Ohio reveals an unrecognized natural and cultural heritage worth exploring. Cuyahoga Valley National Park features the Brandywine Falls, plunging 20 meters, while Grand Serpent Mound reflects a fascinating prehistoric past with its 411-meter long earthwork dating back 900 years. Loveland Castle, built in 1929, evokes medieval European architecture, and Marblehead Lighthouse has guided ships on Lake Erie since 1822. The state's diverse geography offers discoveries for all interests. Hocking Gorges features the Old Man's Cave, Glen Helen Nature Preserve has 32 kilometers of trails through forests and springs, and Clifton Gorge reveals a 40-meter fault carved by the Little Miami River. The Wilds transforms an old mining site into a 4,000-hectare sanctuary for endangered species, while Headlands Beach extends 2.5 kilometers of sand along Lake Erie. SunWatch Indian Village allows visitors to explore a reconstructed Fort Ancient settlement from the 13th century on its original foundations.
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Brandywine Falls drops 20 meters within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A wooden boardwalk leads visitors to an observation platform where they can view the cascading water. The waterfall sits in a forested gorge accessible via several hiking trails.
Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Loveland Castle was constructed in 1929 by Harry Andrews using stone and features architectural elements inspired by 10th-century European castles. The structure incorporates local materials and handcrafted details throughout. The building now serves as a historical landmark and is known to visitors for its medieval-inspired design.
Adams County, Ohio, United States
This earthwork extends over 411 meters and represents a serpent. It was built by prehistoric cultures approximately 900 years ago and is considered the largest serpent effigy in the world. The sinuous form follows the natural contours of the land and terminates in an oval structure, likely depicting an open mouth or an egg.
Hocking County, Ohio, United States
This natural cave is located in a sandstone gorge. It takes its name from an 18th-century hermit who reportedly lived here.
Muskingum County, Ohio, United States
The Wilds is a 4000-hectare conservation facility built on a former mining site that provides sanctuary to more than 25 endangered species. The facility focuses on protecting threatened animals from various continents and offers guided safari tours through open landscapes where giraffes, rhinos, and other species live in natural habitats.
Greene County, Ohio, United States
The Glen Helen Nature Preserve covers 405 hectares and features 32 kilometers of trails through forests and mineral springs. This nature reserve in southwestern Ohio contains diverse ecosystems with native plant species and wildlife. The trails follow Yellow Springs Creek and wind through forested hills, providing opportunities for hiking and nature observation.
Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
Built in 1822, this lighthouse stands on the shores of Lake Erie and has been guiding vessels for over 200 years.
Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
This archaeological park presents a reconstructed 13th-century Fort Ancient culture village with original excavation sites. The site includes rebuilt dwellings, gardens, and a gathering plaza that document the daily life of the prehistoric inhabitants.
Lake County, Ohio, United States
Headlands Beach State Park features a 2.5-kilometer natural sand beach along Lake Erie. The park provides hiking trails through coastal habitats and access to the water for swimming during summer months. The natural shoreline attracts migratory birds and serves as a stopover point along their flight paths.
Greene County, Ohio, United States
The Little Miami River has carved a 40-meter-deep gorge into the limestone bedrock. Trails wind through forested areas and along the gorge rim. This natural preserve protects rare plant species and geological formations.
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame displays instruments, costumes and personal belongings of musicians. The collection documents the development of rock music from its origins to the present day and includes exhibits from artists across different generations and styles.
Summit County, Ohio, United States
Stan Hywet Hall is a historic estate from 1915 that contains 65 rooms and is surrounded by 28 hectares of gardens with fountains and flower beds. The mansion was built for the Seiberling family and displays Tudor Revival architectural elements. The property now serves as a museum and can be visited through guided tours.
Franklin County, Ohio, United States
The conservatory houses a collection of tropical and native plants, a Victorian palm house, and several spaces for rotating exhibitions. The facility spans various themed gardens and provides visitors with insight into botanical diversity from different climate zones.
Vinton County, Ohio, United States
Zaleski State Forest covers 11,500 hectares of forested land in southern Ohio, offering numerous hiking trails through rolling hills, designated camping areas, and hunting grounds. The area features oak and hickory forests and is located in the Appalachian foothills region.
Richland County, Ohio, United States
Malabar Farm State Park is a working farm featuring an early 20th-century historic mansion, several authentic barns, cultivated gardens, and an educational center dedicated to sustainable agriculture. The park offers visitors insights into traditional farming methods and rural life in Ohio.
Sandusky County, Ohio, United States
This library and these museums preserve the collection of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States. The facility presents personal items, official documents and the original furnishings from his Spiegel Grove residence, a 31-room mansion. The exhibitions document his political career, his term from 1877 to 1881, and his life after the presidency in Ohio.
Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
This military cemetery contains 206 graves of Confederate officers who died at the prisoner camp during the Civil War.
Butler County, Ohio, United States
Pyramid Hill encompasses a 120-hectare site featuring international outdoor sculptures, contemporary artworks, and a museum dedicated to ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquities. The park combines nature trails with over 80 monumental sculptures and offers educational programs on art history and archaeology.
Hocking County, Ohio, United States
This Black Hand sandstone formation rises to 45 meters and offers trails through gorges with rock walls.
Franklin County, Ohio, United States
The Topiary Park recreates Georges Seurat's painting 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte' through sculpted boxwood shrubs. The park features 54 human figures, eight boats, three dogs, one monkey, and one cat, all shaped from living plants. Located in downtown Columbus, this garden transforms Seurat's pointillist masterpiece into a three-dimensional landscape using carefully trimmed vegetation.
Lorain County, Ohio, United States
The Allen Memorial Art Museum houses a collection of European and American paintings spanning several centuries. The museum organizes temporary exhibitions throughout the year, complementing its permanent collection. Located on the Oberlin College campus, the galleries provide access to works from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern periods.
Vinton County, Ohio, United States
The Moonville Tunnel was constructed in 1856 as a railroad passage through the forested hills of Vinton County. This brick structure stands near the former mining town of Moonville, which was abandoned after the decline of the coal industry. The tunnel extends approximately 100 feet through a hillside and was part of the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad until 1986.
Erie County, Ohio, United States
Inscription Rock displays Native American carvings dating from 1200 to 1600 CE. The engravings on this limestone formation depict birds, animals, and human figures, documenting the artistic expressions of the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Lake Erie region.
Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
This museum displays commercial signs and advertising from 1870 to 1970. The collection includes neon signs, hand-painted advertisements and electric displays that document the evolution of commercial signage in the United States.
Ross County, Ohio, United States
Seip Earthworks is an archaeological site featuring geometric earthen walls built by the Hopewell culture, covering 49 hectares. The structures, constructed between 100 BCE and 500 CE, include a large rectangular earthwork and a circular enclosure. The site served ceremonial and astronomical purposes for the prehistoric Hopewell community.
Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
The Ashtabula County Covered Bridges form the largest collection of historic covered bridges in Ohio, with 19 preserved wooden structures. These constructions date from the 19th and early 20th centuries and served to protect the wooden frameworks from weather exposure.
Medina County, Ohio, United States
Worden Ledges is located within Hinckley Reservation and features natural sandstone formations dating from the Mississippian age. Noble Stuart carved relief sculptures into these rocks during the 1940s, depicting faces and figures. The geological formations resulted from erosion and provide hiking trails through hemlock and beech forests. The area serves as habitat for various woodland bird species and offers visitors the opportunity to experience geology and folk art within a natural setting.
Summit County, Ohio, United States
Blue Hen Falls is located within Cuyahoga Valley National Park and features a 4.5-meter waterfall. The water cascades over sandstone formations into a stream bed. A narrow hiking trail leads from the Boston Mills Road parking area to the falls through forested terrain. Access is via a short trail of approximately 3 kilometers.
Franklin County, Ohio, United States
The park covers 5 hectares and contains more than 12,000 rose plants representing different varieties. The Columbus Park of Roses was established in 1953 and features themed gardens including an herb garden and a perennial garden. The site serves as a testing ground for All-America Rose Selections and displays both heritage and modern rose cultivars. Visitors can observe the blooms from June through October when the roses reach their peak flowering period.
Summit County, Ohio, United States
Helltown is an abandoned settlement in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, resulting from a government relocation project in the 1970s. The government acquired properties and homes to transform the area into a national park. Some buildings remained standing and deteriorated over the years, giving rise to numerous urban legends. Today, most structures have been removed, but the site continues to attract visitors interested in the history of the park's establishment.
Lake County, Ohio, USA
A building from 1847 that served as a school, orphanage, and home for Civil War veterans.
Erie County, Ohio, United States
This cave was discovered in 1897 during the expansion of a vineyard and contains formations of mineralized celestine measuring 3 meters in diameter.
Belmont County, Ohio, United States
Dysart Woods covers 20 hectares and contains trees over 300 years old. This forested area represents the original state of Ohio's forests before European settlement and allows visitors to observe the region's natural vegetation.
Ashland County, Ohio, United States
This 24-meter observation tower from 1934 provides a 360-degree view over the 4,500-hectare state park. The structure serves as a landmark for visitors exploring the forested hills and valleys of the Mohican region.
Darke County, Ohio, United States
The Bear's Mill is a working water-powered gristmill that has been producing flour for over 170 years using its original millstones. The mill offers regular tours where visitors can observe the traditional milling process and learn about the history of this historic site.
Mahoning County, Ohio, United States
Lanterman Mill was built in 1845 and continues to produce cornmeal and wheat flour using water wheels and original millstones. The operational structure demonstrates traditional 19th-century milling techniques and allows visitors to observe the complete flour production process.