About the Museums of the Mid-Ohio Valley

The MMOV is owned and operated by the Oil, Gas and Industrial Historical Association, Inc., founded in 1989.

The Association was created after a fun night fishing on the Ohio River by its two founders, David McKain and Paul Hoblitzell. The next morning, they had talked themselves into renting the W.H. Smith Hardware Store for $1. Their plan was to ensure that our area’s role in this great industry was not forgotten. Today we own the building, and it tells the story of “Where It All Began,” a book written by David McKain and Bernard Allen detailing the history of the discovery of oil at Burning Springs and the development of the industry.

From just that single dollar, the MMOV now owns four properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are:

• Henderson Hall, the 55-acre home of the Hendersons, early settlers with ties to the American Revolution, the Civil War and the creation of West Virginia.

• At the W.H. Smith Hardware Store, we offer the Oil and Gas Museum, the Civil War and West Virginia rooms, and our area’s industrial history.

• At Burning Springs Park and Museum, where the nation’s oil and gas industry began, we open by appointment, and you can stop at its roadside park anytime to read about the ghost town’s history and see many of the industry’s historic artifacts.

• The Historic Cook House, circa 1820, is the second oldest home in Wood County. Its three front rooms are as the family left them, filled with family heirlooms.
  

Our goal is to protect and preserve the rich and impactful history of our region. Our constantly growing collection tells the story of early frontier pioneers, the discovery of oil, the Civil War and its impact on West Virginia’s statehood, and the incredible world that is Mid-Ohio Valley. 

 Parkersburg’s titans of industry come alive as you tour collections on early navigation, railroad development, and the industry that grew up to support them.

You’ll learn too about the earliest civilizations that lived along the river, the powerful men and women of our region.  We honor the enslaved people who labored in the valley with an exhibit at Henderson Hall.