The Greater Parkersburg area boasts several nationally known attractions including The Fenton Art Glass Company, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, The Oil and Gas Museum and Middleton Dolls, to name a few.
Fenton Art Glass is among the world’s foremost producers of handmade art glass. Fenton Art Glass makes glass the old fashioned way using techniques and tools that are essentially unchanged from those of over 100 years ago. Visitors to Fenton Art Glass will find a spacious gift shop and an informative museum. Free factory tours take small groups of guests out to the factory floor to see glassmaking “up close and personal.” The Fenton tour has been ranked among the “Top 10” factory tours nationwide by USA Today. In addition, Fenton Art Glass was named to the Rand McNally Road Atlas “Best of the Road” ™ in 2006.
Built in 1926 for vaudeville acts, the restored Smoot Theatre in downtown Parkersburg offers unforgettable entertainment ranging from artists of international and national prominence to local performers. The Parkersburg Art Center located in downtown Parkersburg features regional and national shows year-round. The Center features exhibitions, classes, guided tours, gift shop, and special events.
Plan to spend some time at the nationally recognized Oil and Gas Museum in downtown Parkersburg and learn about the beginnings of the oil industry and the barons who created the state of West Virginia. One of Travelocity.com’s “Local Secrets, Big Finds.” The Oil and Gas Museum is as much a history lesson as a museum. The new Civil War room in the Oil and Gas Museum features original uniforms, weapons, flags and artifacts.
If you love chocolate then you’ll want to visit Holl’s Swiss Chocolatier in Vienna where you can experience the mouth-watering pleasures of handcrafted Swiss chocolates created daily using only the finest ingredients.
Looking for a great shopping experience? Look no further than Grand Central Mall. With over 100 stores, restaurants, specialty shops and a 12 screen cinema there is always something fun for the entire family to enjoy.
The crown jewel of downtown Parkersburg, the magnificently restored Blennerhassett Hotel features elegant rooms and fine dining coupled with unprecedented hospitality and state-of-the-art technology. Built in the late nineteenth century by one of Parkersburg’s oil barons, the Blennerhassett Hotel takes great pride in its storied past while providing exemplary service and amenities.
Just across the river from downtown Parkersburg is Middleton Dolls, home of award winning lifelike limited edition collectible dolls. Tour the Legacy Doll House Museum, visit the popular Newborn Nursery, and enjoy the expansive gift shop that features the latest Playbaby doll line and more.
From award winning museums that offer a wonderful journey into the past to historic home tours, the Greater Parkersburg area is a wonderful destination for an escape full of discoveries and great family fun.
