Heritage Ohio

Heritage Ohio Heritage Ohio | We empower people to save the places that matter; build community; live better.

Join our efforts by becoming a member at: www.heritageohio.org/support-us/ Thank you! As Ohio’s official historic preservation and Main Street organization,
Heritage Ohio fosters economic development and sustainability through
preservation of historic buildings, revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood
commercial districts, and promotion of cultural tourism.

Rising above Canton with its unmistakable dome and 108 steps, the McKinley National Memorial is both a nationally signif...
09/06/2026

Rising above Canton with its unmistakable dome and 108 steps, the McKinley National Memorial is both a nationally significant historic landmark and one of Stark County’s most recognizable places. Dedicated in 1907, the National Historic Landmark is the final resting place of William McKinley, 25th President of the United States, First Lady Ida McKinley, and their two young daughters, Katie and Ida.

Although born in Niles, McKinley made Canton his home after serving in the Civil War and studying law. Here he served as Stark County Prosecutor before becoming a Congressman, Governor of Ohio, and eventually President.

Following McKinley’s assassination in 1901, friends and advisors formed the McKinley National Memorial Association to create a fitting tribute. Architect Henry Van Buren Magonigle’s design was selected through a national competition in 1905, with symbolism incorporated throughout the structure. President Theodore Roosevelt presided over the dedication on September 30, 1907.

What makes the McKinley National Memorial especially remarkable, however, is how deeply it remains woven into community life. For more than a century, generations have gathered on its steps for photographs, concerts, civic events, and celebrations. Today, it serves as a backdrop for wedding photographs and fireworks, hosts the Canton Fire Department’s 9/11 Memorial Climb, and welcomes locals who regularly run its 108 steps for exercise. More than 200,000 people visit the Memorial each year.

The McKinley National Memorial is a Legacy 250 place because it is more than a monument to the past. Nearly 125 years after McKinley’s death, it remains a living landmark where national history and everyday community life continue to meet.

What historic place is woven into the identity of your community? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help us tell the stories of the places that make Ohio unique. www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories

Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, will be hosting their annual co...
09/05/2026

Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, will be hosting their annual conference in Cincinnati September 29 to October 1. A highlight of the conference is the Annual Awards and Film Festival that honors the people, places and projects that exemplify a commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization throughout Ohio. This year, Cleveland’s Clark Avenue Bath House has been selected as one of three finalists for the Best Commercial Building Rehabilitation in a Large Community award.
This year, the award ceremony will be Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the historic Woodward Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. The award ceremony is free and open to anyone to attend.
Learn more about the Heritage Ohio annual conference at www.heritageohioconference.com. More information on Heritage Ohio can be found by visiting www.heritageohio.org.

Built in 1868, the Zoarville Station Bridge is more than a remarkable piece of engineering. It is the only known survivi...
09/05/2026

Built in 1868, the Zoarville Station Bridge is more than a remarkable piece of engineering. It is the only known surviving Fink Through-Truss bridge in the United States. Designed by noted engineer Albert Fink and constructed by Smith, Latrobe & Co. of Baltimore, the bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The bridge was originally one span of a three-span crossing over the Tuscarawas River in Dover. When that bridge was replaced in 1905, this span was moved to its current location over Conotton Creek, where it carried the old road between Zoar and Zoarville and once provided road access to Camp Tuscazoar.

By the late 20th century, however, this one-of-a-kind structure faced gradual deterioration. After acquiring the land beneath the bridge, the Camp Tuscazoar Foundation purchased the bridge from local owner Charles Lebold for just $1 in 1996. That purchase began a major preservation effort to save an irreplaceable piece of American engineering history. The bridge was restored, reassembled, and reopened to hikers and bicyclists in 2007. The project later received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies.

Today, the Zoarville Station Bridge is once again doing what bridges are meant to do: connecting people and places. It carries the Zoar Valley Trail, Ohio-to-Erie Trail, and Buckeye Trail across Conotton Creek while connecting Camp Tuscazoar visitors with the Ohio & Erie Canal corridor. It has become a hiking destination, a camp landmark, and a hands-on way for young people and visitors to discover the history of the surrounding area.

The Zoarville Station Bridge is a Celebrated 250 success because preservation gave an extraordinarily rare structure an active role in the present. More than 150 years after it was built, people are still crossing this bridge and creating new stories along the way. What historic place has your community saved and returned to active use? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help us celebrate Ohio’s preservation success stories. www.https://heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories

Each year, Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, honors the people, p...
09/04/2026

Each year, Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, honors the people, places and projects that exemplify a commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization. This year, Piqua's very own Cathy Oda has been selected as one of three finalists for the “Spirit of Main Street” award.

This year, the award ceremony will be Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the historic Woodward Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. The award ceremony is a part of the 2026 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference, and is free and open to anyone to attend.

Learn more about the Heritage Ohio annual conference at www.heritageohioconference.com. More information on Heritage Ohio can be found by visiting www.heritageohio.org.

https://www.facebook.com/mainstreetpiqua

Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, will be hosting their annual co...
09/04/2026

Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, will be hosting their annual conference in Cincinnati September 29 to October 1. A highlight of the conference is the Annual Awards and Film Festival that honors the people, places and projects that exemplify a commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization throughout Ohio. This year, Toledo’s Burt's Theater has been selected as one of three finalists for the Best Commercial Building Rehabilitation in a Large Community award.
This year, the award ceremony will be Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the historic Woodward Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. The award ceremony is free and open to anyone to attend.
Learn more about the Heritage Ohio annual conference at www.heritageohioconference.com. More information on Heritage Ohio can be found by visiting www.heritageohio.org.

For more than 175 years, Rombach Place has connected the story of Wilmington and Clinton County to people and events tha...
09/04/2026

For more than 175 years, Rombach Place has connected the story of Wilmington and Clinton County to people and events that helped shape the nation. Built in 1850 by local builder Robert Wickersham, the home was purchased five years later by Matthew and Catherine Rombach and eventually became a multigenerational home for the Rombach, Denver, and Williams families.

Its most notable resident was James W. Denver, whose remarkable career included service in the Mexican-American War, the California State Senate, Congress, and as Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He served as Secretary and later Territorial Governor of Kansas during the turbulent “Bleeding Kansas” era and was appointed a Brigadier General in the Union Army by President Abraham Lincoln. Denver City, which would become Denver, Colorado, was named in his honor. During the Civil War, his letters traveled home to Rombach Place, where his wife Louise and their children lived.

The family’s impact was also deeply rooted in Clinton County. Their son Matthew Rombach Denver represented Ohio in Congress from 1907 to 1913 and later helped develop Wilmington’s Commerce Club and General Denver Hotel. Generations of the families associated with Rombach Place also held leadership roles with important local enterprises including Irwin Auger Bit, Clinton County National Bank and Trust, and Champion Bridge Company.

After more than a century as a private residence, Rombach Place began a new chapter in 1955 when David Williams sold the property to the Clinton County Historical Society specifically for use as a museum. The collection included nearly 700 historic and philosophical books belonging to General Denver. Today, the museum shares the stories of the families who lived here while connecting Wilmington and Clinton County history to the larger American story. A recent $95,000 investment in exterior preservation is helping protect this National Register of Historic Places landmark for the future.

Rombach Place demonstrates why local historic places matter. Within the walls of one Ohio home are stories of war, politics, industry, entrepreneurship, family, and community spanning generations.

What building in your community connects local history to a much larger story? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help us share the places that make Ohio’s history unique. Submit your story here: www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

Each year, Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, honors the people, p...
09/03/2026

Each year, Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, honors the people, places and projects that exemplify a commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization. This year Marion's “Bucci's Scratch Italian Kitchen” has been selected as one of three finalists for the “Main Street Business of the Year” award.

This year, the award ceremony will be Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the historic Woodward Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. The award ceremony is a part of the 2026 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference, and is free and open to anyone to attend.

Learn more about the Heritage Ohio annual conference at www.heritageohioconference.com. More information on Heritage Ohio can be found by visiting www.heritageohio.org.

https://www.facebook.com/BuccisScratchKitchen
https://www.facebook.com/DowntownMarionOhio

Long before Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon, he spent part of his childhood in Ravenna, livin...
09/03/2026

Long before Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon, he spent part of his childhood in Ravenna, living with his family in an apartment at 124 Elm Street.

The Armstrong family arrived in 1932 when Neil’s father, Stephen Armstrong, came to Portage County as a state government auditor. Ravenna resident Merrible Myers, who worked in the Recorder’s Office, offered to rent the family an apartment in her home. What was expected to be a six-month assignment stretched to approximately 18 months, giving young Neil an important connection to Ravenna.

According to local history, Neil once fell into a decorative pond in the backyard and nearly drowned before being rescued by his mother. Myers became close to the Armstrong family during their time in Ravenna and remained in contact with them even after Neil became an astronaut.

Decades later, on July 20, 1969, Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 mission and became the first human to walk on another celestial body. His achievement made him one of the most recognized Ohioans in history and forever connected his story to the exploration of space.

The house at 124 Elm Street reminds us that extraordinary stories can begin in ordinary places. As a Legacy 250 building, it preserves Ravenna’s connection to a young Ohio boy who once looked at the Moon from his window and would one day walk upon it.

What building in your community holds a story Ohio should know? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help us tell the stories behind the places that shaped our state. Submit your story here: www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

Each year, Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, honors the people, p...
09/02/2026

Each year, Heritage Ohio, the state-wide Main Street coordinating agency under Main Street America, honors the people, places and projects that exemplify a commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization. This year, “The Traffic Box Project” in Marysville has been selected as one of three finalists for the “Best Downtown Placemaking” award.

This year, the award ceremony will be Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the historic Woodward Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. The award ceremony is a part of the 2026 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference, and is free and open to anyone to attend.

Learn more about the Heritage Ohio annual conference at www.heritageohioconference.com. More information on Heritage Ohio can be found by visiting www.heritageohio.org.

https://www.facebook.com/ExploreUptownMarysville

Built in 1895–1896, the Queen Anne-style home at 245 West Seventh Street in Marysville was constructed for Reuben L. and...
09/02/2026

Built in 1895–1896, the Queen Anne-style home at 245 West Seventh Street in Marysville was constructed for Reuben L. and Maria Wolford Partridge. Reuben Partridge was one of Union County’s most notable builders, best remembered for constructing hundreds of covered bridges throughout Ohio and for patenting his own wood truss design, known as the “Partridge Truss,” in 1872.

When Partridge decided to build a new family home, contractors O.N. White of Columbus and Charles Denman of Marysville were selected to construct it for $2,500. As the house neared completion, it was described as “the finest and most imposing home in that part of the city.” When the family moved in during February 1896, the nine-room house featured elaborate red oak finishes, a slate roof, bathrooms, water closets, and an impressive water system that supplied hot and cold water throughout the home.

Sadly, Reuben and Maria enjoyed their new home for only a few years. Reuben died in 1900 from injuries sustained after being struck by a falling timber while dismantling a covered bridge. Maria died the following year. More than a century later, however, the home they built remains an important physical connection to the life and legacy of a man whose work helped shape communities across Ohio.

The preservation of the Partridge House allows an important piece of Marysville’s architectural and community history to remain part of the city today. It is a reminder that saving historic homes preserves much more than architecture. It preserves the stories of the people, craftsmanship, innovation, and lives that helped build our communities.

What historic building has your community preserved for a new generation? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help us celebrate Ohio’s preservation success stories. www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories

Address

800 East 17th Avenue
Columbus, OH
43211

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16142586200

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Heritage Ohio posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category