State Park of the Week: Tu-Endie-Wei
Learn about West Virginia history at this memorial to the Battle of Point Pleasant.
Tu-Endie-Wei State Park might be one of the smallest state parks in West Virginia, but this area played a big role in shaping the country’s history. Located at the confluence of the Kanawha and Ohio rivers in Point Pleasant, this park commemorates the frontiersmen who fought and died in the Battle of Point Pleasant, believed by some to be the first battle in the American Revolution.
Tu-Endie-Wei also has other historical monuments and markers commemorating Native American history and other important events. Did you know Tu-Endie-Wei gets its name from a Wyandotte word that means the “point between two waters.” Learn more about this historical park by planning a trip or stopping by as you pass through the area. Here’s everything you need to know about Tu-Endie-Wei!
Remembering the Battle of Point Pleasant
In 1774, British colonists from Virginia were exploring the area south of the Ohio River in modern day West Virginia where Shawnee and Mingo Native American tribes had treaty rights to hunt. Provoked by the expansion into the area, the Native Americans under the command of Shawnee Chief Cornstalk attacked the colonists. With tensions high, the Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, asked the Virginia House of Burgesses to declare war against the tribes and order a militia force to put an end to hostilities.
The war between Virginia and the Native Americans was brief and resulted in only one major battle. On October 10, 1774, the two forces fought along the Ohio River near modern-day Point Pleasant. After a long battle that lasted several hours, the Native Americans under Chief Cornstalk retreated and the colonists having held the ground were declared victorious. About 75 Virginians were killed and 140 were wounded.
Due to the loss, the Native Americans were forced to sign a treaty with the colonists, lost the right to hunt in the area and agreed to recognize the Ohio River as the boundary between their lands and the British colonies.
Within months the Revolutionary War would break out and Lord Dunmore would go on to lead the British war effort in Virginia. By the end of 1775, the same militiamen who fought at Point Pleasant drove Lord Dunmore and the British troops supporting him out of Virginia. A memorial to those who fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant was erected in 1909 and reminds people today of the conflict’s historical importance in America’s founding years.
Enjoy a fun and educational day trip with your family
Tu-Endie-Wei is known for its memorial to the Battle of Point Pleasant, but the park has several other historical monuments. Bring the kids for an afternoon of exploring and hands-on learning about the park’s history. There’s a memorial for Chief Cornstalk. The Water Panther Stone and the Sallie Marmet Anchor. There’s even a memorial for Anne Bailey, a frontier scout and courier in the Revolutionary War. Want to learn more about the woman known as the Heroine of the Kanawha Valley? Check out the Anne Bailey Lookout Tower at Watoga State Park.
During your trip, stop by the Mansion House, a museum that was originally used as a tavern. Don’t let the humble appearance of the house fool you, because it’s packed with several floors of antiques and heirlooms that will give you a closer look at what frontier life was like.
Tu-Endie-Wei is open all year, so stop by if you’ve never visited. And make sure you come back during the summer when the gift shop and information center at the Mansion House are open.
Explore nearby parks and towns for dining, shopping and more
If you love learning about West Virginia’s history and traveling to state parks, take a trip one hour north to Parkersburg and visit Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, the Ohio River’s most famous island. Open May to October, this can’t-miss park brings the 1700s to life through horse-drawn carriage rides and tours of the park museum and its namesake Palladian mansion replica of the original Blennerhassett estate.
If spending time in the outdoors is what you’re after, then drive an hour south to Beech Fork State Park and enjoy a day on the lake, fishing, hiking or camping. This family family park is a great place for a vacation, where you can enjoy the outdoors and make lasting memories with your family.
Big and small, high and low, West Virginia State Parks are home to your fondest memories and experiences yet to come. Visit Tu-Endie-Wei and you’ll find a new reason to love Almost Heaven. Plan your trip today!
Book Now