North Bend State Park Nearby Attractions

Step back in time at this historic mansion filled with stories. The sternwheeler from Parkersburg’s Point Park will shuttle you to the historic island where Irish aristocrats Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett built their magnificent Palladian-style mansion in 1800. The Blennerhassett home became a beacon of refined culture, taste and fashion in the wilderness — until events took a tragic turn with ties to American history. Be a guest of Blennerhassett Island and join the likes of George Rogers Clark, King Charles X of France, Johnny Appleseed, Henry Clay and Walt Whitman.

The museum in Parkersburg showcases three floors of priceless historical relics and objects of art from the Ohio Valley’s past. The Blennerhassett Museum became the first professionally-operated, publicly-funded museum of regional history in west-central West Virginia.

Shop, dine and enjoy a night out on the town in downtown Parkersburg or get out and explore more of Ritchie County! For upcoming events, festivals, things to do and other activities, visit greaterparkersburg.com and visitritchiecounty.com.

Formerly a railbanked spur of the CSX system, the North Bend Rail Trail is part of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail. It stretches 72 miles from I-77 near Parkersburg in Wood County to Wolf Summit in Harrison County. The trail is easily accessible from North/South Interstates 77 and 79 and nearly parallels US Route 50 East and West.