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History of Coal Musuem Harrison County |
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Historic Shawnee |
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Historic Districts and Museums
Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area is filled with historic communities that have taken steps to recognize and preserve their historic districts. Many have been recognized through listing in the National Register of Historic Places, while others receive protection from local historic district designation. When you take time to visit any of our communities you will be rewarded with an expression of our region’s history as reflected in our historic architecture. As you travel around, take some time to explore these and other historic communities in Ohio’s Hill Country. A number of our communities also have historic sites and museums that will be of interest to the traveler. Some are state memorials operated by the Ohio Historical Society, while many are supported through local non-profit organizations. Our sites and museums, both large and small, offer a glimpse of the diversity of historic achievements in Ohio’s Hill Country communities. A few of these interesting places are described here.
Resources to Explore:
Adena (Ross County)
Recently restored with a new visitors center completed for the celebration of Ohio’s Bicentennial in 2003, this is the home of Thomas Worthington. He was one of Ohio’s first U.S. Senators and served as the state’s sixth governor. The house sits on a hill with a view toward Mount Logan, which served as the inspiration for the Great Seal of the State of Ohio. It is operated by the Ohio Historical Society. (800) 319-7248 Adena Road Chillicothe, Ohio www.ohiohistory.org [ back to top ]
Athens County Historical Society & Museum
The Museum highlights the history of Athens County. The research and genealogical library are open to the public. 740-592-2280 65 N. Court Street Athens, OH 45701 director@athenshistory.org www.athenshistory.org [ back to top ]
Baker Family Museum (Noble County)
This museum houses one of the largest private collections of glassware and antiques in the U.S. It is located just two blocks from Caldwell’s historic downtown. Of special interest are items from respected glass and pottery companies that were once located in the region including Cambridge, Fenton, and Heisey glassware and Weller, Shawnee and Roseville pottery. (740) 732-6410 805 Cumberland Street Caldwell, Ohio [ back to top ]
Barnesville Historic District (Belmont County)
Located in the heart of this Belmont County community, the Barnesville Historic District includes fine examples of commercial and residential architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries. [ back to top ]
Bonneyfiddle Historic District (Scioto County)
This historic district comprises the early commercial and residential district of Portsmouth before development moved several blocks to the west into the area that became the downtown area in the 20th century. The famous floodwall murals are located here, as is a collection of commercial buildings with fine cast iron storefronts. [ back to top ]
Caldwell Historic District (Noble County)
The Caldwell Historic District encompasses the commercial district. The Old Jail has been restored and is now in use as a visitor’s center and museum. [ back to top ] Cambridge Historic District (Guernsey County) Located in downtown Cambridge, this linear historic district encompasses a magnificent late 19th century courthouse and nearly the entire commercial district. [ back to top ]
Chillicothe Historic District (Ross County)
The historic district of Ohio’s first capital is filled with excellent examples of 19th and 20th century architecture, including the mid-19th century courthouse, fine Federal and Greek Revival homes and one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the country. [ back to top ]
Gallipolis Historic District (Gallia County)
Centered on a public park facing the Ohio River, the recently expanded Gallipolis Historic District includes the downtown and the surrounding residential neighborhood. The French Art Colony and Our House Museum are located within this district. [ back to top ]]
Georgetown and Ripley Historic Districts (Brown County)
These communities have interesting, but different historic districts. The Georgetown Historic District is centered on the Greek Revival courthouse, which was restored after a devastating fire in the late 1970s, and includes the boyhood home of Ulysses S. Grant. The Ripley Historic District includes commercial and residential architecture, as well as important Underground Railroad sites, in its riverfront historic district. [ back to top ]
Hillsboro Historic District (Highland County)
This late 19th and early 20th century historic district is centered on a courthouse square. The courthouse, which dates from the 1830s is one of the oldest in continuous use in the state. [ back to top ]
Ironton Historic District (Lawrence County)
The Ironton Historic District encompasses the core of this Ohio River community. It is located along the Ohio River National Scenic Byway. [ back to top ]
Jackson Historic District (Jackson County)
This commercial historic district includes a wide variety of architectural styles including an intact early 19th century storefront and a restored 20th century movie theater. [ back to top ]
John and Annie Glenn Historic Site and Exploration Center (Muskingum County) Housed in John Glenn’s boyhood home, which was recently moved and restored, it is dedicated to telling 20th century American history through the lives of John and Annie Glenn. The section on Glenn’s flight into space will be of special interest to baby boomers who remember being thrilled by his daring orbit of the earth as part of America’s race in space. First person interpretation also makes the sacrifices of the World War II years seem very real. (740) 826-3305 68 West Main Street New Concord, Ohio www.johnglennhome.org [ back to top ]
Lancaster Historic District (Fairfield County)
The Lancaster Historic District encompasses the central business district as well as a residential neighborhood that contains some of the finest examples of Federal and Greek Revival homes in Ohio. Several museums including the General William Tecumseh Sherman House, the Georgian and the Decorative Arts Museum of Ohio are located within this district. [ back to top ]
Loveland Castle (Clermont County)
This unusual museum, which is a one-fifth-scale replica of a 16th century castle, was built by local resident Harry D. Andrews over a period of 51 years. Open April 1 – September 15, 11:00 A.M - 5:00 P.M. seven days a week and only on weekends during the winter. (513) 683-4686 12025 Shore Drive Loveland, Ohio [ back to top ]
McCook House Civil War Museum (Carroll County)
Known as the “Fighting McCooks,” this Scotch-Irish clan produced the largest warrior family during the Civil War – reaching at total of fourteen soldiers. The McCook House Civil War Museum is operated by the Ohio Historical Society. Open Memorial Day to the second weekend in October, Friday and Saturday, 10:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. and Sunday, 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. or by appointment. (330) 627-3345 Public Square Carrollton, Ohio [ back to top ]
Serpent Mound State Memorial (Adams County)
Serpent Mound is among the most recognizable historic sites in Ohio. Measuring nearly one- quarter mile long, this effigy mound appears to be a giant snake uncoiling in seven deep curves. Several prehistoric American Indian cultures lived in the area at various times, but even today, archaeologists are not sure who created the mound or what its exact symbolism represents. Open every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends during April, May, September and October. (513) 587-2796 380 State Route 73 Peeples, Ohio www.ohiohistory.org [ back to top ]
Shawnee Historic District (Perry County)
One of the most unusual historic districts in Ohio is the former coal-mining boomtown of Shawnee. This commercial district features a continuous streetscape of distinctive overhanging second story porches. [ back to top ]
Woodsfield Historic District (Monroe County)
Centered on the impressive 1906 county courthouse, which was restored in 1999, this historic district encompasses the historic commercial district of Woodsfield. [ back to top ]
In This Page:
Adena (Ross County)
Athens County Historical Society & Museum
Baker Family Museum (Noble County)
Barnesville Historic District (Belmont County)
Bonneyfiddle Historic District (Scioto County)
Caldwell Historic District (Noble County)
Cambridge Historic District (Guernsey County)
Chillicothe Historic District (Ross County)
Gallipolis Historic District (Gallia County)
Georgetown and Ripley Historic Districts (Brown County)
Hillsboro Historic District (Highland County)
Ironton Historic District (Lawrence County)
Jackson Historic District (Jackson County)
John and Annie Glenn Historic Site and Exploration Center (Muskingum County)
Lancaster Historic District (Fairfield County)
Loveland Castle (Clermont County)
McCook House Civil War Museum (Carroll County)
Serpent Mound State Memorial (Adams County)
Shawnee Historic District (Perry County)
Woodsfield Historic District (Monroe County)