Wheeling, West Virginia: Wheeling Island Flood Memorial Wall

A special wall, formerly part of a condemned building, is covered with marks that record the high-water levels of all the floods that have swept this community. In March 1936 the water was 55.5 feet deep!

Address:: Virginia St., Wheeling, WV
Directions:: From I-70 take the Wheeling Island, Zane St., or Casino exit (Different exit name and numbers depending on your travel direction). Turn south onto York St., then east onto Virginia St. The memorial is on the south side of Virginia St., just east of its intersection with S. Penn St.
Admission:: Free

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Flood Marks.

Wheeling Island Flood Memorial Wall

Wheeling Island is in the Ohio River between Wheeling, West Virginia, and Bridgeport, Ohio. It has been flooded many times over the years. A memorial that shows all of the floodwater levels was recently constructed on the southeast corner of Virginia and Penn Streets.

The most amazing flood level is the one for March 19, 1936 (noted on the wall as, "The Big One!"), which was 55.5 feet, reaching up to the second floor of buildings.

As you stand on the corner it's hard to imagine that this entire area was under that much water. The memorial was made from the bricks of the building that formerly stood at this location. The building also had the flood markings on it, but it was deemed unsafe and demolished a few years ago.

[signmanjoe, 01/13/2015]

You may want to reconsider visiting this attraction during a rain storm.