Campus Martius Museum

Campus Martius Museum is a local museum in Marietta that incorporates the original Rufus Putnam House into its building structure. Inside, the museum is organized across multiple floors displaying historical items and information from the region.

The museum was founded in 1928 on the site where the first organized settlement in the Northwest Territory was established in 1788 by the Ohio Company. The location served as a military fortification before becoming a civilian settlement.

The museum displays artifacts and information about the Adena and Hopewell peoples who lived in this region long before European settlement. You can see how these early societies lived and what remains of their presence today.

The museum is open at different times throughout the week, with extended hours on weekends to accommodate various visitor schedules. Plan to spend a couple of hours to fully explore the different levels and exhibits at your own pace.

The museum preserves a remaining section of the original Campus Martius stockade fence that once surrounded the fortification. This artifact shows how the early settlers reinforced and protected their settlement.