Wheeling’s Wharf Parking Garage

If you ever came to Wheeling to shop, you probably parked in the Wharf parking lot. When there was a flood you may have gone to the top floor of the Wharf and watched the water rise. It was a massive structure that was almost a block long.

There were four levels of parking, and a capacity of 945 parking places.

Construction was started in 1955, and it was dedicated in 1956. The Wharf served a real need in Wheeling before it was demolished in 1998 and the facility was replaced by the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center on the corner of 14th and Main streets.

Wheeling’s Heritage Port is now situated on the land where the Wharf once stood.

Heritage Port
The festival season at Heritage Port is soon to begin.

It has been a passion of mine to showcase and preserve Wheeling’s rich history with this series of historic photographs that briefly highlight a business or building that is “Gone Forever” from the fabric of Wheeling life and the Ohio Valley.

I hope with this series, I will be able to show the large amount of industry and businesses that thrived here in the early 1930’s and 1940’s, attracting people from many countries and all walks of life who helped make Wheeling the greatest city in West Virginia.

If you have suggestions on a favorite business or location that has vanished, please submit that to me at cre8m@comcast.net I will do my best to search out and tell that story.

A view of a large parking garage.
The Wharf was consistently crowded with cars owned by employees in downtown Wheeling, and by shoppers.
A black and white of a caboose.
A train caboose rested near the Wharf for many years, and it served as office space for Lou’s Landing and the Valley Voyager.
A color photo of a railroad crossing.
Train tracks ran in front of the Wharf, and at times they were covered by the Ohio River.
A black and white photo.
When the Wharf Parking Garage was demolished 22 years ago, it change Wheeling’s skyline forever.
A parking garage in a flood.
When the Ohio River rose, some parking spots on the bottom two levels were covered with flood waters.
A black and white photo.
The Wharf could be seen well from certain areas of East Ohio,
A photo of a man with grey hair.
James Thornton

James Thornton has published several volumes of history on the city of Wheeling, and those interested in purchasing one of them can do so by contacting him at cre8m@comcast.net or visit the Creative Impressions website. The books can be purchased at the Wheeling Heritage Center, Kroger on Mount de Chantal Road, Miklas Meat Market, Nail City Records, the UPS Store in the Washington Avenue Plaza, VC Wares at Centre Market, Bower’s Decorating at The Highlands, and on the website www.wheelinghistory.net.

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