Heard about this while in town for the Viking Festival, came back during their limited hours (call…read moreahead) to check it out. And it is worth a detour. Says "Ohio's Small Town Museum" but it is mainly about Ashville and the nearby towns, just barely extending to Circleville and Columbus. In the entry (I think the building is an old theater) are exhibits that might come from Ripley's Believe it or Not: odd creatures, bizarre stories from the area, weird artifacts. Loads of fun; the placards are small, but the docent handed me a book with pages marked for each item. Handy and easy way to learn more about the displays. Overhead you will see the world's oldest traffic light- still signalling directions! Farther back are pretty much the usual local museum displays, on natural history, prominent people, sports, indigenous people, assorted collections, and more. All of it well arranged and cared for. The place isn't huge but you could spend an hour, if you look at all the interesting things tucked away here and there. This is an amazing place, better than most small historical societies, and I'll stop back next time I'm in town.

Nice little stop off. You can get out and walk around and see the train and related railroad stuff…read more There was a historical building you could visit, it was closed when we went.

Founded in 1975, the Canal Winchester Historical Society is dedicated to maintaining and renovating…read morehistorical items and collecting genealogical information. It's actually been incorporated in to the official Canal Winchester school curriculum. There are some really really neat programs, about one a month, as well as meetings every first Tuesday of each month at 7:30. There is some really cool info at this place. I enjoyed it when I stopped by. Membership is about 10 dollars.

Impressive park that preserves "the Great Circle" which received a UNESCO World Heritage site…read moredesignation in 2023. I came here for a quick stop while driving to Columbus, OH in mid-June 2025 for a conference. Lot of pluses in visiting this park. First, it's an important ceremonial site built between 100BC and 400AD by the Hopewell Indians with a link to astronomical patterns. It was later used as a county fairground (which allowed it to be preserved). Second, parking is free and plentiful. Third, you can walk freely around the outdoor complex and read some of the signs and displays (the scale of the Great Circle is massive). Be sure to stay off the mounds. The only downside was that the museum was closed on a Monday. I did not see a restroom facility available when the museum was closed.

There is a nice welcome center that gives you a better understanding of the Earthworks and the…read morearea. We were fortunate to talk with Chris who was on staff there the day we went and he gave us a fantastic overview of the Earthworks in the area. There are signs throughout the area there that have information if the welcome center is closed.

Some sort of traffic issue on the interstate and Google Maps sent me on a side road to avoid it. As…read moreI was passing near here, a sign pointed the way and I detoured even further. I'm so glad I did as this was a real treasure. The Central Ohio Military Museum has a tremendous collection of military memorabilia, uniforms, gear, weapons, medals, even the door from a naval ship. And it's all in such a small facility where it is densely packed with information, captions, written descriptions and more. This free museum - donations encouraged - is a wonderful resource and it's a shame to think that I might have missed it if not for being detoured off the interstate to Harrisburg. [Review 20467 overall - 199 in Ohio - 1447 of 2023.]

The curator is very knowledgeable about the area's veterans; military equipment and uniforms. Be…read moresure to check their website for special events that occur monthly. There is a small donation expected.

Since 1977, Columbus Landmarks Foundation has been rallying to preserve and protect Columbus's…read morearchitectural history, of which I am a huge advocate. It is a non-profit organization, so their funding comes by way of membership, tours and special events. The CLF offers some wonderful guided tours of various aspects of the city. The walking tours are fair-priced, ranging from $7 to $15 and focus on unique little corners of the city, such as "Iuka Ravine Historic District - Urban Nature at its Grandest," "Clintonville - A Tapestry of Amazing Streets" and "The Original Haunted Columbus Walking Tour." If you are new to Columbus, this is a nice way to learn about your new neighborhood. Check their website for a list of upcoming tours. They tend to offer one or two per week, particularly in the warmer months.

In a Halloween-y mood last fall, I signed up for Columbus Landmarks Foundation's Gables, Gargoyles…read moreand Ghosts bus tour. After two hours of cruising Columbus hearing about history, hauntings, and landmarks, I was hooked! I signed up for another tour the very next weekend. The Landmarks Foundation has a noble goal (historic preservation and rehabilitation), which it accomplishes through advocacy, events, and education. I am from Columbus, and had no idea of the rich history of our city until I started attending CLF's events. I highly recommend checking out one of their tours to find out more about Columbus neighborhoods and history.

Home of the Licking County Historical Society, this well preserved historic home has their offices,…read moreplus artifacts from various eras. Downstairs there's a large event space, with a kitchen, for meetings, weddings, and more. Staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. Open quite a bit for a museum, though call ahead to check. Well worth a visit for anyone interested in local history, and history in general.

This well preserved marker is not part of the State of Ohio's program. Instead, it is part of the…read morelocal Clintonville Historical Society. Located along busy High Street and across from a chicken restaurant, it remembers one of the oldest residents of the area. Certainly someone I would like to have met. The marker reads: "The Treaty of Greenville temporarily ended the Indian Wars and opened the West to white settlers. Kihue (aka Bill Moose), a Native American and member of the Wyandotte tribe, was born in Ohio in 1837. By 1846, all but twelve Wyadotte families and removed to Kansas. Bill and his family remained in Ohio. They kept the native traditions, traveling throughout the state, using the rivers as guides. In 1878 Bill Moose joined the Sells Brothers Circus. he traveled the world playing the role of Indian in Bill Cody's Wild West Show. In 1915 he returned to Central Ohio. He made his home in a cave in the Overbrook (Adena) Ravine. When this cave home collapsed, neighbors built him a cabin at the corner of Indianola and Morse Roads. Bill lived in that cabin for many years. He entertained the children of the area with his life stories. Ultimately he moved to the Franklin County Home for the Aged. Kihue died on July 12, 1937, a few months shy of his 100th birthday. Tens of thousands were said to have attended his funeral. His final resting place is along the Scioto River. A stone tepee marks the site. Bill Moose is known as the Last Wyandotte of Ohio." [Review 11278 overall, 1055 of 2019.]

Cool regional museum dedicated to the History of Circleville OH. Very nice and knowledgeable…read moredocents (tour guides) with strong links to the community and its history. I stopped by while biking in the area and was warmly received If you're in the area and into history I recommend checking them out. Hours are on their website