History of Washington County

Marietta, Where Ohio's History Resides.

In the early morning mist of April 7, 1788, a flatboat, a galley, and three log canoes arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum River. A vanguard of 48 men of the Ohio Company, led by General Rufus Putnam, came ashore and began a great, historic adventure. These intrepid pioneers, veterans of the Revolutionary War, persevered through daunting hardships to found Marietta, the first organized American settlement in the Northwest Territory and Ohio's first city.

Marietta was named to honor Marie Antoinette, the French Queen who supported the Americans in the war against Great Britain. Marietta became the seat of government for the territory. Drawing pioneers wishing to purchase land, it soon became known as the Gateway to the Northwest. On the left is the Start Westward Monument which is located in East Muskingum Park. The sculptor was Gutson Borglum mostly known for his famous sculptor of the presidents at Mount Rushmore.

Marietta battled Chillicothe for statehood in 1803. These two pioneer cities of the pre-statehood frontier were the active seats of early political debates for statehood. Chillicothe became the first capitol for the new state of Ohio, but Marietta was the main point of crossing for the migration of people to the new frontier.

In 1811 the steamboat appeared on America’s rivers, and Washington County became a major riverboat community, with busy steamboat building yards. In the mid-l800’s the county enjoyed another economic boom with the development of the oil and gas industry. People also began moving into the city from the farms. Our museums and libraries are important resources for those interested in history and genealogy and are a must see when coming to this region. Enjoy our history through our unique and nationally famous museums.

Visit one of the best Genealogy Libraries in the State and trace your ancestors and early Ohio residents. Since many of the settlers of the early frontier came through the Marietta region, there are great resources for your search and discovery of genealogy and history. People come from all over the world to research their ancestors. Internet genealogical resources are available. Records of all the cemeteries and lists of those buried there are available for research at the Washington County Public Library's Local History and Genealogy Department on 416 Washington Street (Corner of Fifth & Washington Streets) in Marietta. You can contact the genealogy library by e-mailing Ernie at: ernie@wcplib.lib.oh.us, visit their website Geneology Library, or by phone (740) 376-2172 or by fax (740) 376-2175.

From early on, beginning about 1795, Marietta had a small but influential group of anti-slavery activists. A significant trail to freedom for many enslaved people from the South developed along the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. The Marietta/Belpre area is rich with the history of the Underground Railroad along the Ohio River Mason-Dixon Line. There are sites on the Underground Railroad Tour that you may visit with a guide or on your own and a permanent exhibit installed at the Belpre Historical Society Museum (740-423-7588) open Wednedays and Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm. Call the visitors bureau at 800-288-2577 to make arrangements for school field trips, lectures and group tours.