Historic Front Street in Marietta has a number of unique shops and shopping opportunities as well as the historic Lafayette Hotel, which is a destination for many visitors to the area. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The history and rivers of the Mid-Ohio Valley continue to bolster tourism in the area.

Tourism officials in both Parkersburg and Marietta regularly see travelers stopping in the area to take in the area’s many historical sites which leads to overnight stays and business for local restaurants.

“We are primarily a history and heritage destination,” said Mark Lewis, president and CEO of the Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Many people come into the area from around West Virginia and the surrounding states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. However, they have seen people from other parts of the country as the area is a stopping point for many travelers along Interstate 77.

“We get people from all over,” Lewis said. “We see some people meeting here because of the geography.

Another draw to the Marietta area is river cruises on the Valley Gem sternwheeler that are popular among locals and visitors from outside the area. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“We get a lot of pass-through traffic along the interstate. Many of those people are heading to and from somewhere.”

Blennerhassett Island is the most visited tourist attraction in the area by a significant margin, Lewis said.

“It has a regional and national reputation, and it has such an interesting history with the Blennerhassetts and their connection to Aaron Burr,” he said. “That is always our number one attraction.”

Stories in travel magazines and other publications have also generated a lot of interest in the area.

A story about Henderson Hall that appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer brought hundreds of visitors to the area, just based on the one article, Lewis said.

In recent years, Henderson Hall has become a destination for visitors to both Marietta and Parkersburg and seen some significant increases in traffic over the past few years as the historical site has expanded its offerings, including a number of artisans, Civil War reenactments and more. (FIle Photo)

“The stories get people to think ‘That may be a neat place to visit’ or ‘That would be a neat thing to do,'” he said.

With the Welcome Center at Point Park near where a sternwheeler takes visitors to and from Blennerhassett Island, the center has seen a steady increase in visitors over the past few years, with 9,319 in 2025.

That allows officials to highlight other attractions, including Henderson Hall, the Oil and Gas Museum and the Julia Ann Square Historic District as well as points of interest in Marietta.

Henderson Hall has had some significant increases in traffic as the historical site has expanded its offerings over the past few years.

“They have artisans on and off site in the summer,” Lewis said. “They have done a fantastic job with events and expanding the things that people can see and do there.”

The entrance to the Valley Gem sternwheeler and the Major Riviera located at 531 Front St. in Marietta under the Washington Street Bridge in Marietta. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

In addition to the historical stops, local tourism officials have tried to highlight outdoor activities like mountain biking at Mountwood Park and canoeing/kayaking along local waterways.

“We are always trying to get those people to stay a little bit longer,” Lewis said. “We are really focused on people who have the interest to come and see the things we have to offer in the area.”

There are also Scout troops and others making their way to The Summit Bechtel Reserve near Beckley, W.Va., every year with a lot more coming when there is a National Scout Jamboree every four years. The next Jamboree will be in July of this year.

In the past, Scouting troops have passed through this area and gone to Blennerhassett Island. There was once a troop from outside the area who stayed at Mountwood Park and did a service project for the park while they were there.

“We do see that traffic on the years they do the Jamborees,” Lewis said. “We are trying to get them every year as we have troops always going to the Summit.”

The Campus Martius Museum in Marietta details the early history of Marietta and includes Rufus Putnam’s house and artifacts related to Marietta’s status as the first permanent organized settlement in the Northwest Territory. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

One of the things Lewis is excited for is the reopening and new investment in the West Virginia Motor Speedway.

The inaugural event last October drew a huge crowd and officials at the raceway have 10 events planned, including the National Dirt Track Championship in October of this year.

“We think that will significantly expand things and bring in a lot of people for those events,” Lewis said.

Shannon Beacham, marketing director for the Marietta-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said they market the area toward people from bigger towns looking for small town getaways.

They get a lot of people from the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh areas.

The new Ohio River Museum being constructed in Marietta is expected to be another draw for visitors, as well as locals wanting to learn about the history of the area. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“We get a lot of visitors from these places looking at coming somewhere with a little bit slower life, smaller towns and more affordable getaways,” she said. “Marietta is a small charming town and there are really friendly people here.”

History is also an important draw for Marietta, with attractions like the Campus Martius Museum, the Castle Historic House Museum, the Valley Gem Sternwheeler/the Major Riviera and more.

Many people are interested in Marietta’s place as the first settlements of the Northwest Territory.

Work is continuing on the new Ohio River Museum which officials believe will eventually be a draw for people wanting to learn more about the history of the area.

“We are on a major interstate, I-77, and we will hear that a lot of people will stop in Marietta along the way to and from other destinations as a halfway point or as a break,” Beacham said. “We have a lot of people who will coordinate their schedules to stop here and do some sightseeing.”

Being situated along the Muskingum River and the Ohio River, one of the big attractions are the river cruises on the Valley Gem and the Major Riviera.

“People love river boat cruises,” Beacham said. “They love that Marietta is positioned along two major rivers so they get to see the sights of Ohio and West Virginia along both rivers to the locks and dams.”

Downtown Marietta is also a popular destination for a lot of people with a number of shops, as well as historic flood markers there and around the area.

Officials from both organizations are also encouraging local residents to get out and see what is available in the area.

Both Lewis and Beacham said their offices regularly get inquiries about attractions and things on the other side of the Ohio River. Both agencies have worked together to be able to promote the area.

“Our history and heritage stories are so intertwined that it is only natural,” Lewis said.

Beacham said they are regularly fielding questions about Henderson Hall, Blennerhassett Island, the Oil and Gas Museum and other attractions in West Virginia.

“We are all encompassed under the same umbrella,” she said. “We are always including them in our promotions on what to do and what to see while people are here.

“People might stay in Marietta then go into West Virginia and end up spending more time in the area.”

Beacham said there will be events and activities planned for America’s 250th anniversary. This year will also be the 50th annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.

Lewis said the new Ohio River Museum being constructed in Marietta will draw people to the area with an interest in history.

“That is going to get a tremendous amount of coverage,” he said. “Marietta has a wonderful tourism scene.”

Points of interest in Marietta will usually lead people to things in Parkersburg and vice versa.

“They are great folks up there and what we have to offer is so complementary and so connected, it makes total sense for us to work together,” Lewis said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com