List of National Historic Landmarks in Ohio facts for kids

Ohio is home to many amazing places that are recognized as National Historic Landmarks (NHLs). These special spots are chosen by the National Park Service because they are super important to the history of the United States. Think of them as national treasures! There are 76 of these landmarks in Ohio, plus a few other historic areas managed by the National Park Service.

Cool National Historic Landmarks in Ohio

Ohio's National Historic Landmarks are spread out across 37 of its 88 counties. Hamilton County, in the southwest part of the state, has the most, with fourteen NHLs. Let's explore some of these fascinating places!

Adena Mansion

Located in Chillicothe, the Adena Mansion was the home of Thomas Worthington, who was an early governor of Ohio. This beautiful mansion gives us a peek into what life was like for important people in the early 1800s.

Taft Museum

The Taft Museum in Cincinnati used to be the home of the Taft family, but now it's an art museum. It's famous for its amazing landscape murals painted by Robert S. Duncanson, an important African-American artist.

Beginning Point of the U.S. Public Land Survey

This landmark, found near East Liverpool, marks the very first spot where the United States began to survey its public lands. This survey helped organize how land was divided and sold as the country grew.

Carew Tower

The Carew Tower in Cincinnati is a tall and historic building. When it was built, it was a very modern skyscraper, showing off the architectural styles of its time.

Cincinnati Music Hall

The Cincinnati Music Hall is a grand building in Cincinnati known for its beautiful architecture and as a center for music and performing arts. Many famous musicians and shows have been hosted here.

Cincinnati Observatory

The Cincinnati Observatory is one of the oldest observatories in the United States. Located in Cincinnati, it has been a place for people to study the stars and planets for a long time.

Cincinnati Union Terminal

Once a busy train station, the Cincinnati Union Terminal in Cincinnati is now home to the Cincinnati Museum Center. It's famous for its unique half-dome shape and amazing artwork inside.

USS Cod (Submarine)

The USS Cod (SS-224) is a real submarine docked in Cleveland. It's a National Historic Landmark because it played an important role in World War II. You can even go inside and explore it!

John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge

This amazing bridge connects Cincinnati with Covington. Designed by John A. Roebling, it was a groundbreaking design for its time and helped inspire the famous Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

Donald B. (Towboat)

The Donald B. is a unique diesel sternwheel towboat built in 1923. It's the only one of its kind from the 1920s that is still unchanged and operating today, towing barges on the Ohio River. Its home port is in Bellaire.

Paul Laurence Dunbar House

The Paul Laurence Dunbar House in Dayton was the home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, a very important African-American poet. His home is now a museum that celebrates his life and work.

Thomas Alva Edison Birthplace

This house in Milan is the birthplace of Thomas Alva Edison, one of the world's most famous inventors. He invented the light bulb, the phonograph, and many other things that changed our lives!

Eldean Covered Bridge

Located in Troy, the Eldean Covered Bridge is a rare example of a "long truss" bridge. It's one of only twelve left and is considered to be in excellent condition.

Fort Ancient

Fort Ancient near Lebanon is an ancient site with large earthworks built by Native Americans long ago. It's a fascinating place to learn about early cultures in Ohio.

Fort Meigs

Fort Meigs in Perrysburg was an important fort during the War of 1812. It played a key role in defending Ohio and the American frontier. Today, you can visit a reconstructed version of the fort.

James A. Garfield National Historic Site

This site in Mentor was the home of James A. Garfield, who became a U.S. President. It's a great place to learn about his life and the history of the late 1800s.

Warren G. Harding Home

The Harding Home in Marion was where Warren G. Harding lived before he became President of the United States. It offers a look into his life and political career.

Hawthorn Hill

Hawthorn Hill in Oakwood was the mansion of Orville Wright, one of the famous Wright Brothers who invented the airplane. It's a reminder of their incredible achievements.

Huffman Prairie Flying Field

This field in Fairborn is where the Wright Brothers did many of their early airplane tests and learned to fly. It's a very important spot in aviation history!

Johnson's Island Civil War Prison

Johnson's Island in Danbury was a prison camp for Confederate officers during the American Civil War. It's a significant historical site that tells a part of the war's story.

Kirtland Temple

The Kirtland Temple in Kirtland is a historic religious building. It's known for its unique architecture and its importance to the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.

Miami and Erie Canal Deep Cut

Near Spencerville, you can see a special part of the Miami and Erie Canal called the "Deep Cut." This mile-long section was dug very deep (up to 52 feet!) to create a path through a ridge, showing the amazing engineering of the past.

Newark Earthworks

The Newark Earthworks in Heath and Newark are huge ancient earthworks built by Native Americans. They are a complex series of mounds and enclosures that show advanced knowledge of geometry and astronomy.

Oberlin College

Oberlin College in Oberlin is a very old and important college. It was one of the first colleges in the United States to admit African-American students and women, playing a big role in civil rights and education.

Ohio Statehouse

The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus is where Ohio's government meets. It's a grand building with classic architecture and has been the center of Ohio's political life for many years.

John P. Parker House

The John P. Parker House in Ripley was the home of John P. Parker, an African-American abolitionist and inventor. He helped many enslaved people escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

John Rankin House

Also in Ripley, the John Rankin House was the home of John Rankin, a famous abolitionist minister. His home was a key stop on the Underground Railroad, helping many people find freedom.

S Bridge, National Road

The S Bridge near Old Washington is a historic bridge on the old National Road, one of the first major improved highways in the United States. It's called an "S Bridge" because of its unique curved shape.

Serpent Mound

Serpent Mound in Locust Grove is a giant, ancient earthwork shaped like a snake. It was built by Native Americans and is a mysterious and amazing example of their early cultures.

Dr. Bob's Home (Dr. Robert and Anne Smith House)

This house in Akron is known as Dr. Bob's Home. It's important because it's where Alcoholics Anonymous was co-founded by Bob Smith (doctor), helping countless people.

Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility

Located in Sandusky, this facility is the only one in the world that can test large rocket engines and parts of spacecraft in conditions that are like outer space. It's a vital place for space exploration!

Spiegel Grove (Rutherford B. Hayes Home)

Spiegel Grove in Fremont was the home of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes. It's now a state park where you can learn about his life and presidency.

Stan Hywet Hall

Stan Hywet Hall in Akron is a beautiful historic estate. It was built by the founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and is known for its stunning architecture and gardens.

SunWatch Indian Village

SunWatch Indian Village in Dayton is a reconstructed Native American village from the Fort Ancient culture. It helps us understand how people lived in Ohio over 800 years ago.

William Howard Taft National Historic Site

This site in Cincinnati is the birthplace and childhood home of William Howard Taft, who was both a U.S. President and a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Wright Cycle Company

The Wright Cycle Company in Dayton was the bicycle shop owned by the Wright Brothers. It's where they worked and experimented, leading to their invention of the airplane.

Wright Flyer III

The Wright Flyer III is the 1905 airplane built by the Wright Brothers. It's a huge piece of history, showing how far they came in designing and flying their aircraft. You can see it in Dayton.

Colonel Charles Young House

The Colonel Charles Young House in Wilberforce was the home of Charles Young, a remarkable African-American military officer. It's now the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument.

Zero Gravity Research Facility

This amazing facility in Cleveland is a giant vacuum chamber where scientists can drop things to create a few seconds of "zero gravity" conditions. It helps them test how things work in space!

Zoar Historic District

The Zoar Historic District in Zoar is a village founded by a group of German religious separatists. It's the only place in the U.S. that was their permanent home, and it shows how they lived and worked together.

Historic Areas of the National Park System in Ohio

Besides the National Historic Landmarks, Ohio also has other important historic places that are part of the National Park System. These areas are already highly protected and recognized for their national importance. Some of them, like the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, and the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, are also listed as NHLs. Here are four more:

• Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

Established in 1992, this park in Dayton, Ohio celebrates the history of flight and literature. It includes places like the Huffman Prairie Flying Field and the Wright Cycle Company building, where the Wright Brothers worked, and the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial.

• First Ladies National Historic Site

Opened in 2000 in Canton, this site honors the lives and contributions of the First Ladies of the United States. It's a unique place to learn about the women behind the presidents.

• Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

Established in 1923 near Chillicothe, this park protects ancient earthworks built by the Hopewell culture. These amazing mounds and enclosures are a testament to the advanced societies that lived in Ohio long ago.

• Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

This tall monument, built in 1936 in Put-in-Bay, celebrates the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 and the lasting peace between the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.

Former National Historic Landmarks in Ohio

Sometimes, a place that was once a National Historic Landmark might lose that special status. This usually happens if the place is changed a lot, or if it's destroyed. Here are a few examples from Ohio:

• Hotel Breakers

This hotel in Sandusky was a landmark from 1987 to 2001. It lost its status because it was significantly changed in 1999.

• Rocket Engine Test Facility

This facility in Cleveland was a landmark from 1985 to 2005. It was taken off the list because it was demolished in 2003.

• Benjamin F. Wade House

The home of Civil War-era politician Benjamin F. Wade in Jefferson was a landmark from 1965. However, it was demolished around 1968, so it lost its status.

Images for kids

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  Central Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton

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  Elephant house at the Cincinnati Zoo, part of the Cincinnati Zoo Historic Structures

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  Interior of The Arcade in downtown Cleveland, known as the Cleveland Arcade

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  The Jay Cooke Home on Gibraltar Island

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  Manasseh Cutler Hall at Ohio University

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  The Wilson Bruce Evans House

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  The Fallen Timbers Battlefield

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  The Joshua Reed Giddings Law Office

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  Shops in the Glendale Historic District

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  The U.S. Grant Boyhood Home in Georgetown

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  A street view in the Greenhills Historic District

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  A wall at the Hopeton Earthworks

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  The Charles F. Kettering House

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  The John Mercer Langston House

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  Langstroth Cottage in Oxford

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  The Edward D. Libbey House in Toledo

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  The Benjamin Lundy House in Mount Pleasant

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  The MAJESTIC Showboat moored at Cincinnati

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  Site of the May 4, 1970, Kent State Shootings

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  Overview of the William H. McGuffey Boyhood Home Site

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  The William H. McGuffey House in Oxford

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  The William McKinley Tomb

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  The Mount Pleasant Historic District

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  A section of the Ohio and Erie Canal

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  The Ohio Theatre in Columbus

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  The George Hunt Pendleton House in Cincinnati

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  The Pennsylvania Railroad Depot and Baggage Room in Dennison

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  The People's Federal Savings and Loan Association building in Sidney

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  The Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati

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  The Captain Edward V. Rickenbacker House

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  A statue at Spring Grove Cemetery

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  The W.P. SNYDER, JR. Towboat