8 Hidden Historical Towns In Ohio
The importance of history has sculpted how the United States grew over the years since the country was first established. This is especially true of the cities in Ohio, where one can visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati and the Paul Laurence Dunbar House in Dayton. Yet Ohio has a plethora of historic small towns as well. From the small town of Granville and Robbins Hunter Museum to the tiny town of Sugarcreek and Age of Steam Museum, the eight hidden historical towns below not only provide a true sense of what history means through their various attractions, but the towns themselves have become an integral part of the history of America as well.
New Philadelphia
The town of New Philadelphia has been in existence since the beginning of the 19th century. Founded in 1804 by a tavern owner named John Knisely, New Philadelphia, named after the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, obtained its historical influence from the discovery of coal and clay even before the beginning of the American Civil War.
Home to Schoenbrunn Village, Ohio’s first Christian settlement, which existed even before New Philadelphia was first founded, and the Sharon Morovian Church, first established in 1815, New Philadelphia is based on a rich heritage. New Philadelphia also celebrates “First Town Days Festival” on the 4th of July annually, celebrating the history that shaped this historic town into what it is now.
Bellevue
Another historic small town in the state of Ohio, the town of Bellevue is home to several attractions that bring history to life every day. It is home to Mad River Museum, honoring the historic importance of the railroad, the Bellevue Historic Society, and Sorrowful Mother Shrine, in existence since 1850 when several missionary priests were guided to America from Germany and Switzerland.
Bellevue is the site of Historic Lyme Village as well, allowing guests and residents alike to experience what the average life at home was like through the culmination of the American Civil War. And, right next door, Margie Pfund Memorial Postmark Club Collectors Museum displays well over a million different postmarks, along with some other phenomenal postal exhibits.
Coshocton
Home to Historic Roscoe Village, offering a taste of life in a small canal town in the 1800s through canal boat rides, living history tours, and events such as Homeschool Days, Coshocton is a fabulous historic gem. Another venue that provides history to Coshocton is the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum which, through a variety of great historic photographs, brings alive the past in wondrous ways.
Several festivals honor Coshocton, Ohio and its rich history, and are within easy driving distance as well. The Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival, held in October, offers living history tours, as well as homemade Apple Butter, and Coshocton County Fair, held at the fairgrounds annually, has been in existence for almost 175 years and offers everything from tractor pulls to dog, cat, and horse shows.
Archbold
Historic Archbold, hidden in northwestern Ohio, is home to Sauder Village, which is one of the largest living historic attributes in the state. This “Living History” Museum allows visitors and residents of Archbold to experience a casual walk into the 19th century, through historically accurate costumes, buildings, activities, and food.
From the Barn Restaurant and its hometown fare to the campground, a leisurely stroll from Sauder Village, the town of Archbold offers a bit of something for everyone. A variety of awesome events are held in and around town, including the Woodcarver’s Show, the Sauder Village Quilt Show, and Parade of Lights, bringing visitors from as far away as the east and west coasts, and even Canada.
Granville
Home to the Bryn Du Mansion and the Robbins Hunter Museum, Granville is alive with treasures of the past. While the Robbins Hunter Museum, existing since 1842, showcases Avery-Downer House and its phenomenal path through the annals of history, the Bryn Du Mansion displays over a century of history within its 52-room home, showcasing the beauty of elegance and class.
Several other historic aspects of this small town are also worth experiencing, including a variety of famous earthwork mounds, including the Alligator Mound and the Infirmary Mound, left behind by Hopewell Native Americans. Along with this, Granville has its own interesting heritage, first surveyed in 1797 by the military, and then settled by people originating in Wales.
Oberlin
Fourteen miles south of the southern banks of Lake Erie, the town of Oberlin is home to several historic aspects. Oberlin College, first founded in 1833, was the first college in America to let women obtain a bachelor’s degree. Monroe House, constructed in 1886, Jewett House, built in 1884, and the Little Red Schoolhouse, first constructed in 1836, are all located on the property of Oberlin College.
Several other great historic attributes can be experienced in the town of Oberlin. Oberlin Heritage Center, situated downtown, displays the town’s unique heritage through a variety of artifacts. Allen Memorial Art Museum, also located downtown, has several collections of rare art, including Picturing Paris: Monet and the Modern City and June Leaf: Shooting from the Heart.
Marietta
With a historical background that begins in the late 1800s, the town of Marietta is the place to visit, whether you are a historian or just a history enthusiast. Several great festivals are held annually in Marietta that reveal the importance of history, like the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, with a classic Car Show, a Little Miss. & Mr. Sternwheel contest, and a Queen Genevieve pageant.
Home to Campus Martius Museum, which honors the founding of the town in 1788, the People’s Mortuary Museum, and the Children’s Toy & Doll Museum, Marietta is a hidden treasure trove of history. From the toys and dolls of kids from the past to antique hearses, including a 1927 hearse by the name of “Miss Henney,” history is thriving within this picturesque town.
Sugarcreek
The town of Sugarcreek, located approximately 40 minutes south of the southern borders of the city of Akron, is home to a plethora of awesome historic attributes that are well worth checking out. Most popular, Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum displays everything from diesel and steam locomotives like the Bessemer & Lake Erie No. 643 to other carriages, like the Steel Caboose-WM 1880.
Yet this 19th century town, first settled by immigrants from Switzerland and Germany, is also home to the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock, which plays Swiss music every half hour, Alpine Hills Historical Museum, and Erb’s Coleman Museum. Plus, every year since 1953, Sugarcreek presents the Ohio Swiss Festival, with a Little Swiss Miss pageant and a Cheese Chase contest.
Conclusion
After stopping by Oberlin College in Oberlin, Historic Lyme Village in Bellevue, and the Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek, it is no coincidence many other small towns in Ohio are worth visiting, especially if you are a history teacher of North America or an avid history enthusiast. Yet even the casual observer can enjoy the excitement of what made Ohio what it is. These eight small towns, as well as a plethora of others, provide that keen sense of what is great about history, especially the history of some of these hidden towns in Ohio.
