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

Officially the William S. Ritchie Jr. Bridge, the Ravenswood bridge connects Ravenswood West…read moreVirginia with Meigs County Ohio. It was completed in 1981, replacing a ferry service that operated here at least to 1908. It carries US Route 33 across the Ohio River. It is a cantilever bridge with a total length of 2710 feet and a main span of 900 feet. There are two lanes. William S. Ritchie Jr. (1928-2006) was a pioneering civil engineer and public servant whose legacy helped shape West Virginia's modern transportation infrastructure. Ritchie served two terms as Commissioner of Highways for the state, first in 1968 and again in 1985, overseeing the planning and construction of hundreds of miles of interstate and local roads--including the completion of Interstate 64 and the iconic New River Gorge Bridge. In retirement, he served three terms as Mayor of Ravenswood. There is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 583 of 2025 - 167 in West Virginia - 24144 overall]

came across this bridge going to Columbus on a Saturday afternoon hot dog run out of northern…read morecarolina. access from the east involves circling a mobile home community fronting the river, to the west it's Ohio as far as the eye can see... named in honor of the former state highways commissioner the WSR bridge clocks in at just over 2700 feet long and about 75 feet above the water. completed in 1981 this wonderful specimen of cantilevered through trussedness spans the Ohio River at Ravenswood, West Virginia carrying US Route 33 towards Columbus and parts west.

Not far from the center of Point Pleasant, this marker highlights the spot where a well‑known…read morefrontiersman once operated a small trading post. The sign stands quietly along the roadside, offering a brief but evocative reminder of the town's early frontier era. Its text is simple, yet it anchors visitors in the landscape Daniel Boone would have known, long before the riverfront became a modern corridor. The setting around it feels calm, allowing the imagination to fill in the bustle of barter and travel that once passed through this place. As a quick historical stop, it rewards anyone who enjoys connecting present‑day Point Pleasant with the deeper stories that shaped it. The marker reads, "Daniel Boone, noted scout and Indian fighter, operated trading post here, 1790. He was scout for General Lewis enroute to Point Pleasant, 1774. Named County Lieutenant for Kanawha and served in the Virginia General Assembly." It was erected in 1981 by the West Virginia Department of Culture and History. There is some room to stop. [Review 34 of 2026 - 206 in West Virginia - 25225 overall]

It's just a small monument marking the place of where Fort. Randolph used to stand…read more The site where Fort Randolph was built emerged as a strategic location in the years before the American Revolution. In the Treaty of Fort Stanwix of 1768, the British acquired title to present-day West Virginia from the Iroquois. Thereafter, British colonists and land speculators began to explore the region. One of the first to do so was George Washington, a planter and politician from Virginia, who in 1770 made a long canoe trip down the Ohio River to examine the land around Point Pleasant. Many other British colonists and surveyors did the same over the next few years.

With signs along the way clearly pointing out that the bridge has only nine feet of clearance and…read moremy Sprinter van is ten feet tall with the solar panels on the roof, I was hoping that there would be a spot nearby that I could stop and u-turn. There was and I was able to walk the bridge that is open to vehicular traffic. The Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge, also known as the Sandyville Covered Bridge, is a beautifully preserved Long Truss structure that was completed in 1890. It first spanned John Carnahan's Fork, a branch of Mill Creek. When a newer modern bridge was completed, the covered bridge was relocated here in 1924 and rebuilt in 2000 with the original timber decking and siding. This is one of two remaining covered bridges in Jackson County (the other is the Staats Mill Covered Bridge). It measures 101 feet 3.5 inches long and 11 feet 8 inches wide with 13 Long Truss panels, reinforced with steel stringers and a dual-bent support system, allowing it to carry modern traffic. [Review 581 of 2025 - 165 in West Virginia - 24142 overall]

Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge Sandyville, WV - Jackson Co., WV…read more Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge built in 1890, originally spanned over John Carnahan's Branch of Mill Creek. 101 feet Bridge was moved and rebuilt in 2000 and is opened to public traffic still today. The Bridge is located not to far off the main highway leading to Parkersburg from Ripley. Easy to locate.

This marker is located in a strip of land called Gunn Park and shares the space with the Mothman…read moremonument. It is close to Tu-Endie-Wei State Park. The marker reads, "Organized at Barboursville Sept. 18, 1862, with Captain William Gunn as commander. Served with the Guyandotte Battalion until Jan. 1863, then was assigned as Company D 8th Virginia Cavalry, CSA under Col. Albert G. Jenkins." It was erected in 1965 by the West Virginia Division, United Daughters of Confederacy and the West Virginia Historic Commission. In January 1863 the company was folded into the 8th Virginia Cavalry as Company D, placing them under Colonel Albert G. Jenkins, one of the Confederacy's most active mounted commanders in the region. Jenkins's regiment operated in a fluid landscape of raids, counter‑raids, and small engagements, often moving rapidly between the Kanawha Valley, the Tygart Valley, and the approaches to the Ohio River. Under his command, the Border Grays shifted from local defense to a more mobile cavalry role, participating in the broader Confederate effort to contest Union control of the new state of West Virginia. [Review 59 of 2026 - 210 in West Virginia - 25249 overall]

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.

Small town library, but that is the only thing small about the library…read more The library has a host of activities during the year. Something for young children, adults, and those in between. The local history and genealogy section of the library especially appeals to me. The local papers are available online and are of high quality. This has greatly helped with my family history.

Small downtown Gallipolis library, which I visited for a presentation hosted by the Ohio…read moreGenealogical Society on Cemetery Restoration. They have wi-fi. The library personnel were helpful and friendly. I'll have to come back for a visit next time I'm in the Point Pleasant Metro Area.