Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is Parkersburg’s biggest tourist attraction, but did you know that Parkersburg and its surrounding areas are rich in history and full of museums and historic homes? Here are five more attractions to add to your next visit to Greater Parkersburg.

Henderson Hall – Williamstown, WV

Henderson Hall is an early American Victorian hall with 8,000 square feet and 21 rooms—the centerpiece of 2,600 acres along the Ohio River. The Hall was home to six generations of the same family, who kept nearly all of their belongings. From the original signed land deed to party invitations, a guided tour through Henderson Hall is like travelling back in time.

Henderson Hall reopens for the 2026 season on Wednesday, April 1. Tours cost $15 per adult and $10 for veterans and students. Tours start at 12 p.m., and the last one begins at 4 p.m.

The Castle – Marietta, OH

The Castle is one of the most prominent homes in Marietta, OH. The property was leased as early as 1808 and was one of the earliest pottery manufacturing sites in the Northwest Territory. The Castle itself was built in 1855 for $10,000 (equivalent to around $275,000 today). Guided tours of the Castle include an in-depth look into the history of Marietta and the five families that lived on the property from 1808 to 1974.

The Castle reopens for the 2026 season on Thursday, April 2. Tours cost $12 per adult, $10 for seniors, and $8 for students. Tours start at 10 a.m., and the last one begins at 4 p.m.

Julia-Ann Square Historic District – Parkersburg, WV

The largest and the oldest historic district in the state of West Virginia. Julia-Ann Square is an epicenter for West Virginia’s early history. Homeowners, comprised of leaders, banks, businessmen, political figures, and more, constructed the best houses of the time. The district has 126 homes in styles of the Second Empire, 19th-century eclectic, and Queen Ann dating from 1850 to 1910.

A free walking tour of the district features 54 houses, a historic church, and a cemetery. A copy of the tour guide can be picked up at the Parkersburg Welcome Center at 113 Ann Street.

Oil & Gas Museum – Parkersburg, WV

Parkersburg was built on the oil and gas industries of the 1800s. The city of Parkersburg and Wood County as a whole greatly benefited from the prosperous oil and gas industries. Political and social power and personal fortunes grew. Multiple state governors and politicians came from Parkersburg. Businessmen from the area played an important role in influencing the entire state after the Civil War.

The Oil & Gas Museum highlights the history and its present-day impact in the Appalachian Basin. It reopens for the 2026 season on Wednesday, April 1. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Sunday.

Volcano Museum – Waverly, WV

The Volcano Museum is located at the Mountwood Park visitor center, and it details all of the history of the ghost town of Volcano, WV. Volcano was once a prosperous oil boomtown, and now only its history remains. Fun fact, the name “Volcano” came from a geologist visiting the area after he saw a sea of yellow dog lamps that belonged to the oil field workers. All of the flames made the area look like a volcano.

The Volcano Museum is open from May to October on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Greater Parkersburg area is rich in history and heritage. For a full list of our historical attractions, visit https://www.greaterparkersburg.com/history-heritage/