Watters Smith Memorial State Park is a historical park and national
historic district with a pioneer homestead and museum located in
Harrison County,
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...
. The homestead, rising above Duck Creek, is a memorial to settler Watters Smith, who was born in
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784.[Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...]
, in 1796, with his wife Elizabeth Davisson Smith.
A
log cabin similar to the original was moved and reconstructed on the park, together with farm buildings typical of early 19th century settlement. The more modern Smith family home (c. 1876) has been restored as a museum, and an additional museum houses many local farm artifacts from earlier eras. Guided tours are offered from
Memorial Day
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...
weekend through
Labor Day. In addition, the park features swimming, picnicking, hiking trails, and horseback riding.
It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1974 as the Watters Smith Farm on Duck Creek.
Mountain biking
Watters Smith Park has become a local hot spot for
mountain biking. The park boasts a bike wash and maintenance area and over 12 miles of single track riding including numerous technical sections and elevation gains. With up-to-date maps and well marked trails, the park offers trails for every skill level from beginner to expert.
See also
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List of West Virginia state parks
There are 37 state parks in the U.S. state of West Virginia . The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) West Virginia Division of Natural Resources#Parks and Recreation Section, Parks and Recreation Section is the governing body ...
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State park
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Open-air museum
An open-air museum (or open air museum) is a museum that exhibits collections of buildings and artifacts out-of-doors. It is also frequently known as a museum of buildings or a folk museum.
Definition
Open air is “the unconfined atmosphereâ ...
References
External links
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Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia
History of West Virginia
State parks of West Virginia
Protected areas of Harrison County, West Virginia
Farm museums in the United States
Protected areas established in 1949
History museums in West Virginia
Museums in Harrison County, West Virginia
Farms on the National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia
National Register of Historic Places in Harrison County, West Virginia
Historic districts in Harrison County, West Virginia
IUCN Category III
1949 establishments in West Virginia
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