In 1908 the United States Senate, in effect, rewrote history by recognizing the claim of the DAR and Livia Simpson Poffenbarger that the “First Battle of the Revolution” was fought at Point Pleasant. The federal government has erected a monument attesting to the fact. The battle that was fought there was a decisive engagement in the protracted series of Indian Wars. This one was won by Brig. Gen. Andrew Lewis of the Virginia border militia. He thoroughly routed Chief Cornstalk on October 10, 1774. Fort Blair had been built that year to protect the settlers.

There’s more interesting early history connected with Point Pleasant. In 1849, a lead plate was found buried at Mansion House in Tu-Endie-Wei Park. The plate had been buried in 1749 by Capt. Peter Joseph Celeron, claiming the Ohio River, all its tributaries, and all the lands drained by the river and its tributaries for Louis XV, king of France. Celeron is supposed to have buried four such lead plates, but so far only two have been found.