Point Pleasant has a lot going on with bridges, Mothman and the Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, so it's…read moreunderstandable that folks might miss this historical marker at 7th Street. The marker reads, "Born 1803 in Palatine, Polsley was a noted lawyer and publisher of the Western Transcript in Wellsburg until he moved to Mason County in 1845. A delegate to the Wheeling conventions, Polsley served in the Restored Government of Virginia as lieutenant governor; Circuit judge, 1863-1866; he served one term in the U.S. House, 1867-1869. Polsley died at home on October 14, 1877." It was erected in 2017 by the West Virginia Archives and History. Daniel Haymond Polsley became one of Mason County's most respected legal thinkers, known for handling complex river-boundary and land disputes that shaped early regional development. He spent much of his later life mentoring young attorneys and wring long, opinionated essays on constitutional interpretation, transportation, and public education. Even after leaving Congress, he remained an active civic voice, advising local officials and contributing to community debates until his health declined. [Review 926 of 2026 - 236 in West Virginia - 26107 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.

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.

On a warm weekday afternoon in Point Pleasant, I found myself not riding a train across the Ohio…read moreRiver but instead walking and driving beneath the massive Point Pleasant - Kanauga Railroad Bridge, a 3925-foot Pennsylvania through truss who sheer scale is impossible to appreciate until you're directly under it. Built originally in 1885 and then replaced with new truss spans in 1908 while reusing the original piers, the bridge's engineering feels astonishingly advanced for something conceived in the late nineteenth century, especially given that it was completed without a single construction fatality, which is a rarity for Ohio River crossings of that era. Standing beneath its towering steel and hoping to hear the hum of the modern Kanawha River Railroad trains overhead, I was struck by how this structure has carried more than a century of rail traffic while remaining one of the most impressive pieces of infrastructure in the region. [Review 925 of 2026 - 235 in West Virginia - 26106 overall]

The George Rogers Clark marker in Point Pleasant stands as a compact reminder of the region's…read moreRevolutionary War era, set along a quiet stretch where the river and town meet. Its text is brief, yet it anchors visitors in the story of a young militia officer whose later campaigns helped shape the early United States. The setting around the marker encourages a moment of reflection, since the landscape still hints at the frontier world Clark once knew. As a quick stop, it rewards anyone who enjoys linking present‑day Point Pleasant with the deeper currents of its early American past. George Rogers Clark was the older brother of William Clark, who co-led the Lewis and Clark expedition with Meriwether Lewis. The marker reads, "From the Kanawha's mouth in May, 1778, George Rogers Clark set out to attack the British at Vicennes and Kaskaskia. The conquest of the Northwest by his little army of 175 men is ranked among the greatest exploits of all history." There is no number on it and no indication of when it was erected. There is parking. [Review 35 of 2026 - 207 in West Virginia - 25226 overall]

A visitor approaching this marker along the edge of Gallipolis City Park will notice that time and…read morethe local bird population have left their mark on its front face. The text is still readable, but the weathering and those chalky streaks give it the weary look of a sign that has stood watch for many seasons. Walk around to the rear, though, and the story comes through cleanly, framed by the quiet sweep of the Ohio River just beyond the curb. Its placement on the street makes it easy to pause, take in the view, and let the riverfront setting fill in the history the marker is trying to tell. The front reads, "Begun as a land speculation project of William Duer, the Scioto Company had hoped to encourage European investors to purchase lands in its grant in the Ohio country. The project proved especially attractive to the French middle class, who were just beginning to feel the effects of the French Revolution. Hundreds invested their money hoping to find security and prosperity in their new homes. Upon their arrival in the United States they found that the deeds they had purchased were worthless, since the Scioto Company had not paid for the land they bought. "The disillusioned French settlers left Alexandria, Va., on June 29. 1790, on their journey to the Ohio country. The new settlers were unadapted to the hardships of frontier life since many of them were noblemen, doctors, army officers, manufacturers, tradesmen, and lawyers. They continued to live in the formal French manner to which they were accustomed. Common sense and the application of their trades, however, helped them to establish, a thriving river trade in a short time. By the end of 1790 there were between 300 and 400 Frenchmen in the settlement. Today, the city of Gallipolis is much like any other Ohio River town, except that the vestiges of the French settlers remain as the proud possessions of the citizens of Gallipolis." And the reverse reads, "Its location and the tides of war established Gallipolis, then a town of some 3,000, as a point of strategic military importance to the Union upon the outbreak of the conflict in 1861. It was destined during the next four years to play a role without counterpart in Ohio." It then continues, listing these five points: " Here through this troop concentration area passed thousands of soldiers to the great campaigns. " Here the traditional peacetime activity of the town, long a depot of supplies for the Kanawha Valley, was turned to military purposes for maintaining armies in the field. " Here riverside warehouses held vast military stores to be transported by steamboat. " Here newly-mustered troops set up Camp Carrington in a wheat field on the upper side of town. " Here the women of Gallipolis helped minister to thousands of wounded and sick in an army hospital." It is marker number Q-27 and it was erected by the Ohio Historical Markers Committee and the Ohio Civil War Centennial Commission. There is street parking nearby. [Review 62 of 2026 - 304 in Ohio - 25252 overall]

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.

The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Point Pleasant…read more The center section is recessed with a recessed entrance on the first story and with clock and vertical windows above. The east and west sections project from the main building and have vertical panels. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial Circuit, County Magistrate Court and County Family Court. Mason County is named for George Mason, who was a delegate to the United States Constitutional Convention. The county was created in 1804 and Point Pleasant was selected as the county seat. This building is the third courthouse for the county and was completed in 1957. It was undergoing some construction when I visited so there wasn't much to see. I did find plentiful street parking on a weekend. [Review 591 of 2025 - 174 in West Virginia - 24152 overall]