Marshall County of West Virginia -- bound by Ohio to the west, Pennsylvania to the east and the historic Mason-Dixon Line to the south -- is home to a number of world-class attractions. Places of interest in Marshall County elicit a spectrum of emotions -- from awe at the luxury of the Palace of Gold, to fright at the spooky West Virginia Penitentiary, to delight while zip-lining through Grand Vue Park.
Grand Vue Park
- At the northwest end of Marshall County, Grand Vue Park offers visitors much more than shade and grass-covered knolls. Home to 12 miles of hiking trails, Grand Vue also has an executive par 3 golf course and two disc golf courses. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, families flock to the park's Aquatic Center, which includes a swimming and wading pool. Zip-line tours and 13 geocaching -- outdoor treasure hunting -- trails offer an alternative and amusing method to explore Grand Vue Park.
Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex
- In aptly named Moundsville, a surviving mound constructed 2,000 years ago by the Adena people has been preserved by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. In 1978, Delf Norona Museum opened its doors next to the mound, which is believed to have required the transport of 60,000 tons of earth. Today, in addition to artifacts and exhibits dedicated to the Adena people, the museum houses a fine art gallery and live theater. The museum is open every day but Monday and some holidays.
Palace of Gold
- Palace of Gold, an opulent taste of India in the rolling hills of West Virginia, features 31 stained glass windows, 52 imported varieties of marble and onyx and a 150-year-old French chandelier which hangs in the Giant Hall. Outside, the Palace Rose Garden grows over 150 types of roses; the Garden of the East cultivates a selection of dahlias, marigolds and zinnias; and the lilies of Lotus Pond bloom in the summer months. Palace of Gold operates year-round with reduced admission rates September through March.
West Virginia Penitentiary
- Across from Grave Creek Mound, West Virginia Penitentiary has had an ominous presence since its construction in 1866. After the state of West Virginia ordered it closed due to inhumane conditions in 1995, a Moundsville non-profit took over operation of the defunct penitentiary, offering tours and hosting events at the prison. Tours include visits the north and south yards, the north hall lockup and the electric chair known as "Old Sparky." The prison is open for tours Tuesday through Sunday, April through November, and every day in June, July and August.
