Oberlin Heritage Center

The Oberlin Heritage Center is a building complex with three structures in Oberlin, Ohio, preserving and displaying the area's history. Monroe House (1866), Jewett House (1884), and Little Red Schoolhouse (1836) can be visited through guided tours.

The collection grew from houses built across different periods, with Monroe House originally owned by General Giles W. Shurtleff, who commanded Ohio's first African-American regiment during the Civil War. These buildings document Oberlin as an early center for abolitionist causes and social reform movements in the 1800s.

The center tells stories of the Underground Railroad network, women's rights activism, and the African-American community that shaped Oberlin. Visitors encounter the experiences and choices of people who lived and worked here.

Guided tours are available three days per week, with special group appointments possible on other days. Checking current hours ahead of your visit helps you plan your time and secure your preferred tour slot.

The Jewett House contains a recreated laboratory where Charles Martin Hall developed the commercial aluminum manufacturing process in 1886. This scientific breakthrough happened in Oberlin and later transformed industry worldwide.