Blennerhassett Island
A grove of towering black walnut trees, twittering songbirds, and an air of opulent serenity greet visitors as they step onto Blennerhassett Island — a patch of about 500 acres in the middle of the Ohio River with a history all its own.
Only a 20-minute sternwheel boat ride away, the island is the perfect way to travel back in time, transporting history buffs and weekend-getaway lovers alike to the early 19th century.
Top Things To Do
Features the reconstructed Blennerhassett Mansion, guided tours, gift shop, narrated wagon rides, hiking trails and picnic facilities. Frequent special events include Mansion by Candlelight each October. Open May– October. Exact schedule varies with the seasons. Please call to confirm the Island will be open on the day you plan to visit (always closed on Monday).
Hover over areas of the map to learn more.
Island Belle Landing
After arriving, the trail on Blennerhassett Island is perfect for walking or biking. You can either bring over your own bicycle on the boat or rent one once you arrive. Fishing from the banks on the island is permitted with the proper licensing.
Walnut Grove
At hundreds of years old, it is rare to find American Black Walnut trees as stately as the ones on Blennerhassett Island because many of them were cut down to build gunstocks during World War I. Wandering underneath their branches feels like taking a walk through a bygone era.
Mansion
Reconstructed in the 1980s, the estate sits on the same foundation as the original estate, which burned to the ground in 1811. A tour, led by knowledgeable guides outfitted in historically accurate clothing, reveals the first and second floors of the mansion. Most of the Blennerhassetts’ possessions were lost in the fire, but some items have been recovered and are on display, including a piano belonging to Margaret Blennerhassett.
Maple Shade
Pack up a basket and throw down a blanket for a peaceful luncheon outing. Maple Shade is an especially beautiful spot to relax. Picnic tables are also featured on the island.
Wagon Loop
To tour the island’s more remote areas, take a seat in a wooden wagon and let the horses lead you along the gravel track. The driver also serves as a guide, pointing out interesting facts and trivia along the way — like the site where a 400-year sycamore with a 37.5-foot circumference used to stand.
BEFORE YOU VISIT FAQ
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is accessed through the Island Belle Sternwheeler, a 20-minute boat ride to the island. The island is also accessible by kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or motorized watercraft —a small landing beach is available for those visitors on the Ohio Side of the Island just downstream from the landing for the Sternwheeler. The Island Belle picks up and drops of passengers at Point Park, a short walk from the Visitors Welcome Center located at 113 Ann Street, Parkersburg, WV, so it is recommended to set your GPS there. A launch ramp for non-motorized watercraft is available at Point Park and for motorized and non-motorized watercraft across the river at Civitan Park in Belpre, OH.
Visitors to Blennerhassett Island are welcome to park in our parking lot at 113 Ann Street. We also have a back parking lot dedicated to bus and RV parking. Point Park also has a limited three-hour parking visitors may use. Dedicated parking for the island is also available beside the Blennerhassett Museum at 137 Juliana Street under the Route 50 exit/entrance ramps.
View the 2024 Operating Schedule to see a full list of ticket prices.
Tickets can be purchased at the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History located at 137 Juliana St Parkersburg, WV. Tickets just for the sternwheeler boat may be purchased at the boat itself with card only. If you use this method, wagon ride and mansion tour tickets may be purchased on the island itself. Advanced online tickets are available to purchase at https://reservations.wvstateparks.com/products/activities.
Blennerhassett Island is always closed on Mondays, except for Monday holidays. Hours vary by season. View the 2024 Operating Schedule.
The Island Belle will depart from Point Park on the hour. The boat does not stay for long, so be sure to arrive a few minutes early! The ride to the island is 20 minutes long. The boat departs from the island on the half-hour. Hours of operation vary depending on the season. View the 2024 Operating Schedule here. The last boat to the island is at 3 p.m., so visitors must arrive before then to visit the island. All visitors on the island must leave the island either before or on the 4:30 p.m. boat.
If you missed the boat to the island, don’t worry! Stop inside our welcome center and learn all about our other attractions here in Greater Parkersburg, before catching the next boat. The last boat to the island is at 3 p.m., so visitors must arrive before then to visit the island.
The main attractions on the island are the guided tour of the Blennerhassett Mansion and a narrated tour around the island on a horse-drawn covered wagon ride! There’s also a gift shop for visitors to browse Blennerhassett Island merchandise. The historic Putnam-Houser House is also occasionally open for tours, but it is not guaranteed to be open every day as it’s run by volunteers. Visitors are welcome to hike, picnic or rent a bike to ride around on the island. Visitors are welcome to bring their own bikes as well.
We recommend that guests dedicate around two hours to their visit to the island. The boat ride is twenty minutes long and the guided mansion tour and narrated covered-wagon tour are both around 30 minutes long. Two hours ensures that guests have enough time to do both tours, explore the island and visit the gift shop!
Visitors are more than welcome to bring their furry friends to the island. However, dogs must be on a leash and cannot accompany you on the guided mansion tour or the wagon ride.
Snacks and drinks are available for purchase at the gift shop on the island. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food. There are two picnic shelters on the island. Looking for fantastic food after your island visit? Check out our dining options here in Greater Parkersburg at greaterparkersburg.com/dining.
Camping on the island is not readily available to the public; however, arrangements can be made, call the Blennerhassett Museum at 304-420-4800 for more information. Hidden Marietta Tour Co. also offers public and private bookings for a paranormal investigation overnight stay on the island on select dates. Visit their website hiddenmarietta.com for more information
The hotel and museum are located in Downtown Parkersburg—not on the island. The hotel is located at 320 Market St and the museum is located at 137 Juliana St.
Call us at 304-428-1130 or our toll-free number at 800-752-4982 or the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History at 304-420-4800. We’ll be happy to answer your questions!
2025 OPERATING SCHEDULE
The Blennerhassett Island and Museum are CLOSED ON MONDAYS.
Tickets for transportation to the island can be purchased at the boat itself, online or at the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History located at 137 Juliana Street in Parkersburg.
Phone: (304) 420-4800
The boat landing is at Point Park, on the other side of the flood wall.
Parking is available at the Welcome Center at 113 Ann St, through the flood wall or behind the museum.
Harman Blennerhassett
HISTORY
Who were the Blennerhassetts?
Harman Blennerhassett and his wife, Margaret, settled on the island in 1798 and began constructing an enormous estate. At the time of its completion, the house was the largest and grandest in the American West.
The Irish aristocrats enjoyed their time here, hosting gatherings at their home and living a luxurious lifestyle. The Blennerhassett plantation included magnificent gardens maintained by about ten slaves, who unfortunately lived in adverse conditions. (The Blennerhassett Island National Park currently does not feature a reconstruction of the slave quarters.)
About six years after their arrival on the island, misfortune struck the nobles.
Aaron Burr, the former Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson, sought refuge on the island after he shot and killed Alexander Hamilton during their infamous 1804 duel. Burr and Harman became close acquaintances, frequently writing to one another after the politician’s departure. Eventually, their correspondence took a turn for the worse — a plot to commit treason and insurrection began to form.
Margaret Blennerhassett returned to the island after death, as her body was relocated in 1996 to the gardens behind the recreation of the Blennerhassett House, which was built in the likeness of the original in the 1980s.
Indigenous People & Chief Nemacolin
Not much is known about the history of the indigenous people on Blennerhassett Island, but human artifacts dating back nearly 13,000 years ago have been found on the property. These relics are on display at the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History in Parkersburg.
One notable figure featured in the island’s story is Chief Nemacolin, the leader of the Delaware Nation, one of three federally recognized tribes of Delaware indigenous people in the United States. The chieftain and two of his sons were hired by a colonial trader to widen and improve a path through the Appalachian mountains to allow for westward expansion.
After this job was done, Nemacolin and his tribe settled on Blennerhassett Island. He died there in 1767, about 30 years before the Blennerhassett’s arrival. It is said that his remains are buried somewhere on the island, but the location is unknown.
Putnam-Houser House
Constructed in 1802, The Putnam-Houser House, nicknamed “Maple Shade,” symbolizes the westward expansion era. It belonged to Aaron Waldo Putnam and his wife, Charlotte Loring Putnam, who were friends of the Blennerhassetts.
Constructed in 1802, The Putnam-Houser House, nicknamed “Maple Shade,” symbolizes the westward expansion era. It belonged to Aaron Waldo Putnam and his wife, Charlotte Loring Putnam, who were friends of the Blennerhassetts.
Most of the structure is as it was in 1802 with few updates or reconstructions. There is so much history encompassed in the building that even the names and initials of family members and guests are forever preserved in etchings on several panes of window glass. The house has survived five generations of the Putnam family and a big move, as it was relocated via barge to Blennerhassett Island in 1986.
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