Museums, Parks, and Landmarks to Visit on a Roadtrip from Barboursville to Clarksburg

Are you looking for a break from your busy life? A road trip is a perfect way to take a break. West Virginia is a beautiful state and is often overlooked. We suggest taking a road trip from Barboursville to Clarksburg to discover all the hidden gems it has to offer.

Did you know the first brick street in the world was laid in Charleston, West Virginia in 1870? Charleston, the capital of West Virginia, is located approximately 40 miles south of the starting point in Barboursville.

Ivydale, WV, is approximately halfway between Barboursville and Clarksburg.

The road trip is 199 miles long and should take approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes without stops or detours. With stops, such as the ones we suggest below, it will take a full day.

1. Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park: Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is a perfect place to start your trip. The island was settled by the Blennerhassett family in 1798, but the mansion was later destroyed by a fire. Even though the mansion is no longer standing, visitors can take a tour of the family's reconstructed mansion. You can take a tour through the beautifully groomed gardens, visit the museum, and even take a horse-drawn wagon ride.

Point of interest: The Island Belle sternwheeler provides transportation to the island. It is a unique experience that you do not want to miss.

2. West Virginia Veterans Memorial: The West Virginia Veterans Memorial is a great tribute to brave men and women who have served in the armed forces. This was built in 1990 and is located next to the State Capitol building. The memorial is dedicated to the state's military personnel who were killed, held as prisoners of war, or missing in action.

Point of interest: The “Arch of Remembrance” is a key feature of the memorial, it has names of all of the West Virginians who have been killed in military conflicts since World War I.

3. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is a fascinating historical landmark that should not be missed. The building was originally constructed to hold 250 patients, but it eventually grew to hold as many as 2,400 patients. The building is enormous, and visitors are able to take hour-long tours or overnight ghost tours.

Point of interest: The ghost tours are very popular and provide a thrilling experience to the visitors.

4. National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO): NRAO is a fantastic place for astronomy lovers to visit. The facility features the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope, installed in 1963. Visitors can take a guided tour of the facility and learn about the latest work and discoveries.

Point of interest: Astronomers use the telescope to observe in the radio frequency range detecting star formation, galaxy evolution, black holes, and more.

5. West Virginia Independence Hall: West Virginia Independence Hall is a remarkable historic landmark with beautiful neoclassical architecture. The hall played a major part in West Virginia’s history as it was the site where the state was created. Today it is a museum depicting the struggle of the state's residents during the Civil War.

Point of interest: The historic tour of the hall would take you through the old courtroom, archives, and offices of government officials.

With this list of museums, parks, and landmarks, you will fall in love with West Virginia. The journey is the most important part of the trip because it is not just about the destination but about the journey itself. It will take approximately one day to complete this road trip, but it is an experience that will last a lifetime.