Heritage Ohio

10/20/2026

Heritage Ohio's Director of Preservation Frank Quinn & State Historic Preservation Officer Diana Welling were featured on NBC 4 to discuss the ramifications of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, which takes Ohio and the public out of federal decisions that affect Ohio.

It's great to see Ohio's lawmakers supporting preservation at the statehouse, but we need your help in reaching Ohio's representatives & senators in Congress. Tell them to remove provisions that weaken historic preservation review, diminish state authority, restrict public accountability, undermine preservation funding, and silence Ohioans' voices.

Historians, preservationists and state lawmakers are sounding the alarm about permitting reform legislation making its way through Congress that could make drastic changes to Section 106 of the Nat…

10/20/2026

Built in 1887, the Zoar Town Hall was one of the last buildings constructed by the Society of Separatists before the communal society dissolved in 1898. For generations, it has been at the center of village life.

Few buildings have served as many purposes. Over the years, the Town Hall housed a barbershop, post office, fire department, jail, and Saturday-night dance hall. It was also home to the Zoar band, which practiced inside and performed concerts from the second-story porch roof.

When the Society disbanded, the building was transferred to the village, marking an important transition from a religious communal settlement to a self-governing community.

The Zoar Community Association restored the building through a fundraising effort known as "Project Pride," completed in time for Ohio's Bicentennial celebration in 2002.

Today, the Town Hall continues its tradition of public service, housing local government chambers, the Ohio & Erie Canal Museum, and a museum of Zoarite artifacts. The Zoar Town Hall is a reminder that historic buildings can serve many generations and many purposes while remaining at the heart of community life.

What historic building has been a gathering place for generations in your community? Submit it to Heritage Ohio's 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative.
Submit your story here: https://heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

10/19/2026

Yesterday, the Young Ohio Preservationists toured the historic Bruckmann Brewery site in Cincinnati, formerly Cumminsville. The company started brewing on the site in 1856 and was sold to a local entrepreneur in 1949. Later, the site was used to house a winery and a Worthmore Foods canning facility.

Many thanks to Brewing Heritage Trail for the amazing tour of the site!

10/19/2026

Built in 1880, Allen Chapel AME Church tells an important story of faith, determination, and African American history in Marysville.

The congregation was established around the time of the Civil War with just 11 charter members. Initially gathering outdoors or in local meeting halls, members dreamed of having a permanent place to worship. In 1879, they purchased land on Fourth Street and began construction, digging the foundation themselves. With additional support from community members, the brick church was completed for $1,500 and dedicated in February 1880.

Named for Reverend Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Allen Chapel became a lasting symbol of the congregation's commitment to faith and community.

In 1883, the church acquired the bell from Union County's original courthouse. The same bell had rung to celebrate the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery and had tolled following President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. It served the congregation for nearly a century before being donated to the Union County Historical Society in 1976, where it remains on display.

Allen Chapel is a reminder of the determination of a small congregation that built a place of its own and preserved an important piece of Marysville's African American heritage.

What historic building tells an important story in your community? Submit it to Heritage Ohio's 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative.

Submit your story here: https://heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

10/18/2026

Once a luxurious hotel built during Bowling Green's oil boom, the historic Millikin Hotel has found new life as a downtown residential and commercial landmark.

Opened in 1897 by local oil businessman W. H. Millikin, the three-story hotel was one of the city's most impressive buildings. It featured steam heat, indoor plumbing, elevators, a ballroom, and an elegant dining room. It was also Bowling Green's first building with electricity, supplying power to neighboring businesses.

Over the years, the hotel welcomed notable guests, including Clark Gable, Ernest Hemingway, and the Trapp Family Singers. But changing travel habits eventually led to its closure in the 1950s, leaving the upper floors vacant for decades.

In 1999, local developer Robert Maurer purchased the building and undertook renovations that transformed the former hotel into apartments while preserving commercial storefronts on the ground floor.

Today, the National Register-listed Millikin Hotel remains a prominent landmark at the intersection of Main and Wooster streets. Its rehabilitation preserved an important piece of Bowling Green's history while bringing housing, businesses, and continued economic activity to the heart of downtown.

The Millikin Hotel demonstrates how historic buildings can adapt to changing times while remaining essential to the communities they helped build.

What historic building has your community brought back to life? Submit it to Heritage Ohio's 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative. Submit your story here: https://heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

10/17/2026

Built in 1875 as Lakeside's Methodist Episcopal chapel, Heritage Hall is one of the community's oldest public buildings and has been a gathering place for more than 150 years.

Over the decades, the building served as a chapel, the Ladies' Aid Society Hall, and Fellowship Hall before falling into serious disrepair. In 1968, when demolition was proposed, concerned residents rallied to save it. Their efforts led to the creation of the Heritage Hall Museum, which has shared Lakeside's history ever since.

To celebrate the building's 150th anniversary, the Lakeside Heritage Society undertook a major restoration in 2025–26. Original red pine floors and plaster walls were restored, building systems were upgraded, and exhibits were completely redesigned to better tell the story of Lakeside and America's Chautauqua movement.

Reopened in July 2026, Heritage Hall continues to welcome thousands of visitors, connecting new generations with the people, traditions, and stories that have shaped this historic community.

Heritage Hall demonstrates how community determination can save a threatened building and give it new purpose for generations to come.

What historic building has your community brought back to life? Submit it to Heritage Ohio's 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative. Submit your story here: https://heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

10/16/2026

Built in 1846, the Tremont House has been a downtown Bellevue landmark for nearly 180 years, with connections to some remarkable moments in American history.

Originally a hotel and stagecoach stop, the building featured guest rooms and a third-floor ballroom. Over the years, it adapted to changing times, housing grocery stores, a cigar factory, pharmacy, restaurant, and other businesses.

In 1867, Stephen Harkness, Henry Flagler, and John D. Rockefeller reportedly celebrated an early financing agreement connected to Standard Oil in the ballroom. In 1912, former President Theodore Roosevelt addressed a crowd outside the building during his presidential campaign.

The Bellevue Historical Society purchased the Tremont House in 2002, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. Restoration is expected to be completed in fall 2026, with plans to open as a museum in spring 2027.

The Tremont House will become a place where residents and visitors can discover Bellevue's history through exhibits, photographs, and artifacts, preserving the stories of the people and events that shaped the community.

What historic building tells an important story in your community? Submit it to Heritage Ohio's 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative. Submit your story here: https://heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

10/15/2026

This is a powerful video showing us what's at stake if Section 106 protections are diluted...

10/15/2026

Our House Tavern has been part of life in Gallipolis for more than 200 years, and thanks to an early preservation effort, generations have been able to continue experiencing its story.

Built in 1819 by siblings Elizabeth and Henry Cushing, the three-story Federal-style tavern quickly became a center of social life in early Gallipolis. Over the years, it served many purposes, including as a private residence, a Civil War receiving hospital, and a boarding house.

Its preservation story began in 1933 when Dr. Charles E. Holzer and his wife, Alma, purchased the property and undertook a three-year restoration to reclaim its historic character. Our House opened as a museum in 1936, and the Holzer family donated it to the State of Ohio in 1944, ensuring that this important piece of Gallipolis history would remain accessible to the public.

Today, Our House Tavern Museum is part of the Ohio History Connection and is locally managed with significant support from the Friends of Our House Committee. Volunteers welcome visitors, support programs and events, and care for the property. The Gallipolis Garden Club helps maintain its French garden, while the ballroom and courtyard continue the building’s long tradition as gathering places for weddings, celebrations, and other community occasions.

More than 90 years after the Holzers began their restoration, Our House demonstrates what preservation can accomplish. It did more than save an 1819 tavern. It returned a historic place to the community and allowed new memories to become part of a story that has been unfolding for more than two centuries.

What historic building has your community brought back to life? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help us celebrate Ohio’s preservation success stories. Submit your story here: https://heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

10/14/2026

Congratulations to Monica Snow of Dayton, recipient of the 2026 Joyce Barrett Preservation Hero Award! Monica was honored for protecting endangered properties, advancing innovative preservation initiatives, and inspiring future preservationists.

Preservation Dayton, Inc