7 West Monroe Street, New Bremen
419-629-9249
Summer Hours: Monday–Friday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Winter Hours: Monday– Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday: 11am to 2 p.m.
www.bicyclemuseum.com

This museum, dedicated to the history of cycling, opened in 1997 in downtown New Bremen. Featuring over 300 bicycles on display, the collection includes over 150 Schwinn Bicycles from the former Chicago Museum as well as  high wheelers, unusual children’s theme bikes and racing bicycles.

West Sugar Street, Cridersville
419-645-5955
Open the first and third Sundays of each month.

The 1890 church contains exhibits that depict the history of the town and the surrounding area. The 1836 log house is the original home of Daniel Bowsher, one of the area’s earliest pioneers.

State route 198 (7 1/2 miles NW of Wapakoneta)
Open May thru October: Dawn to Dusk

Erected in 1812 under orders from General William Henry Harrison, Fort Amanda was a base of supplies for Harrison's army during the War of 1812. The remains of 75 soldiers, each simply marked "Unknown Soldier, War of 1812" lie beside the Auglaize River. A gray, granite shaft monument was erected in 1915 marking the site of the first shipyard, first religious meeting house, first post office, first national cemetery and first white child born to settlers.

State Routes 119 and 49, Ft. Recovery
419-375-4649
Admission charged.
June through August: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
May and September: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekends only.
Group tours by appointment at any time of year.
http://www.fortrecovery.org/

Two reconstructed blockhouses, a connecting stockade and many exhibits depicting the Indian wars of the 1790's are housed in the museum. The museum gallery also displays one of the largest collections of Indian artifacts in the state of Ohio.

Ft. Recovery is the site of two of the most dramatic Indian battles in American history. The first was the devastating defeat of General Arthur St. Clair in 1791 and the second, the successful defense of the fort by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne in 1794. An 1840 log cabin and blacksmith shop are also on the museum grounds.

State Routes 119 and 49, Ft. Recovery

President William Howard Taft signed a bill in 1908 to authorize a monument in honor of those soldiers who died serving under St. Clair and Anthony Wayne. Congress approved the bill in 1910 and work was begun in 1912. The dedication was July 1, 1913. The base of the 101-foot monument holds the bones of the fallen soldiers who died in the battle at Ft. Recovery. The nine-foot tall statue at its base depicts a frontiersman facing west to the beautiful unsettled land into which he triumphed.

2291 St. Johns Road, Maria Stein
419-925-4532
www.mariasteincenter.org

Located on the second floor of the former convent building, this museum interprets the German settlements of southern Auglaize and Mercer Counties and the history of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. Admission charged. May – October: Tuesday–Sunday: noon to 4:00 p.m. Closed Mondays and Holidays.

130 East Market Street, Celina, OH 45822
Call 419-678-2614 for an appointment
Free Admission

This museum chronicles the past 200 years of Mercer County area life. Also known as the Riley House, the museum contains genealogical materials and many books of local history. The museum offers annual exhibitions including Indian Artifacts, antique transportation and antique guns.

223 South Main Street, St. Marys
419-394-5243
Open the first and third Sundays of each month. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This  stately home turned  historical museum once belonged to Daniel Mooney, a former ambassador to Paraguay. Early Auglaize history is represented here with many artifacts and photos.

122 North Main Street, New Bremen
419-629-8902
Open Sundays June thru August from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Luellen House, named after the family which lived in it for more than 70 years, maintains this canal village’s vibrant history. The house is one of the first non-log structures in the original plat of 1833 in New Bremen.

107 East German Street, New Knoxville
419-753-2721

Open the final Sunday of the month, May through October, 1 to 5 pm.
Five building in this compound, including a former doctors office and summer kitchen,  serve to preserve the rich history of the New Knoxville area.

206 West Main St,Wapakoneta
419-738-9238
www.auglaizecountyhistory.org
Open the 1st and 3rd Sundays of Each Month,
March through November, 1 to 4 pm 

Housed in the former First Presbyterian Church. Constructed in 1861-1862, the building is architecturally significant as the only example of the distyle in antis mode of Greek Revival architecture in an eight-county area of west-central Ohio and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.  Today the building houses artifacts from Wapakoneta and Auglaize County.

319 Patrick Avenue
Urbana, Ohio
937-652-4327

Several historic figures have been laid to rest in this park-like cemetery that opened in 1856. They include legendary frontiersman Simon Kenton; John Quincy Adams Ward, known as the Dean of American Sculpture; and Joseph Vance, 13th governor of Ohio. A replica of Ward’s famed “The Indian Hunter” statue, the original of which stands in New York City’s Central Park, marks his grave. The monument for Kenton’s grave also was designed by Ward.

Located in historic Bailey Hall of Urbana University, this museum separates fact from fiction about a legendary American: John Chapman—better known as Johnny Appleseed. The largest known collection of Johnny Appleseed documents and memorabilia, the museum features a cider press (circa 1850) used by Urbana University founder John James to process apples from trees planted in Champaign County by Johnny Appleseed,  wood and bark from trees planted by Johnny in Ohio and Indiana and numerous publications about his life and legend. Trees started as seedlings from the last-known surviving apple tree planted by Johnny Appleseed grow outside the museum.

For more information, call 937-484-1303 and visit www.urbana.edu/index.php/alumni_and_friends/appleseed_society/museum/
The university is located at 579 College Way, Urbana.

Greenville City Park
Memorial Dr., Greenville, OH 45331

This monument commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Greene Ville in 1795. This treaty opened the Northwest Territory to settlement. For more information on the Treaty, the Native Americans and General Anthony Wayne, please visit the Garst Museum.

www.GarstMuseum.org

Located at the intersection of Martin, Broadway and Washington Streets in Downtown Greenville, this park features a life-size bronze statue of Annie Oakley, an Ohio Historical Marker dedicated to her life and an information board to direct visitors to other interesting sites and attractions in Darke County. (To see the largest known collection of Annie Oakley memorabilia, visit the Garst Museum.)

Wilson Dr., Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-0165
www.DarkeCountyParks.org

Take a step back in time and explore the meaning behind Greenville being the Treaty City. The recreated Native American Peace Council House, located at Prairie Ridge meadow across from the Garst Museum, is a modern day reconstruction of the Council House built by General Anthony Wayne during the Treaty of Greene Ville talks in 1795. Its construction was made possible through the efforts of the Treaty of Greene Ville Bicentennial Committee and is staffed by committee volunteers who share the significant stories of this region’s settlement. Open by special reservation and on scheduled weekends from spring through fall. Information and tours for the Council House can be obtained through the Darke County Park District at (937) 548-0165.

6450 Arcanum-Bear's Mill Road, Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5112
www.bearsmill.com

Built in 1849 by Gabriel Baer, Bear's Mill is one of the few operating water-powered mills in Ohio today. The site of the present mill, as well as the water rights were granted to Major George Adams through a Presidential Deed by President James Monroe in 1824. Not only is the Mill significant but the land and water around it is important, too. Huge trees line the banks of the Greenville Creek and the mill race including red, white, and burr oak, black walnut, ash, willows, cedar, birch, cherry, tulip poplar, and white-barked sycamore. The forest floor is carpeted with wildflowers in the spring and summer. Wild plants, wild grapes, ginger, and raspberries are all around. The flowing waters attract all types of animals including the white-tailed deer, fox, beavers, squirrels, reptiles, fish, birds including the Great Blue Heron, King Fisher, chickadees, owls, woodpeckers, cardinals, robins, blue jays, and sparrows.

Because of the abundance of wildlife and the uniqueness of its ecosystem, the Mill property is considered a wildlife sanctuary. The Mill itself has a backdrop of mowed lawns and tree covered knolls bordering both sides of Greenville Creek, which meanders freely through the property.

The water from the creek still provides power that turns the underwater turbines which power all of the milling machinery. A large and small dam creates a two mile lake area from which water is channeled to the mill race. A pair of water gates enables the stream water to be diverted into the race to impel the turbines. A second outlet gate (located under the mill) enables the race to be drained when it is necessary to perform maintenance work on the turbines.

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, Bear's Mill is still in use today to grind cornmeal, whole wheat flour, rye flour, and pancake mixes. The mill and the buhr stones are powered by water.

Visitors are encouraged to tour the mill and the area surrounding it, as well as the distinctive gift shop. The Friends of Bear's Mill offer a line of gift boxes and custom baskets, as well as mill flours and other gourmet sundries and giftware. A special feature at the mill is the handmade pottery by the Bear's Mill potters.

937-548-5250
www.GarstMuseum.org

Anthony Wayne constructed the second official settlement in Darke County, Greene Ville, in 1793 along Greenville Creek. This military headquarters was the largest log fortified structure ever built, encompassing 55+ acres of land enclosed by wooden stockades and blockhouses. The fort stood for six years and was partially rebuilt during the War of 1812. There are three markers within the area that the fort encompassed to view. One is an historic marker located on the public square; another is The Treaty Stone also located on the public square in downtown Greenville to denote the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 and the third is a monument located on the corner of West Main and Elm which denotes the located where the Treaty was signed. Recently, local archeologist Tony DeRegnaucourt, uncovered many artifacts from Wayne and his troops from two sites in modern Greenville.

St. Rt. 121 S., Greenville, OH 45331
(937) 548-0165
www.DarkeCountyParks.org

Fort Jefferson park and monument marks the site of an advance outpost of General Arthur St. Clair, built in October 1791. It was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State. One of a chain of defensive forts built to protect army supplies from Native Americans, it served as a supply base throughout the campaigns of General St. Clair and General Anthony Wayne. It was abandoned in 1796.

The monument is made of faced granite field boulders, six feet square and twenty-feet tall. The area is maintained as a roadside park with a picnic shelter and grills. No part of the fort remains.

205 N. Broadway, Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-5250
www.garstmuseum.org

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Museum is closed on Monday,s major holidays and the month of January.

Admission to the museum: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for school-age children (6 to 18) and free for children 5 and under.

520 Sycamore St., Greenville, OH 45331
937-548-3915
www.greenville-publiclibrary.org

This structure was built in 1901 with the assistance of Andrew Carnegie and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This library features an extensive genealogy room with microfilm of Darke County's newspapers from over 100 years ago, as well as many books of historical significance.

Located on East Third Street at the corner of Locust Street, this gray shingle house is the birthplace of Lansdowne, who was the commander of the U.S.S. Shenandoah which crashed September 3, 1925 in Noble County, Ohio, killing Lansdowne and 13 of his crew. This private residence is on the National Register of Historic Sites. More information about Lansdowne can be found at the Garst Museum.

Logan County

521 East Columbus, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 Phone: 937-593-7557 
Open May through October: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
Open November - April: Friday & Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
Groups by appointment.
e-mail: lchsmuse@logan.net

In 1908, a local lumber baron built his dream home, now converted into the county's beloved museum. The house's neoclassical exterior features 2 story columns, a third floor porch and oak woodwork throughout the interior of the home. Ohio's rich heritage is preserved by volunteers and citizens of Logan County though diverse collections of local railroad items, A. J. Miller exhibit, and military artifacts. Don't miss the one room school, antique toy collection, and general store. The museum's archives contain genealogical and local information. www.logancountymuseum.org

Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, 2280 SR 540 E, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
Phone: 888-564-2626
www.logancountyohio.com

Located two miles east of Bellefontaine, is the highest point in Ohio at 1,549 feet above sea level.  Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, a join-vocational school, is currently at this site.  The 664th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron were stationed on Campbell Hill in the 1950’s.  The 664th A.C. & W. monitored the skies with a radar system set up on the peak of Ohio.

McKinley Street, which is located just west of downtown Bellefontaine, is considered the shortest street in America at Ohio 17 feet long.

The first concrete street in America was built in Bellefontaine in 1891.  George Bartholomew of the Portland Cement Company in Marl City, 8 miles northeast of Bellefontaine, experimented with a new process of making concrete.  This process produced a concrete that withstood the wear and tear of horses and carriages, and remained fairly inexpensive to make.  In 1891 the city of Bellefontaine permitted Bartholomew to pave a small section of a street around the courthouse.  Within two years Bartholomew’s concrete was used to pave all the streets surrounding the Court Square.

127 E. Columbus Ave, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 Phone: 937-592-9002  www.thehollandtheatre.org

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Miami County

9845 North Hardin Road
Piqua, OH 45356
1-800-752-2619
www.JohnstonFarmOhio.com

Born in Ireland in 1775, Colonel John Johnston immigrated with his family to America in 1786.  Stand on his land and see how it was in the early 1800’s when he lived there with a large family as a working farmer, a Federal Indian Agent, and as a community leader who facilitated the building of the Miami-Erie canal.

If you step into the parlor it seems as if the family has just walked out for a moment.   Perhaps they are in the springhouse, or the barn-which is the oldest log barn in Ohio.
While you are here, learn about the Woodland Indians who made their home in the area we now call Ohio, ride the mule-drawn replica of an 1840’s canal boat with the costumed crew on a restored mile-long segment of the Miami-Erie Canal, and see John Johnston’s shillelagh in the kitchen.

The Johnston Farm and Indian Agency  offers a unique opportunity to partake of several cultures in one setting with costumed interpreters, and craft demonstrators combining for a realistic visit to the first half of the 19th century.

Open:  
April, May, September & October; open hours are Mon-Fri 9am-2pm
June, July & August; open hours are Thurs & Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun, noon-5pm
Closed November through March

Admission:  Adults-$8.00
                    Children 6-12-$4.00
                    School groups - $3 per student
                     5 and under-Free

201 East Water Street
Troy, OH 45373
937-335-4019
www.OverfieldTavernMuseum.com

This unique two story hand-hewn log structure, built in 1808 by Benjamin Overfield, is one of the earliest in the county and it has a colorful history.  Originally an inn, the Overfield Tavern has also housed a frontier tavern, a courthouse, a jail, a school, a church-and now it houses exhibits of early Miami County pioneer life. Frequent living history programs and craft demonstrations are part of the historical experience.

Open:   April 1st to October 31st
             Saturday and Sunday 1-5
             Or call for appointment at 937-335-4019
Admission:   $2.00 Donation

201 North Main Street
Sidney, Ohio 45365
Ph: 937-498-1653
www.ShelbyCountyHistory.org

Why would Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Readers Digest and the Saturday Evening Post all feature stories about Sidney and its unique character during a ten-year period beginning in 1937?  Why was Sidney chosen an All-American City in 1964?  The answers to these questions and more can be found at the Ross Historical Center.  The Ross Center is home to the Shelby County Historical Society and serves as a repository for local history, information, and artifacts.  An intranet research system and on site resource center is open to the public and allow the just curious or serious researcher access to thousands of pages of local information.  A unique variety of exhibits change seasonally at the center so guests are encouraged to visit often. 

Open Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Closed Sundays and holidays

The Van Wert Historical Society was organized in 1953. Local attorney and teacher, William Fosnaught, donated a building, which was erected circa 1896 by the John Clark family, to the Society. This original property has been maintained as a Victorian home and features many displays. The 1986 Annex building depicts other phases of early Van Wert history. This building features a historical walking tour of early Van Wert with Native American artifacts, a display of items from war times and pictures of old Van Wert, among many other attractions. Additional exhibits are on display in a 1951 Pennsylvania Railroad caboose, a 1906 one-room school, an 1860 log house, an 1875 gazebo which originally stood in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse, and the newest addition – a big, red barn which is used to house agricultural related items.

More information about the Van Wert County Historical Museum can be found on their website at www.vanwert.com/museum or by contacting the Van Wert Area CVB at 419.238.9378 or 877.989.2282

In 1876 Central Insurance Company was founded in Van Wert as a fire insurance company. The threat of disastrous fire was always very real in rural communities and the equipment used to fight fires was primitive. The president of Central Insurance Company. from 1964 to 1994, F. W. Purmort, Jr., took an interest in collecting fire equipment. He was particularly proud of Central’s heritage and gradually built Central’s Fire Museum into one of the finest privately held collections in the United States. There is a large collection of antique fire toys, a wardrobe of antique fireman helmets and uniforms, a collection of leather buckets dating back to the 1700s, a rare and valuable collections of “firemarks” dating back to 1720,  Van Wert's first hand-drawn pumper used in 1871, an Ahrens horse-drawn steam pumper which was purchased new in 1907 by the City of Van Wert and restored by Central and a 1926 Ahrens-Fox pumper, the Rolls Royce of firetrucks. 

More information about the museum may be found at
http://www.central-insurance.com/docs/fire-museum.htm

This folklore museum features exhibits on canals (and the Miami-Erie Canal in particular) and canal boat history, as well as artifacts from life in Delphos, Ohio from 1851 on. The museum also includes a 1902 Sears Buggy Roadster, antique tools and 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 museum is located at 241 N. Main Street in Delphos, Ohio. 
Visit their website at www.delphoscanalcommission.com for more information

The Brumback Library was built with funds bequeathed to Van Wert County residents by John Sanford Brumback, a former resident of Van Wert. Mr. Brumback’s will dictated that enough funds from his estate be devoted to the building and furnishing of a library as a gift to Van Wert County if the county would provide books and maintenance. The Brumback Library stands as the first county library formed in the United States.The cornerstone of the building was laid in 1899 with dedication on January 1, 1901. In 1991, a 10,500 square foot addition was added along with a complete renovation of the existing structure. The architecture is a combination of Gothic and Romanesque. With turreted towers and a Ludowici tile roof, the library is nestled amid the trees of the park where it is located. It contains an excellent Children's Department that provides meaningful reading related activities for the youth of the area. 

More information about the Brumback Library and its services may be viewed on their website at www.brumbacklib.com

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. Would you believe there are rules for mailing students' dirty laundry or regulations for the care of cats to keep mice out of the post office? Most items are property of the US Postal Service. Many displays are on long term loan from the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, DC.  The Postal Museum is located at 339 N. Main Street in Delphos, Ohio.  For more information about the Delphos Postal Museum see their website www.postalhistorymuseum.org

Built in 1876, the Van Wert County Court House celebrated its 130th birthday in 2006. The structure remains today much as it was when built at a cost of $110,174. The pressed brick used to construct the Court House was made locally at a mill which had been located about where the Van Wert County Fairgrounds is today. The building contains a clock whose bell weighs 2,000 pounds and whose clapper weighs 430 pounds. The Court House is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. 

For more information about the courthouse contact the Van Wert Area CVB at 419.238.9378 or 877.989.2282

The Marsh Foundation was a gift from early Van Wert industrialist, George H. Marsh, who in his last will and testament said, “I depart this life in the hope that the Foundation shall become an instrument of enduring and ever increasing benefit to mankind.”  According to legend, George and Hilinda were traveling through Van Wert on a frosty winter night on their way home from the theater in Fort Wayne, Ind. when they noticed two small boys huddled together in a dark deserted doorway. Their mother was working evening hours. Moved with compassion, Hilinda said, “There George, we could use our money when we need it no longer, to establish a home for little fellows such as those.”  The Marsh endowment, contributed more than 80 years ago, has provided resources for building a stately campus, assembling dedicated professionals, underwriting a successful orphanage for many decades and now for expanding services to meet the changing needs of children and families.  The home of the Marsh family, containing original furnishings from the late 19th century, is open for tours as is the campus itself.

For more information about the Marsh Foundation  visit their web site at www.marshfoundation.org

The Hotel Marsh, built I n1915, served as a control station during the building of the historic Lincoln Highway.  A traveler was able to stop here, get a cool drink and check the map before moving on down the highway.  There were fifty guest rooms, each with elegant furnishings, electric call bell, gas and electric lights, hot and cold water, with bath and toilet rooms on each floor.  Hotel Marsh was noted for its irreproachable culinary and varied menus and was recognized as one of the most inviting hostelries in the state.  Today, the hotel no longer rents rooms, but its main level is used for small gatherings and meetings.  It is full of character and charm. 

For more information on the Hotel Marsh contact the Van Wert Area CVB at 419.238.9378 or 877.989.2282

Visit the Van Wert County Fairgrounds the July 4th weekend, where you can take a brief walk back in time and take a look at the history of farming. Events include a tractor parade, tractor pull, auto racing and demonstrations all using antique equipment.

There are also craft displays, a flea market, and a trading post. Visit their web site at www.vanwert.com/offa/ for more details.