Ohio is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Indians, major amusement parks, and the birthplace of aviation. It’s also got plenty of unique historical sites to see for those who love to revisit the past.
The next time you’re in the Buckeye State looking at houses for rent in Cincinnati or apartments in Cleveland, swing by one of these attractions.
The Adena Mansion and Gardens, Chillicothe
One of Ohio’s first United States Senators, Thomas Worthington, once lived in this 2,000-acre estate that was built in 1807.
This National Historic Landmark sits atop a hill, affording stunning views of the land below.
Worthington and his family – which included his wife and 10 children – planted extensive gardens that included grape vines, a fruit tree orchard, and vegetable plots.
You can stroll through the grounds to get a feel for what early 19th century life was like.
Great Serpent Mound, Peebles
No one is quite sure how or why this 1,330-foot-long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy came to be.
Earliest records found pertaining to the mound say it depicts a serpent swallowing an egg or, in some accounts, the moon.
Some evidence suggests the Adena people were responsible, a group of mound builders who erected similar things from Wisconsin to Mississippi.
One thing is for sure: it’s a sight unlike anything else you’ve ever seen.
Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries & Nature Preserve, Glenford
This 533-acre preserve has many hiking trails to enjoy that wind by pits left behind by American Indians who were there to quarry flint.
The flint was rainbow-colored, making it a unique item for trading and tool and weapon creation. Flint Ridge spans eight miles through Licking and Muskingum counties and has hundreds of quarry pits. It is often referred to as the “Great Indian Quarry of Ohio.”
You’ll also find a museum that provides more information on this gemstone as well as how it is shaped into tools.
Visitors can take up spots meant for picnicking and grilling as well.
Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Cincinnati
The author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin lived on this land prior to marrying her husband Calvin Stowe. The Beechers were a notable family.
Harriet’s father was Rev. Lyman Beecher. Her sister Catherine was an early educator and writer who founded many educational institutions for women; her brother Rev. Henry Ward was a women’s suffrage movement leader; her brother General James Beecher was a Civil War general; and her sister Isabella was a women’s rights advocate.
Touring the cabin educates visitors on the Beecher family as well as the Underground Railroad and women’s rights movements of the 1830’s.
The house is actually noted as a recognized site on the National Underground Railroad Network thanks to the fact the family assisted freedom seekers while living there.
Ohio River Museum, Marietta
The Ohio River has played an important role in the state’s history, and this museum pays homage to it.
It consists of three exhibit buildings and the country’s last steam-powered, stern-wheeled towboat.
You’ll learn about boat building, steamboat tools and equipment, and the history of the steamboat.
