Six generations of history

Henderson Hall

A large, historic brick mansion with green shutters, a white balcony, and a fenced front yard surrounded by autumn trees.

The house, grounds and Henderson family cemetery is designated the Henderson Hall Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Henderson Hall Plantation offers an unprecedented and untouched view of the early American Victorian Era. This elegant 8,000 square foot pre-Civil War Italianate mansion boasts 16 rooms and was the centerpiece of the original 2,600 acre plantation, horse breeding farm, oil field and river port. Today, it sits on 48 acres of land.

Spanning six generations and 200 years, the Henderson family homestead features original furnishings from the frontier life of the 1700s to the oil boom days of the 20th century.

There are three Adena Culture mounds near the home that have not been explored.  Artifacts of native people that have been found on the grounds are on display in the home.  A tribute to the enslaved people who worked on the Henderson farm prior to 1865 is also on display.

Pohick, a heritage craft building, was built to fit the local vernacular in 2014.  David Fetty, a Fenton artist, works there, creating beautiful pieces that are for sale in the gift shop.  The site includes a working blacksmith shop and exhibits of the tools used by the family in the late 1700s and early 1800s to build their home and farm buildings.

Recently, restoration of the Lamp Cabin, moved to the grounds in 2010, was completed.  It features furnishings that include frontier life and early river navigation.

Location & Hours:

517 Old River Road
Williamstown WV 26187 (open directions)

Phone: (304) 375-2129

Hours: Open April through December

Wednesday through Sunday: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Admission:

Adults: $15
Children, through age 17: $10
Children, 6 and under: free
Veterans: $10

For group tours of more than 20 people, please call for special appointments.

Have more questions? See our FAQ section below or contact us.

Visiting Henderson Hall

Sign with the text "Henderson Hall" in gold letters on a dark green background.

Exhibits and Collections

  • People gathered outside a rustic log cabin with a red metal roof during daytime, engaged in a social gathering around tables and chairs.

    Lamp Cabin

  • An elderly man with glasses and a striped blue and white shirt working on glassblowing, using tongs to shape glowing red glass in a workshop with wood-paneled walls and shelves of jars and decorations.

    Blacksmith Shop

  • A grassy park with trees and a small hill covered in grass, surrounded by mature trees with lush green leaves.

    Adena Culture Burial Mounds

  • Timeline of Henderson Hall Plantation history from 1750 to 1984, including notable events, architects, and figures, with images of people, buildings, and artifacts.

    Henderson Family History

  • Black and white photograph of oil drilling rigs at the Anderson Oil Field near Williamstown, West Virginia, with the Ohio River in the background.

    The Oilfields

“If you love history you must stop here at this awesome “piece of American history.” The mansion is full of everything that the Henderson’s saved over the years, and they threw out nothing. It’s such a time capsule. And the school room! Wow, wait until you see it!”
— Steve

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Henderson Hall is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5.p.m. Tours are self guided and generally take approximately one hour, however, there is no time limit on amount of time you spend to tour Henderson Hall. It may be noted that the hall closes at 5:00, therefore, anyone wishing to have an opportunity to take his or her time, should begin the tour by 4 p.m..

  • Group tours may be arranged by calling 304.375.2129. Rates for groups of 10 or more are $10.00 per guest, and school groups are $5.00 per student and chaperones are free for each 10 students per visit.

  • Special parking areas are designated for tour and school buses.

  • Become a friend of Henderson Hall! The gifts we receive go to the support and preservation of Henderson Hall Plantation and to help us continue to expand programs and restoration of the house, buildings and grounds.

    Donate here

  • Yes, Henderson Hall offers volunteer roles for docents (leading small groups/tours) and for outside maintenance work.

    Please visit our Volunteer page to learn more and sign up for more information.

  • Yes, Henderson Hall hosts many special events throughout the year.

    Please follow our event calendar to see upcoming events, ticket information, etc.

  • No, Henderson Hall is open from April through December, and closed January through March.

  • Our newly opened cabin features a ramp and serves as an accessible location for our introductory video for visitors who cannot access the second-floor viewing room. The first floor of the historic house is accessible with three steps at the entrance. However, the basement, second, third, and top floors are only accessible by stairs. Our ticket booth, gift shop, and Heritage Crafts barn are all on one level and fully accessible. Please note that pathways are gravel surface. We're happy to discuss specific accessibility needs when you visit.

Henderson Hall has survived six generations, but it needs your help to continue welcoming visitors for generations to come. Your gift helps maintain this unique window into early American life.

A man and a young girl walking hand in hand on a grassy path in front of an outdoor display of vintage farm machinery, with a large weathered brick building known as the Oil and Gas Museum
Group of five people near a wooden windmill and rustic buildings in a park with green grass and trees.
Aerial view of a historic brick mansion with a red roof, surrounded by green trees and manicured lawns.
A two-story red house with multiple windows, a white front door, and a small front yard with bushes, surrounded by a black metal fence, situated along a paved street.