It may not warrant as much reverence as the White House in Washington, D.C., but the ivory mansion with columned porticos that holds court on Blennerhassett Island in Parkersburg, West Virginia, lures its fair share of tourists drawn to history and stately architecture.
The rebuilt former home of Irish aristocrats Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett — once considered the most beautiful house west of the Alleghenies — defines this island that's just across the river from Marietta, Ohio, accessible through October by sternwheeler. The Blennerhassetts built their regal, Palladian-style structure in 1800 when wilderness reigned over the area, and filled its 7,000-square-foot interior with Oriental carpets, oil paintings and furniture shipped from around the globe. But the lush living didn't last. In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson accused Harman Blennerhassett, along with alleged cohort Aaron Burr, of plotting treason against the United States; his home was seized by the government. The misfortune continued when the Blennerhassetts' beloved mansion burned down in 1811.
However, archaeologists discovered its foundation in 1973. Today, the re-created mansion is an elegant backdrop for the many tourists who come to the island to enjoy picnics, leisurely nature walks or horse-drawn wagon rides.
Visitors also discover that the house isn't the island's only attraction. Long before the Blennerhassetts arrived, Native Americans inhabited the island; it was even home to famed Delaware Indian Nemacolin during the 1760s. Tribal weaponry, jewelry and tools dating back to prehistoric times are on display at the Blennerhassett Island Museum of Regional History.