WAPAKONETA — The Auglaize County Historical Society takes to the road for its annual fall bus trip on Thursday, Oct. 8, with historic Brown County, Ohio, as the destination for the day.
The cost is $77 for historical society members and $87 for nonmembers.
Across the country, history fans are marking the end of the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War (1865-2015). Local residents are invited to join the Historical Society as the group heads to beautiful Brown County on the Ohio River for a day filled with unique experiences.
Brown County has recently been the focus of a multi-million dollar investment to restore many of its mid-19th century landmarks. The Historical Society will bid farewell to the Civil War 150th with the following itinerary:
Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home, School, and the Grant Tannery
Explore young Ulysses Grant’s life by visiting his school and his boyhood home, restored to its appearance in 1839, the year Grant left for West Point. At this National Historic Landmark, hear how Grant grew up in rural Ohio, and discover how his early days formed the character of a future general and president. Tour beautiful Georgetown, stop at the marker commemorating Morgan’s Raiders, and note a site with a special Auglaize County connection.
After traveling south to Ripley for lunch at Coheart’s, a local favorite, the journey will continue on to:
John Rankin House
Take a guided tour of the newly restored home of Rev. John Rankin, located on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River, and learn how the Rankin family and their neighbors in Ripley and other nearby communities helped fugitives escape from slavery to freedom via the Under-ground Railroad. At this National Historic Landmark, step inside one of the best-documented and most active Underground Railroad “stations” in Ohio and learn the story of our state’s role in the abolitionist movement, which set the stage for the end of slavery.
John Parker House
Former slave John Parker lived in this house from about 1853 until his death, and from this location planned many rescue at-tempts of slaves held captive in the “borderlands” of Kentucky. The site is a National Historic Landmark.
The Ohio Tobacco Museum is located beside the former tobacco warehouses in Ripley. The two-story brick house is of Federal and Georgian style architecture. This 1850s home stands as the only museum in the state of Ohio to document the history of the tobacco production. The contents of the museum represent the story of Ripley’s unique southern Ohio agricultural history.
The day will end with the traditional stop for ice cream.
Seating is limited. Those interested in participating in the trip should contact the Historical Society at 419-738-9328 or [email protected].
The Auglaize County Historical Society was founded in 1963. The Auglaize County Historical Society collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the history of Auglaize County and its people through exhibits, programs, and publications.
