The Silver Memorial Bridge, completed in 1969, was built to replace the collapsed Silver Bridge and…read morefeatures a more robust and modern design to ensure safety and longevity. Because there's nothing quite like locking the barn door after the horse has died in the fire, or something like that. It opened in 1969, exactly two years after the original Silver Bridge collapsed. This one is a Warren through truss bridge distributes the loads much more evenly and includes greater redundancy. Others of this type include the Admiral T. J. Lopez Bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/admiral-tj-lopez-bridge-belle?hrid=XEh3i0ICQ2lBD3e-2D62Vg in Chelyan, West Virginia, the Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/charles-m-braga-jr-memorial-bridge-fall-river?hrid=2P7B_X4kRn-SH0briM4wsQ in Fall River Massachusetts and the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/george-rogers-clark-memorial-bridge-louisville?hrid=wXZhtbBkloNl3Ka48T0VcQ in Louisville Kentucky. This bridge carries US Highway 35 over the Ohio River and connects Henderson, WV, and Gallipolis, OH. It has a total length of 2800 feet and has around 70 feet of clearance below the 900-foot-long main span to allow river traffic. Two lanes in each direction and there is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 621 of 2025 - 186 in West Virginia - 24182 overall]

It's the Mothman bridge! What more could you ask for, also the views going over the bridge are…read morebeautiful and really highlight the beauty of West Virginia.

This beautiful red bridge was completed in 1887 and it originally spanned the Tug Fork of Big Mill…read moreCreek. It was named after Enoch Staats, whose water-powered mill and store anchored the surrounding community. The Staats family were early settlers, arriving around 1780. Enoch's father, Isaac Staats, built the first mill on the site. H.T. Hartley built it using the Long Truss system, patented by Stephen Long in 1830, featuring distinctive "X"-braced diagonals across 11 panels. In 1971, the bridge was modified with steel girders inside the original trusses to support modern loads and in 1983, it was relocated about three miles to here and converted to pedestrian only use. The park can get quite busy on beautiful summer days so be prepared to be challenged finding a parking space. [Review 571 of 2025 - 156 in West Virginia - 24132 overall]

This lovely piece of history has been a constant in my life growing up. We have many outings at…read moreCedar Lakes Park in Ripley, and this lovely red wooden historical covered bridge has been in the scenery backdrop all those many years. The bridge is well built since 1887. Built in 1887, the Staats Mill Covered Bridge originally crossed the Tug Fork of Big Mill Creek and was named for Enoch Staats' water-powered mill.. The Staats family were early settlers to the area, arriving around 1780. The bridge is a 97-foot-long "long truss" built by Henry Hartley This location is not the original location it was moved here for safe keeping and easy public access. My people use this lovely old bridge as a back drop in photo ops for weddings, prom, graduation, birthday pics, various different ideas. This is a lovely bridge and FREE to enjoy

This is a great place for picnic and quick history lesson for folks of all ages. American Civil War…read morebuff? Follow the "Morgan's Raid" road signs for an adventure. Love Native American history? Check out the mound!

I had long heard about Buffington Island, but don't get down this way much. When I was driving to…read moreNorth Carolina I noticed it was only a few miles off my route, so I had to swing by. The only Civil War battlefield in Ohio- how could I pass that up? It is small, and probably not of much interest unless you are a real history buff, in which case it is fascinating. There is a small park with plenty of parking, an Indian mound, and a small outbuilding with bathrooms. A few historical markers and a small pavilion with display panels round out the amenities. The story is fascinating: John Morgan, later imprisoned in the old State Pen in Columbus, was a Confederate raider who attacked all along the Ohio River. This was the only major battle, and it eventually led to his capture. The displays explain the background, battle, and aftermath. It's quiet and isolated, and pretty cool. Maybe not worth a special trip unless you are a Civil War buff, but if you live in the area or are traveling nearby, definitely worth a visit.

The lore of the iconic Mothman is alive and well in the center of town in Point Pleasant, West…read moreVirginia. The statue was created by Bob Roach with an unveiling in 2003. Mothman stands in all his glory at 12', his red eyes piercing through your soul. He was constructed from stainless steel that has a mirror effect. Paying homage to Mothman is one of the biggest draws during the annual Mothman Festival. Folks have been drawn to the mysterious human/creature since 1966. It's said to have been at that time when several witnesses spied the creature at the West Virginia Ordinance Works (an abandoned TNT area). Go to Point Pleasant for the Mothman...if you dare!

It's bright silver and really doesn't match the witness descriptions of the alleged Mothman too…read morewell but so what? Mothman is so fun and freakishly wild and just about the only thing that puts this sleepy West Virginia town on the map. If you're within twenty or thirty miles and at all susceptible to kitsch how can you not swing by and snap a pic or three and maybe a couple dozen selfies with ol' red eyes here in all his anthropomorphic glory? And not only is your time with the statue free but you might actually make money if you choose to snatch the funds people have stuck into Mothy's bunghole. I don't know the story on that custom and pilfering butt money might be bad luck, though. As much as it pains this Detroiter to admit it I must say the Mothman statue is cooler than the Robocop statue.

One of a few markers in Riverfront Park. this one points out the history of a local hero who served…read morefor West Virginia. The park is quite large and there is plenty of parking here. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Born in 1819, Frost was editor of Jackson County's first newspaper, The Virginia Chronicle, which was burned in 1862 during Jenkins Raid for its pro-Union stance. He served as Speaker of the House for the Restored Government of Virginia, 1861-1862, then joined the 11th WV Infantry, rising to colonel, 1863. Frost died on July 19, 1864, from wounds received at Snicker's Ferry." The Frost family moved to Ravenswood, and Daniel married Ellen Sophia Rathbone in 1843. Her father, William Palmer Rathbone, had been a paymaster in the War of 1812, a shipbuilder, and a New York city councilman before moving into what was then western Virginia. The Rathbones were early experimenters in the region's oil fields, and that connection placed Frost in a family that was unusually entrepreneurial for the time. Their children scattered widely after the war, with sons eventually settling in Indiana and Illinois, a reminder of how the upheaval of the 1860s reshaped family geographies. There is no number on the marker which was erected in 2016 by West Virginia Archives and History. [Review 33 of 2026 - 205 in West Virginia - 25224 overall]

This marker is at the convergence of this small creek where t flows into the Ohio. It points out…read morethe historic bridge nearby. The marker reads, "The bridge carrying State Route 7 over Teens Run in Eureka, Ohio was constructed in 1938. The Teens Run Bridge was determined eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2012. The bridge is eligible for its technical distinction specifically, as an example of a state highway department bridge featuring the early adaptation of integral technology to a continuous concrete slab bridge prior to standardization. The primary attribute of an integral bridge is the lack of movable joints in or between the deck and the flexible end supports. "With the goal to eliminate the intermediate deck expansion joints for all multiple span structures, the Ohio Department of Highways Bureau of Bridges had to adapt to the complex analysis and design of these structures as well as employ some technical innovations. The use of more secure foundations to minimize settlement of supports and the employment of flexible integral abutments, has given the Teens Run Bridge the distinction of being the longest and the primary prototype for thousands of similar bridges that were to follow. "This design innovation has its beginning with the appointment of Joseph R. Burkey. He was appointed the Engineer of Bridges for the Ohio Department of Highways in 1925. Mr. Burkey joined the Bureau of Bridges in 1911, and had a long and distinguished career, culminating with his term as chief of the bureau from 1925 to 1939. Under his direction, Ohio became the first state to adopt the routine use of continuous construction for all multiple span bridges. "The Teens Run Bridge was designed and checked respectively by Virgil A. Eberly and Josephine E. Powers, a pioneering female architect. Plans for the bridge were reviewed by both William S. Hindman, the primary reviewer, and William H. Rebe, the bureau's chief design engineer." The marker does not have a date it was installed or the sponsor. [Round number 300 in Ohio - 602 of 2025 - 24163 overall]

This marker points out an event that happened at the end of the 19th century and was quite…read morenoteworthty for its time. The tragedy remains one of the most infamous crimes in Appalachian history, remembered for its brutality, its lone survivor's courage, and its impact on criminal justice reform. The front of the marker reads, "On November 3, 1897, John Morgan murdered Chloe Greene and two of her three children, James Greene and Matilda Pfost. Daughter Alice Pfost managed to escape despite being wounded during the attack. G.W. Shamblen captured Morgan who was tried and convicted of the triple murder. O.J. Morrison paid Morgan for an exclusive prison interview about his life." And on the reverse, "While awaiting execution, murderer John Morgan escaped from jail but was recaptured in Roane County by local authorities. On December 16, 1897, thousands of spectators converged on Ripley, creating a carnival like scene. As a result of the spectacle, in 1899, State Delegate John S. Darst sponsored legislation that ended executions in public places in West Virginia." The marker was erected in 2014 by the Jackson County Historical Society and West Virginia Archives and History. [Review 580 of 2025 - 164 in West Virginia - 24141 overall]

This lovely park stands outside the floodwalls at the confluence of the Ohio River (upstream to…read moreWheeling WV and Pittsburgh PA) and the Kanawha River (upstream to Charleston WV). The park is full of memorials and boasts a fabulous view of the rivers. You'll find an 84-foot granite obelisk commemorating the Virginia militiamen who died in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant against Shawnee and Mingo forces and the "Mad" Anne Bailey Memorial and Grave which celebrates the legendary frontier scout known for her daring ride to secure gunpowder for Fort Lee in 1791. The Mansion House Museum was originally built in 1796 as a tavern and now contains colonial-era artifacts and relics from the battle. The Chief Cornstalk Burial Marker honors the Shawnee leader who fought in the battle and was later murdered in 1777. One historical marker reads, "Point Pleasant Battle. Here, Oct. 10, 1774, General Andrew Lewis and a thousand Virginia riflemen defeated the federated Indian tribes led by Cornstalk. Known as the "first battle of the Revolution." It was the most important battle between Indians and whites." And on the reverse, "War of 1812. On October 20, 1812, the western Virginia Brigade of Militia under command of General Joel Leftwich, embarked here for the Ohio frontier to join the Northwestern Army for service in the Second War with England." Expect to spend a good amount of time here reading monuments, viewing the museum and just looking out at the barges moving on the river. [Review 594 of 2025 - 177 in West Virginia - 24155 overall]

Located at the confluence of the Kanawha and Ohio rivers in Point Pleasant, WV, Tu-Endie-Wei State…read morePark commemorates the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant, as well as containing other historical monuments and markers commemorating local Native American history and other important events. The park isn't particularly large, but it offers a very peaceful with a great view of the rivers and the Mansion House, a historic home that was originally used as a tavern and is packed full of artifacts. We really enjoyed chatting with the park ranger on duty who was full of knowledge on the area and that we sat and talked about the park and town with for over 20 minutes. A must visit in Point Pleasant that offers a refreshing break from all the Mothman and spooky lore of the area.