short distance from the Ohio Riverfront.  We enjoyed a healthy and tasty lunch in the Spats Lounge, then walked around the downtown area.

Blennerhasett Hotel

Mom, in front of the Blennerhassette

Wood County Courthouse, Parkersburg

Next we just began driving toward the river front to see what we would find.  We found an amazing park right on the Ohio River.  The view was spectacular, and we took many pictures.  A tour paddle boat from the Blennerhassette Island docked during our visit, and mom took pictures, striding up an down the bank; a woman on a mission!

Paddle boat returning to dock

As we were leaving the park, we noticed a marker on the levy wall, marking the birth place of Stonewall Jackson!  It was a great find.

The next morning we were headed out to Lexington, Kentucky, but took a brief side trip to Fort Boreman, on the bluffs, across the river from Parkersburg.  Another great find!  Amazing history, beautiful grounds, and "picture" perfect opportunities.

Parkersburg was one of the best places we have visited on this adventure!  I will share more detailed information about each venue after we return home.  Just a lovely city!