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    5 years ago

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    James Rumsey Monument

    James Rumsey Monument

    4.0(4 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    I need someone to explain why this park has only three parking spaces. That's just nuts…read more Fortunately, there were only two other people here when I visited or I'd have had to park illegally and we can't have that. The centerpiece of Rumsey Park is the 75 foot tall white granite monument, a tribute to the man who invented, designed and engineered the steamboat in 1783 and overlooks the spot on the Potomac where it first sailed. This was the first successful application of steam to aid with navigation and in 1787 demonstrated it here at Shepherdstown Virginia. Though impressive, the commercial feasibility of the technology was widely questioned, and investors were hard to come by. Five years after his first successful demonstration, Rumsey died while pitching to a group of investors in England, his dream of commercial steamboats never fully realized. Of course, the park has a fab view of the Rumsey bridge and this curve of the Potomac River. Quite scenic just not enough parking. [Review 15607 overall - 59 in West Virginia - 1111 of 2021.]

    [Coronavirus review] This is a small park, with an irksomely…read moresmall number of parking spaces (some metered parking is available on the street outside the gate). There were only three parking spaces, plus one handicap spot, and a loop that some people tried to park alongside of but which really didn't work well for that. It's a scenic overlook that gets you a view of both the road bridge and a rail bridge, as well as some massive columns for yet more bridges that no longer exist. The monument itself is apparently to the inventor of the steamboat. What's notable about the space these days is that it has a few picnic tables with a view, and all restaurants are takeout right now. Other people arrived at the park carrying the same taco takeout bags that I did. It's a good spot to eat in a pinch.

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    James Rumsey Monument - James Rumsey Monument, Shepherdstown

    James Rumsey Monument, Shepherdstown

    James Rumsey Monument
    James Rumsey Monument - Tracks leading over to Maryland

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    Tracks leading over to Maryland

    New Rumsey Bridge - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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