Visitor information

Museums at a glance

  • A man and a young girl walking hand in hand through a grassy area with vintage machinery and old advertisements painted on a brick building in the background.

    Oil & Gas Museum

    📍 119 Third Street
    Parkersburg, WV 26101

    Museum Hours:

    Mon - Fri: 11am - 5pm
    Sat and Sun: 12pm - 5pm

    Explore the exhibits →

  • A large historic brick house with multiple arched windows, green shutters, a white balcony, and a red roof, surrounded by trees and a fenced yard.

    Henderson Hall

    📍 517 Old River Road
    Williamstown, WV 26187

    Museum Hours:

    Wed - Sun: 12pm - 5pm

    Discover what’s inside →

  • People visiting a historic farm with a wooden windmill, rustic buildings, and green trees.

    Burning Springs

    📍 Rt. 5
    Elizabeth, WV 26143

    Museum Hours:

    Roadside park with display always open. Museum by appointment only.

    Read the story of how it began →

  • A two-story house painted in burgundy with a gabled roof, surrounded by a black metal fence on a street with trees and a sidewalk.

    Cook House

    📍 1301 Murdoch Ave.
    Parkersburg, WV 26101

    Museum Hours:

    Coming soon - summer 2025

    Learn the backstory →

Admission

Our museums are designed to welcome visitors from all backgrounds, with reasonable admission prices and group rates available. Here's what you need to know about pricing for your visit.

Oil & Gas Museum
Adults, 17 and older: $10
Children, ages 7-16: $5
Children, ages 6 and under: Free
Veterans: $5

Henderson Hall
Adults, 17 and older: $15
Children, ages 7-16: $10
Children, ages 6 and under: Free
Veterans: $10

Burning Springs
Roadside museum is free!

Cook House
Currently open for group tours only. Contact us for admission and scheduling.

Accessibility at our museums

We're committed to welcoming all visitors and strive to make our historic sites as accessible as possible.

Oil & Gas Museum: Fully accessible with handicap parking available at the rear of the building and a ground-level back entrance with no steps. Street parking is available in front and behind the museum – both are free. Access from the rear entrance is also available by request.

Henderson Hall: The 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.

Cook House: The entrance is ground level with no steps or ramp needed. Parking is shared with neighboring businesses in the Big Sandy/King's Buffet parking lot.

Burning Springs: This is primarily an outdoor roadside park with extensive signage explaining the historical site. The museum building tours are available by appointment.

Please call us at (304) 485-5446 to discuss specific accessibility needs or to arrange accommodations for your visit.

Visiting with kids

Our museums offer hands-on history that brings the past to life for young visitors. Children love discovering how people lived, worked, and played in earlier times.

Oil & Gas Museum: Kids are drawn to our early Boy Scouts exhibit and love exploring the authentic general store display filled with candy and toys from the early 1900s. They're both fascinated and slightly spooked by our historically accurate mannequin in the industrial exhibit, and enjoy discovering Civil War era artifacts that tell the story of our region during wartime.

Henderson Hall: Kids are fascinated by the collection of children's toys and sports equipment that belonged to the family who lived here for generations. They also enjoy exploring seven generations of clothing and examining the display of Native American hunting points and work tools used by the area's first inhabitants.

Cook House: Children have been touring this historic home for years and are especially drawn to the working rug loom, the antique child's cradle, and the family piano. These artifacts help them imagine what daily life was like for children in the 1800s.

Burning Springs: Young visitors enjoy seeing the old tools and learning about how they were used during the oil boom days. The outdoor setting makes it easy for kids to explore while learning about this important piece of American history.

All of our sites offer opportunities for children to see, touch, and learn about history in ways that textbooks simply can't provide.

Group visits

Our museums offer unforgettable experiences for groups of all sizes and interests. Whether you're planning a school field trip, organizing a community outing, or arranging a special excursion for your organization, we provide guided experiences tailored to your group's needs and schedule.

Perfect for These Groups: History societies and genealogy clubs will love our deep dive into regional heritage, while architecture enthusiasts can explore Victorian mansions and pioneer homes. School groups discover hands-on learning opportunities at every site, from Civil War artifacts to early Boy Scouts exhibits. Senior centers and retirement communities enjoy our guided tours that bring back memories of earlier times, and scout troops can earn badges while exploring our Boy Scouts collection and outdoor historical sites.

Multi-Site Adventures: Consider one of our suggested weekend itineraries adapted for your group visit. "The History Buff's Weekend" works perfectly for historical societies wanting to trace America's energy story. "For Design Enthusiasts" appeals to garden clubs and architecture groups interested in Victorian elegance. "The Family Adventure" is ideal for multi-generational groups, while "The Deep Dive Experience" satisfies serious history enthusiasts who want the complete story.

Planning Your Visit: Group tours can be arranged by calling (304) 485-5446. We'll work with you to customize your experience, coordinate timing across multiple sites, and ensure your group has the most engaging and educational visit possible. All parking is free at every location, and we're happy to discuss accessibility needs for any group members.

The Greater Mid-Ohio Valley

Why not make a weekend of it? There's so much more to see and do beyond our museums that you'll want to stick around and explore. You can stay anywhere from cozy bed & breakfasts to the gorgeous historic Blennerhassett Hotel, or just grab a room at one of the familiar chain hotels if that's more your speed.

The food scene here is fantastic—whether you're craving a quick bite, want to splurge on a nice dinner, or feel like trying some international flavors, we've got you covered. And there's always something happening! Fitness enthusiasts can almost always find a weekend race, foodies will love our restaurants, and there are two great theatres to catch a show, either at the Smoot Theatre in downtown Parkersburg or just across the river at the People’s Bank Theatre in Marietta, Ohio.

If you love the outdoors, the Ohio River setting is gorgeous, and North Bend State Park has great trails and that famous rail trail through old railroad tunnels. Once you're here, you'll find plenty of reasons to stay an extra day or two.

Give the folks at the Greater Parkersburg CVB a call at (304) 428-1130—they'll hook you up with a free visitor's guide and help you plan the perfect getaway.