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.

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

Alternatively the Mill Creek Bridge, Cedar Lakes Drive Bridge or the Harry Ripley Memorial Bridge,…read morethis is a classic rivet-connected Pratt Through Truss built in 1922. It has a main span of 98 feet with only 14 feet of clearance at the center and 12 feet at the edges. It is a only 18 feet wide so it's a single lane of Cedar Lakes Drive (CR-25) Over Mill Creek. Obey the signage and yield appropriately. The bridge is named for Brother Harry Ripley, a Methodist circuit-riding preacher who lived in the early 1800s. Born in 1799 in Massachusetts, Harry Ripley moved to western Virginia in the 1820s to spread the gospel across the rugged Little Kanawha Circuit. The city of Ripley is named for him. I thought it was pretty darned cool to cross over a bridge that is over 100 years old. [Review 572 of 2025 - 157 in West Virginia - 24133 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.

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]

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]

Today I went with grand babies, Deacon & Saige Hunt along with Mama Kayla Beth Fields , to the Fort…read moreRandolph Christmas Reenactment celebration. It was free and historically informative. Saige has decided to become a vegan. She doesn't like seeing all the animal babies hurt. The actors were dressed into character. We had fun! Cookies, punch and Hot Apple Cider and we bought a few souvenirs. Highly recommend to all

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.