A trip to Blennerhassett Island in Wood County is like stepping back in time. Read on to find out why this place is so special.
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is on a small island on the Ohio River. The property used to have a mansion owned by Harman Blennerhassett.
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Harman was a participant in the alleged Aaron Burr conspiracy. (Burr, according to accusations, was trying to make a separate country in the center of North America or the Southwestern states.)
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The original structure, a Palladian mansion, burned down a long time ago but you can still tour a replica of the house, which was built on its foundation. The house resembles George Washington’s Mount Vernon due to its style.
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The Blennerhassett estate is so nice people used to call it “Eden,” “paradise” and the “enchanted island.”
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Unfortunately for its owners, they didn’t call it home for long. After they became involved with Burr, they fled their home in 1806.
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The house burned in 1811 and was reconstructed from 1984 through 1991 by the state of West Virginia.
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Maple Shade, a 18th-century style wooden house, was added to the park in 2009. Its owners, Aaron Waldo and Charlotte Loring Putnam, built it in 1802, when Burr had just been elected as vice president. The Putnams were from prominent New England families and survived the Indian war and were successful as farmers. The house is open to the public only Friday through Sunday. It’s free to tour.
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The mansion is accessible only by boat — a sternwheeler river boat that leaves from Point Park on Second Street in Parkersburg. The boat ride takes about 20 minutes each way.
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The island features horse-drawn carriage rides, a souvenir shop, bicycle rentals, picnic shelters and hiking.
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You can find out more about Blennerhassett Island State Park by clicking here or here.
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Have you ever been to Blennerhassett Island State Park? What did you think of it?
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