Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike
The Historic Beaten Path: Transportation and Conflict

Departure: Camp Allegheny, West Virginia
Destination: Oakland, West Virginia
Time to allow: 2 days

Traveling from Staunton, the original beginning of the turnpike, you enter the byway at the Virginia / West Virginia state line on the top of Allegheny Mountain, and travel across West Virginia to Parkersburg on the Ohio River.

Day 1

  • Start: Camp Allegheny

    Suggested time at this stop: 20 minutes

    Visit this pristine Civil War fortification that illustrates the remoteness of the territory and extreme challenges faced by soldiers in this first winter of the war. Read the interpretive signs, then view the landscape while hiking through the earthworks and see the chimney falls marking soldiers' cabins.

  • Navigation: Camp Allegheny Backway drive

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Continue on Camp Allegheny Backway

    Driving this gravel road from Camp Allegheny to Camp Bartow gives the closest experience to the original turnpike. You are driving on the original route, with a minimum of modern intrusions. Imagine that you are in a wagon, passing small homesteads scattered between the deep forest. Summer or fall are the best times, winter and early spring the road might not be passable.

  • Stop 2: Camp Bartow

    From previous stop: 5 minutes
    Directions:

    At end of Camp Allegheny Backway
    Suggested time at this stop: 10 minutes

    Camp Bartow, on both sides of the backway as you near the bottom of the mountain, was the original Confederate fortification in this area. Artillery on these hills fought Union artillery across the valley in October, 1861. Although the fortification held, it was considered a weak position, and the troops retreated up the mountain to Camp Allegheny.

  • Stop 3: Traveler's Repose

    From previous stop: 1 minute
    Suggested time at this stop: 10 minutes

    This inn on the turnpike served travelers and as a stagecoach stop. It was the post office for the community, that was originally known as Traveler's Repose. The town was renamed Bartow after the Civil War camp. There are interpretive signs, but the home is private property, please view from the road.

  • Stop 4: Upshur County Historical Society's History Center Museum

    From previous stop: 10 minutes / 30 mi (48.0 km)
    Directions:

    Return to US Rt 33, to stay on the byway exit at Norton onto WV Rt 151, and follow that to Buckhannon. Continue through downtown Buckhannon. The Historical Society Museum is on the right one block past the stoplight at Rt. 20. Note the historic courthouse at this corner as well.
    Suggested time at this stop: 45 minutes

    In Buckhannon, see this pre-Civil War church that was raided for the goods stored there. If it is open, the local history exhibits here are exceptional.

  • Stop 5: Cheat Summit Fort

    From previous stop: 20 minutes / 0.75 mi (1.2 km)
    Directions:

    Continue on the byway, US Rt 250, through Bartow (you can stop for information or restrooms at the Greenbrier District Ranger Station) and the lumber boom / railroad town of Durbin, where you might have lunch at the Old Pike Grill. Continue up the mountain, across the Shavers Fork Bridge, then take an immediate left and follow signs to the fort.
    Suggested time at this stop: 45 minutes

    Cheat Summit Fort is the Union fortification facing Camp Bartow and Camp Allegheny. All three were strong positions -- the Confederate attack on Cheat Summit, and the Union attacks from here on Bartow and Allegheny, all failed. It was the severe winter weather that defeated them, as all the troops moved east to the Shenandoah Valley in spring 1862. On a clear winter night, soldiers here could see the campfires of their adversaries at Camp Allegheny.

  • Stop 6: Tygart Valley Homesteads

    From previous stop: 30 minutes
    Directions:

    Return to the byway and continue west then north on US Rt 250, through Huttonsville and Mill Creek to Valley Bend.
    Suggested time at this stop: 20 minutes

    Coming down off of Cheat and driving through the Tygart Valley, you see more of the twentieth-century experience along the turnpike. Lumber mill towns like Mill Creek, operating sawmills, family farms, and many modern residences mixed in with the older homes. At Valley Bend and Dailey you can explore a community created during the Depression for resettlement of unemployed. Drive the back roads of Valley Bend, and notice the similarity of house designs (there were three original designs), and how each home has its own large lot for garden, outbuildings, and root cellar. Back on the highway, stop at the Homestead School - built for the community and still in use - and see the interpretive sign there. In Dailey is the sawmill built for the community, and still an operating sawmill, and the buildings that were for administration and craft workshops for the community.

  • Stop 7: Antique shopping

    From previous stop: 1 minute
    Directions:

    Turn right on Rich Mountain Road, one block on the left, before the bridge.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    While in Beverly, visit the Lemuel Chenoweth house. This unique, beautifully restored home was built by the talented builder of many of the turnpike bridges. You can tour the house and learn about Chenoweth, while shopping for quality antiques.

  • Stop 8: Beverly Historic District

    From previous stop: 4 minutes
    Directions:

    Continue north on US Rt 250.
    Suggested time at this stop: 2 minutes

    Beverly was the market town for this section of the turnpike, and was a key supply post during the Civil War. Originally held by the Confederates, it was taken by the Federals following the Battle of Rich Mountain, and held by them most of the rest of the war. Many buildings remain that tell of their Civil War experience, including the 1808 Courthouse, two ante-bellum jails, the Beverly Union Hospital with soldier's graffiti on the walls, and McClellan's headquarters that is currently the byway and Rich Mountain Visitor Center. Stop in here to see the exhibits, and get a walking tour brochure to explore the town. The town has several small shops and a restaurant.

  • End: Graceland and Halliehurst

    From previous stop: 30 minutes
    Directions:

    From Camp Garnett, continue on Rich Mountain Backway, turning right at T intersection. At next intersection turn right to Norton, turn right across bridge then left to reach US 33. Turn right on US 33 to the second, Elkins, exit. Exit right and follow road into town, turn at sign to Graceland Inn just before stop light.

    Spend the night at Graceland Inn in Elkins. This historic mansion was built by one of the town founders, Henry Gassaway Davis. It overlooks the town, which was created as a railroad terminus to serve the lumber and coal boom of the 1890s. In Elkins, see the nearby Halliehurst Mansion and other historic buildings on D&E Campus, and go to the Downtown Historic District for shops and restaurants. During July and August attend a concern or event of the Augusta Heritage Center.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 30.75 miles / 49.2 km
Total Travel Time: 1 hour 41 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 3 hours 2 minutes

Day 2

  • Stop 1: Rich Mountain Battlefield Civil War Site

    From previous stop: 20 minutes
    Directions:

    Continue on Rich Mountain Road (Rich Mountain Backway) following signs 5 miles to the top of the mountain. A portion of the road is gravel. Continue just over the pass to parking area on the left. Get out and walk the interpreted trails of the battlefield. Get back in your car and continue 1.5 miles to the bottom of the mountain. Parking lot is on the right just after the woods open up to small fields. Walk back up the Turnpike to the big oak, and follow the interpretive trail through the earthworks. A small viewing platform here is handicapped accessible.

    Rich Mountain was the pivotal battle of the First Campaign of the Civil War, fought for control of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike as a key tranportation link into western Virginia. This action catapulted Gen. McClellan to national prominance, and secured northwestern Virginia for the Union. Both the Battlefield and Camp Garnett have trails with interpretive signs that tell about this important action. You can see soldiers carvings on the rocks at the battlefield, and earthworks at Camp Garnett.

  • Stop 2: Weston Historic District

    From previous stop: 15 minutes / 30 mi (48.0 km)
    Directions:

    To follow the byway, continue west, but instead of entering the four-lane, stay on the access road. This is the turnpike route. At Lorentz, the original road is gone, so get onto the fourlane for the drive down Buckhannon Mountain escarpment. At Horner, turn right to again travel the older route. Near I79, turn left to return to the highway, then right back onto US Rt 33. Continue west into Weston.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Weston was another key crossroads and market town on the turnpike. Stop by the visitor center in the Weston Colored School. Walk through downtown using the walking tour brochure, and see the variety of buildings from early vernacular to high-style architecture.

  • Stop 3: Farnsworth House

    From previous stop: 40 minutes / 25 mi (40.0 km)
    Directions:

    Continue west on US Rt 33 to Linn, then turn right onto WV47. Follow that past Troy, the Farnsworth house is on the left about 1 mile past Troy.
    Suggested time at this stop: 5 minutes

    The turnpike brought prosperity to the Farnsworths, and they built a tavern on the right side of the road for travelers to stop and refresh, with a weigh station to weigh cattle being driven down the turnpike to markets. A toll house was also located on the grounds. It was owned by James Farnsworth, son of the second governor of West Virginia. Private property, please view it from the road.

  • Stop 4: Weston State Hospital

    From previous stop: 2 minutes
    Directions:

    Follow US Rt 33 across the bridge, turn left into parking.
    Suggested time at this stop: 15 minutes

    The Trans-Allegheny Asylum for the Insane was a major asset for Virginia, and was a key in the politics of the separation of West Virginia in the Civil War and formation of the new state. Stop here to view the immense structure and learn the story of the hospital's gold. You can walk the grounds, but the building is not currently open.

  • Stop 5: Burnt House

    From previous stop: 20 minutes / 12 mi (19.2 km)
    Directions:

    Continue on WV47. As you traveling west you will pass through many small towns. Drive slowly and look for dramatic vistas at the ridgetops, and historic houses, churches, and farms.
    Suggested time at this stop: 5 minutes

    The original house here was a station on the Underground Railroad. Learn the legend of Burnt House -- the town was named for the burned inn.

  • End: Oakland

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Continue on WV 47. As you traveling west you will pass through many small towns. Drive slowly and look for dramatic vistas at the ridgetops, and historic houses, churches, and farms.

    This ante-bellum mansion was built by James McNeil Stephenson, who was instrumental in completion of the Staunton-Parkersburg and Northwestern Turnpikes, that met in front of his house. Known here as the Parkersburg to Staunton Turnpike, it was originally built from both ends, with the center section completed last. From here continue into Parkersburg, where you'll find both services and historic sites representing your arrival at the Ohio River. The Fort Boreman Civil War fortification overlooks the river. Stay at the historic Blennerhassett Hotel, see the Julia-Ann Square Historic District, the Oil and Gas Museum, Blennerhassett Museum. You can take a ferry to Blennerhassett Island and tour the reconstructed antebellum mansion there.

Totals for Day 2

Total Distance Traveled: 67 miles / 107.2 km
Total Travel Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 1 hour 25 minutes