Ohio History Buffs Take Notice!

01-08-2008

Bellefontaine, Ohio – January 7, 2008 – Ohio’s Historic West offers an abundance of exciting museums and other attractions to take in during the cold winter months!

 

Ft. Recovery is the site of two of the most dramatic Indian battles in American history: the devastating defeat of General Arthur St. Clair in 1791, and the successful defense of the fort by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne in 1794. The Fort Recovery State Museum contains two reconstructed blockhouses, a connecting stockade and many exhibits depicting the Indian wars of the 1790’s. The museum gallery displays one of the largest collections of Indian artifacts in the state of Ohio. An 1840 log cabin and blacksmith shop are also nearby. 

Contact the Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org; www.fortrecovery.org

 

The National Marian Shrine of the Holy Relics was founded in 1875 when Fr. J.M. Gartner entrusted his collection of relics to the Sisters of the Precious Blood at Maria Stein. A beautiful chapel built in 1892 houses the collection, with over 1000 relics on display, representing the second largest collection of its type in the United States. The Shrine was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Beautiful stained-glass windows imported from Germany and hand-carved woodwork also adorn the Relic Chapel.  The unique Maria Stein Heritage Museum is located here, and the St. Charles Center is close by.  St. Augustine Church - the “mother church” of the area - is in Minster. Maria Stein is located along the “Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches” Ohio Scenic Byway. Contact the Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org;

 

The Darke County Historical Society operates the large Garst Museum in Greenville, which houses the largest known collection of memorabilia on sharpshooting legend,   Annie Oakley. Also memorabilia and artifacts from radio broadcaster Lowell Thomas, and exhibits relating to Tecumseh, Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne, and the Treaty of Greene Ville. Greenville hosts “Annie Oakley Days” each July. For more information, contact the Darke County Visitors Bureau at 800-504-2995, www.visitdarkecounty.org.

 

Located on 250 acres, the Piqua Historical Area contains the most comprehensive museum on the Woodland Indians, mule-drawn canal boat rides along a restored section of the Miami and Erie Canal, tours of the restored 1815 farmstead and many special events and activities for history buffs and weekend adventurers alike. Piqua is the beginning of the “Miami and Erie Canal” Ohio Scenic Byway. Not far from Piqua, in Lockington, the Miami and Erie Canal Locks are the most extensive and spectacular series of structures which existed on the canal.  Contact the Miami County VCB 800-348-8993, www.visitmiamicounty.org; www.ohiohistory.org/places/piqua/

 

The Ross Historical Center is owned and operated by the Shelby County Historical Society in Sidney.  The Center is only a couple of blocks south of the Miami and Erie Canal feeder and was once home to Mr. William Haslup, a local industrialist, who owned and operated the Sidney Steel Scraper Co. Contact Sidney Visitors Bureau 866-892-9122, www.visitsidneyshelby.com; www.shelbycountyhistory.org. 

 

The Armstrong Air & Space Museum was opened in 1972 by the Ohio Historical Society and named in honor of Wapakoneta native astronaut Neil Armstrong. The museum chronicles many Ohioans’ contributions to the history of flight and new horizons in space travel including the space shuttle program and the International Space Station. The museum’s Astro Theater presents the sights and sounds of space. Recent renovations include the addition of interactive exhibits with a space shuttle landing simulator and a lunar lander.  Contact the Auglaize & Mercer CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org; www.ohiohistory.org/places/armstron/

 

The Bicycle Museum of America, dedicated to the history of bicycling, opened in 1997 in downtown New Bremen. Featuring over 300 vintage bicycles, the collection includes over 150 Schwinn Bicycles from the former Chicago Museum. Named one of the “Top 100 Places to Visit in the U.S.” by Travel Magazine. New items are always being added to the collection. Contact the Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org; www.bicyclemuseum.com

 

The Piatt Castles near Bellefontaine are unique structures and have become a private, family-owned museum that interprets over 200 years of history of the Ohio land and Ohio people. Castle Mac-A-Cheek, a Norman-French style chateau (c. 1864) was built by Civil War Gen. A. S. Piatt.  Castle Mac-O-Chee, a Flemish-style castle (c. 1879) was built as a retirement home for Col. Donn Piatt, a soldier, statesman, and poet.  These two magnificent limestone homes are beautifully furnished.  Also on display are a war relics collection, and Indian artifacts collection, and a European/Asian antique collection. Contact  Logan County Visitors Bureau 888-564-2626, www.logancountyohio.com; www.piattcastles.org.

 

Between 1919 and 1946, The WACO Aircraft Co. produced various models of open-cockpit and cabin biplanes, plus combat gliders for WWII.  The WACO Historical Society has organized to preserve the history of the company and its airplanes. Visit the Historic WACO Field and Aircraft Museum in Troy, Ohio. Contact the Miami County VCB 800-348-8993, www.visitmiamicounty.org;  www.wacoairmuseum.org/

 

Located on the campus of Urbana University, the Johnny Appleseed Museum contains the largest known collection of memorabilia, written material, and artifacts about the early Ohio pioneer. The popular folk hero traveled all over Ohio, planted apple seeds, and developed a fine business selling his apple trees. The Johnny Appleseed Society provides programs for school and church groups, senior citizens and bus tour groups.  Contact the Champaign County VB 877-873-5764, www.champaignohio.com

 

The Pennsylvania House Museum is one of the few original early American taverns left on the old National Road. It was built around 1820 and served the pioneers moving westward.  The building was placed on the Ohio Historical Society Preservation list and holds one of the best collections of Early American antiques of the period in the State.  Early American dolls and quilts, clothing, fine furniture, paintings and portraits. The Grace Porter collection of more than 100,000 buttons is considered one of the largest and most unique collections in the country.  Contact the Greater Springfield CVB 800-803-1553, www.cvb.greaterspringfield.com. 

 

Further information on these and other places of historic significance can be found at the Ohio’s Historic West website at www.ohioshistoricwest.com. 

 

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