Watters Smith Memorial State Park Overview & History

Park Overview

The heritage of early West Virginia and the pioneer spirit of Watters Smith are both preserved in the homestead restoration at this 532-acre historical park. This historical park, located in Harrison County, features log cabins, period-accurate buildings and a museum that depicts pioneer life from 1796 to the early 1900s. The grounds are open to picnicking and hiking. The park is also a popular site for birdwatching. The museum and Smith home are open on select days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Park History

The land that is now Watters Smith Memorial State Park was settled in 1796 by Watters Smith and his wife, Elizabeth. The couple built a home, farmed the land and raised eight children. Smith’s tools were handmade, and all the goods that could not be grown or constructed were obtained from distant areas. In 1876, his great-grandson, Alexander, reconstructed the family’s original hand-hewn log cabin. The land was donated to the West Virginia Parks system in 1949 when Burr Smith willed the 236-acre farm to the state with instructions for development into a park honoring his great-great-grandfather. Today, the cabin is one of two museums in the park. The farm operated as a family business for four generations, and the gadgets on display around the park kept it running.