Wheeling in Ohio County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Charles Ellet, Jr.

(1810 – 1862)

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 29, 2005

1. Charles Ellet, Jr. Marker

Inscription. This notable American engineer designed
the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, completed in 1849.
Ellet’s other engineering accomplishments included:
improving flood control and navigation of mid-western rivers;
planning the layout of railways in Virginia, and
developing the naval steam ram used by Union forces during the Civil War.

Ellet’s daughter, Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell, served as the only
President Presiding, 1892 – 1893, of the
Daughters of the American Revolution.

Marker placed by
Wheeling Chapter, DAR,
1999

Erected 1999 by Wheeling Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 40° 4.197′ N, 80° 43.742′ W. Marker is in Wheeling, West Virginia, in Ohio County. Marker is at the intersection of Virginia Street (U.S. 40) and South Front Street, on the right when traveling east on Virginia Street. Marker is on the Wheeling Island (west) end of the suspension bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wheeling WV 26003, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Wheeling Suspension Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wheeling Suspension Bridge - 1849 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Henry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Trails Road (approx. ¼ mile away); Marsh Wheeling Stogies (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Wheeling Suspension Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); In Memoriam (approx. ¼ mile away); Pennsylvania Depot (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wheeling.

Also see . . . Mary Virginia Cabell Ellet. Historical Hall of Fame, Virginia History Series. (Submitted on August 2, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Additional commentary.
1. Civil War
Colonel Charles Ellet was mortally wounded at the battle of Memphis on June 6, 1862 while commanding the United States Ram Fleet, a group of Mississippi towboats converted to steam rams by Ellet himself.

— Submitted August 2, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.

March 14, 2006

2. Charles Ellet, Jr. Marker

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 29, 2005

3. Charles Ellet, Jr. Marker

The marker can be seen to the right of the 8' 0" sign.

Charles Ellet image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Abbott - Harper's Magazine, 1866

4. Charles Ellet

This photo of Charles Ellet appeared in "Charles Ellet and His Naval Steam Rams". Harper's New Monthly Magazine XXXII (CLXXXIX): p. 295.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 500 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 2, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 19, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on August 2, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.