Hidden Wonders in the USA
Who would have thought an island in the middle of a river would have anything worth seeing. But you really have to visit Blennerhassett Island in the middle of the Ohio River in Parkersburg, WV. From the main land side it looks just like an overgrown island of nothing but unpopulated dense trees and woods. But once you get there, by boat, you can see the huge Blennerhassett mansion and surrounding green lawn as it looked over 200 years ago. Once you learn the history of the island, it becomes a whole lot more interesting. The man, Harmon Blennerhassett, who build this magnificent plantation like estate, and the plans he had for it, had way too much money, and ideas that were beyond realistic.
In 1796 in Ireland, Harmon Blennerhassett, a wealthy Irish landowner, married his niece Margaret. Because of the persecution from their family and church, they left Ireland for the United States. After living in New York and Pittsburg for a little while, they discovered and bought the little island on the Ohio River. They intended to make their private little island a utopia and spent exhorbent amounts of money to achieve their dream for a few years the Blennerhassetts enjoyed being the toasts of local society; giving lavish parties in their mansion and hosting guests by the thousands to their island paradise. But their extragravant lifestyle soon ended when it turned out their rumored riches dwindled away, a bit exaggerated by the Blennerhassetts themselves. They had little income left other than the interest earned by their capital; nowhere near enough to support the lifestyle they lived.
Then In 1806, they met Aaron Burr who, recovering from political devastation, needed the influence, investment and political ambition of someone like Blennerhassett. Secretly meeting on the island, Burr and Blennerhassett hatched a plan that would separate the western states from the union and they would set up a new government. News of their plot spread quickly throughout the area and finally reached the President, Thomas Jefferson. The President ordered the arrest of Burr, Blennerhassett and their followers. Burr and Blennerhassett was arrested and imprisoned for treason but later acquitted when the trial failed to produce any concrete physical evidence of the plot. They both regained their freedom but were broke and their reputations ruined. Burr left the country and went to Europe. Blennerhasset moved his family to Mississippi where they purchased a cotton plantation that failed. In 1811, the island mansion accidently caught fire and was completely destroyed. Archeologist rediscovered it’s foundation in 1973 and it has been rebuilt as a replica of its former glory.
Blennerhassett Island is well worth the trip. It’s inexpensive and there’s plenty to see. First you have the slow boat ride down the Ohio River to the island on a paddle boat. Then once you get there you can visit the mansion or take a bike ride around the island or ride the horse drawn wagon around the island on a shaded tree lined lane with a guide giving the island history. Spend the day, enjoy the peace and quiet and bring your picnic. But most important, visit inside the mansion and step back 200 years ago and see all the extravagance and riches the Blennerhassetts put into it to make the island their own private utopia.
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