Simon Kenton
Famed frontiersman Simon Kenton (1755-1836) is buried at beautiful Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana.  Among his noted feats, he is credited with saving the life of fellow frontiersman and friend Daniel Boone at Boonesborough, Ky.  He served as a scout for George Rogers Clark and fought in the Northwest Indian War in 1793-94 with "Mad" Anthony Wayne. After moving to Urbana, he became brigadier general of the Ohio militia and served in the War of 1812. His monument was designed by Urbana native John Quincy Adams Ward, recognized as Dean of American Sculpture.

Underground Railroad
Champaign County played an important role on the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses through which thousands of American slaves escaped to freedom. The Ohio History Service AmeriCorps program has published an engaging booklet, “Taking a Stand for Freedom,” that features a driving tour of Underground Railroad sites in Champaign and neighboring Logan and Union counties.  The driving tour can be accessed through the Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau website, www.champaignoh.com

The “trail” begins at Wapakoneta in Auglaize County, to visit a Museum built to honor one of Ohio’s
Astronaut Pioneers, Neil Armstrong—the first man to walk on the moon! The Armstrong Air & Space Museum was founded in 1972 by the Ohio Historical Society, honoring Wapakoneta native son Neil Armstrong. The museum chronicles Ohioans’ contributions to the history of flight & new horizons in space travel including the space shuttle program & the International Space Station. The Astro-Theater presents the sights & sounds of space. Recent renovations include the addition of interactive exhibits with a space shuttle landing simulator & a lunar landing simulator. Open year round; special group rates. Tues. thru Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sundays & holidays, noon to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day & Mondays.

Contact Auglaize/Mercer CVB at 800.860.4726, www.Seemore.org

To the Southeast in Logan County, the trail leads to the historic town of Bellefontaine. The first stop will be The Orr Mansion & Logan County Historical Society & Museum. In 1906, lumber baron William J. Orr began to build his dream home in Bellefontaine. The Orr Mansion, now a part of the Logan County Museum, was completed in 1908 at a cost $40,000. Today, this beautiful historic mansion houses many exhibits from Ohio’s pioneer days including: American Indian & Early Pioneer exhibit (contains artifacts from the Paleo Indians c. 9500 B.C. through the 1830s), One-room Schoolhouse, General Store, Railroad History & Military memorabilia. Logan County also played a vital role in the Underground Railroad with over 100 stations in the county. Volunteers are available to guide your group through the museum. Reservations & Donations required.

Information, contact the Logan County Convention & Tourist Bureau, 888.564.2626, www.SeeLoganCounty.com

Not far from Bellefontaine are the Piatt Castles, two nineteenth-century homes built by the pioneering Piatt brothers. The Mac-A-Cheek Castle houses original collections of the Piatt family, and Mac-OChee Castle is known for its unique architecture. Imagine growing up in a limestone castle decorated with elaborate woodwork & intricately painted ceilings! Contributions were made by individuals from each family generation to the fields of art, literature, science & politics, & the Piatts’ lives illustrate major themes in American history. Knowledgeable guides will lead tours & there will be plenty of time to shop in the gift shop! Approx. 1 and 2 miles east of West Liberty on St. Rt. 245. Open daily April 1 - October 31. Christmas program runs Thanksgiving weekend - December 31. Spring & Autumn - 12 to 4 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day, 11a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults, $6.00, Seniors $5, Youth (13-21) $4, Child (5-12) $3 per castle. Guided tours require 45-50 minutes per home ; group rates available. Reservations required.

Contact the Logan County Convention & Tourist Bureau, 888.564.2626, www.SeeLoganCounty.com

To the southwest is Miami County, and a visit to Tipp City, or “Old Tippecanoe” as it was known during the days of the Miami-Erie Canal. Do you remember William Henry Harrison’s Presidential slogan “Tippecanoe & Tyler too?” In this historic town, remnants of the old canal on the east side of town are still visible, beside the Tipp Roller Mill. The Mill no longer functions but it still hops on a Saturday night with local entertainment! A guided walking tour is provided by the Tipp City Historical Society, sharing information about the 89 buildings listed on the National Register. Don’t forget to allow plenty of time to shop in Tipp’s specialty shops! These quaint old buildings have a lot of history, but today they’re part of the thriving downtown shopping district of Tipp City. Suggested donation for Historical Society Tour is $1 per person.

For more information, contact the Miami County VCB at 800.348.8993, or visit www.VisitMiamiCounty.org

Where exactly did the Miami-Erie Canal go? What were the canal boats like? How did an 1800s farm home operate? Which tribes of Native American Indians settled in Ohio first? What did their clothes and tools look like? Did they really live in teepees in Ohio? All of these questions will be answered at your next stop at the Piqua Historical Area, a 200-acre attraction which was the home of John Johnston, a farmer, public official & United States Indian Agent for western Ohio from 1812 to 1829. The tour visits Johnston's two-story mixed Dutch Colonial/Georgian style farmhouse, a unique twostory spring house & a cider house. Costumed docents provide guided tours of the farmhouse, the summer kitchen & fruit kiln areas.

Not far from Johnston's farm is a modern Woodland Indian & Canal Museum, which was constructed to resemble the blockhouse style of Fort Piqua, General Anthony Wayne's 18th century supply post. The museum traces the story of the Eastern Woodland Indians of Ohio & the Fort Pickawillany site. Artifacts from Ohio's canal era are also on exhibit. Be sure to take a ride aboard the General Harrison of Piqua, a replica 70 foot-long mixed cargo canal boat! These boats were often used for transportation of passengers & cargo in the 19th century. The ride is so serene & beautiful that you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time! Location: N. Hardin Rd., off Rt. 66 in Piqua. Groups by appointment only; group rates apply.

Information: contact the Miami County VCB at 800.348.8993, or visit www.VisitMiamiCounty.org

From Miami County, the tour heads west to Darke County, to visit the historic town of Greenville, the home of the world famous sharp shooting legend, Annie Oakley. Upon entering historic downtown Greenville, the statue of Annie sits at the end of South Broadway. Greenville has a festival every July called “Annie Oakley Days” which celebrates “Little Sure Shot!”

Do you know what the “Treaty of Greene Ville” was, and what famous people signed it? Details like this & so much more are at The Garst Museum, named after the family who donated the property to the Darke County Historical Society in 1946 to be used as a museum. The Historical Society continues to operate this large museum which features the largest known collection of memorabilia on Annie Oakley plus memorabilia & artifacts from the world famous radio broadcaster Lowell Thomas, along with historic artifacts relating to General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, The Treaty of Greene Ville, Tecumseh, Fort St. Clair, Ft. Jefferson, Fort Greene Ville, & an extensive collection of uniforms from each American war. Be sure to visit the gift shop for literature, memorabilia & souvenirs of this exciting visit! Allow 2 hours to tour. Open Tues thru Sat, 11a.m.-5 pm. & Sun 1- 5 pm., Mar thru Nov; Dec. & Feb. hours are 11 am. to 5 pm. on Fri & Sat, & 1 - 5 p.m. on Sunday. Museum closed the entire month of January. Restrooms are plentiful & motorcoach parking is available. Cost is $3 per person.

Contact: The Darke County Visitors Bureau ,800.504.2995, www.VisitDarkeCounty.org

Continuing the journey through Darke County’s frontier history, the Anthony Wayne Peace Council House in Greenville City Park, is just across from the Garst Museum. This building is an exact replica of the last known council house located near Lima, Ohio. A Native American guide will explain: why General “Mad” Anthony Wayne converted a log structure into a council house for the 13 Woodland Indian tribes; who signed the first Treaty of Greene Ville & why a second treaty had to be signed; plus description of the Woodland Indians lifestyle, including life & cultural differences between the Woodland tribes & the White Man in 1795. The “Flint & Steel Demonstration” is the coming together of these two cultures. Allow 1 hour for the presentation. Restrooms are plentiful & motorcoach parking is available. Fee: $5 per person.

Contact Darke County VB at 800.504.2995 for more information, www.VisitDarkeCounty.org

From Darke County, eastward into Shelby County, the tour visits The Fort Loramie Wilderness Trail Museum. Located in historic Fort Loramie, Ohio, the Wilderness Trail Museum stands along the banks of the Miami-Erie Canal. The red-brick two story museum was built in 1853 & was used for many years as a boardinghouse & hotel by travelers on the canal who were taking goods from Toledo & Cincinnati via canal boat. Today, the museum is the home of many artifacts & memorabilia from the area & is operated by the Fort Loramie Historical Association.

Contact the Sidney Visitors Bureau at 866.892.9122 (Shelby County), or
visit www.VisitSidneyShelby.com

The journey continues through Shelby County, stopping at the Ross Historical Center, owned & operated by the Shelby County Historical Society, in Sidney. The Center, just a couple of blocks south of the Miami-Erie Canal Feeder, was once home to William Haslup, local industrialist, who owned & operated the Sidney Steel Scraper Company. The local historical society’s home is Shelby County’s center for local history. It also hosts an impressive research center on local history, genealogy, photos & stories. Open year round, free to the public, donations requested for group tours: A tour guide is available upon request. Motor coach parking available. Advance reservations are required. Hours: Open to group tours by appointment. Regular business hours are Mon - Fri, 1- 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – noon.

Additional information can be obtained from the Sidney Visitors Bureau by calling 866.892.9122 (Shelby County), or visit www.VisitSidneyShelby.com

From Shelby County, traveling northwest into Mercer County, the trail will find the Fort Recovery State Museum in Ft. Recovery. In late 1791, Miami Indians defeated General Arthur St. Clair's forces at this site along the Wabash River. Nearly three-quarters of St. Clair's men were killed or wounded in the Indian attack. In late 1793, General Anthony Wayne sent a force to build a four-blockhouse post named Recovery at the site of St. Clair's defeat. It was completed in March of 1794 and on June 30 of that year General Wayne's army defeated a huge Indian force. This set the stage for Wayne's final triumph at Fallen Timbers in August of 1794.

Two reconstructed blockhouses, a connecting stockade & many exhibits depicting the Indian wars of the 1790s are housed in the museum, which includes mannequins dressed in the uniforms of the 18th Century American soldiers, period weapons & one of the largest collections of Indian artifacts in the state of Ohio. An 1840 log cabin & blacksmith shop are nearby. Location: In Ft. Recovery at the intersection of State Routes 119 & 49. Special group rates available. Open to group tours any time of year by appointment.

For more information, Contact the Auglaize/Mercer County CVB at 800.860.4726, www.Seemore.org

On a relaxing drive along one of Ohio’s Scenic Byways – The Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches is next on the agenda. Towering above the gently rolling farmland of Mercer County in West Central Ohio are seemingly endless spires topped with crosses proclaiming their place on earth & rising toward the heavens. Visitors stare in wonderment. Local residents accept them as the precious part of their everyday existence. For with locals, this is the way it has always been.

Now known as “The Land of the Cross Tipped Churches”, this grouping of churches, schools, rectories & convents in Mercer County was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in July of 1979. The grouping is symbolic of the cultural & historic uniqueness of the region. These buildings represent the German Catholic settlements of Auglaize & Mercer Counties, as well as portions of northern Darke & Shelby Counties. Today, most of these structures remain to remind us of the hard work & dedication of these early settlers as they built the Miami-Erie Canal & forged a new life on the area’s rich & productive farmland. A drive along this route includes stops at several focal points of the region: the former convent at Maria Stein which includes the National Marian
Shrine of the Holy Relics & the Heritage Museum, St. Augustine Church – the former Mother Church of the area at Minster & St. Charles Center – the magnificent & impressive former seminary at
Carthagena.

Contact the Auglaize/Mercer County CVB, 800.860.4726, www.Seemore.org

From Mercer County, the tour takes us to Van Wert County., and a stop at the Delphos Canal Museum and the Delphos Museum of Postal History. The Canal Museum is a folklore museum that features exhibits on canals (Miami-Erie Canal in particular) and canal boat history, as well as artifacts from life in Delphos, Ohio from 1851 on. It also includes a 1902 Sears Buggy Roadster, antique tools & manufacturing equipment along with many other displays depicting the history of business, industry, schools, churches, events, homes and more. Exhibits include the only preserved canal boat in Ohio.

The Postal Museum allows visitors to experience through sight and sound, the development of transportation from the days of horse drawn wagons to sorting mail on trains and buses. Learn about the evolution of letters, envelopes, manuscript postmarks, and special cancellation of rare stamps. Explore the role of the U.S. Postal Service in WWII. Most items are property of the US Postal Service. Many displays are on long term loan from the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, DC.

For information log on to www.VisitVanWert.org or 877.989.2282.

Historic Lincoln Highway
A twenty-six mile section of the first paved coast to coast highway in the United States travels through the heart of Van Wert County. This 3,000 mile “Main Street Across America,’ constructed in 1913, stretched from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California. There has been much renewed interest in traveling this historic roadway in recent years. A driving guide is available.

For more information log on to www.VisitVanWert.org or 877.989.2282.