Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : May 1, 2006

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park (304) 420-4800 parks@westvirginia.com

Editor's note: May 10-13 are the correct dates for this event. The event has been changed from previously-published notices of May 3-6.

Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park Hosts

Rendezvous on the River

May 10-13

PARKERSBURG, W.Va.- Frontier history will come alive with a primitive encampment recreating the old time rendezvous of the pre-1840 fur trade era at   Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park from May 10 through 13 .

  This event offers a rare glimpse into the past as frontiersmen and mountain men and women from across the nation gather at Blennerhassett Island to observe how things were done more than 150 years ago. Mountain men donned in authentically reproduced buckskins and other period clothing will shoulder muskets, cook over open fires and sleep in canvas tents, live in tepees or other primitive shelters. Family camp life, traditional craft work and traders will engage in activities that would have been typical to the early frontiersman. There will be hawk and knife throwing demonstrations. Re-enactors will be available to answer questions.

  Boats going to Blennerhassett Island Tuesday through Friday operate on an hourly basis from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. , on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday the boats operate on an hourly basis from noon to 5:30 p.m. It is recommended that visitors leave to the island no later than 2 p.m. to allow ample time to visit the campsites. Boats depart the island on the half-hour. The last boat leaves the island at 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. (depending on the day of operation). The round-trip cost of the boat ride is $8 for adults or $7 for children (3-12).

  While on the island, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to tour the Blennerhassett Mansion , take a horse-drawn wagon ride, rent bikes, make use of picnic facilities, browse the island gift shop and have lunch at the snack stand.

  For more information, please contact Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park at (304) 420-4800.

**DNR**