History has left its mark on the southeast end of Ohio. From the prehistoric Andena people's inexplicable effigy in Adams County to the abolitionist's noble vision of freedom in Zanesville, this corner of the Buckeye State is ripe with historical attractions. Yet with well-preserved art scenes, a burgeoning wine country and offbeat exhibits, history does not wholly define southeastern Ohio tourism.
Tour the Creative Arts
- Each final Friday of the month -- except in December -- crowds gather at Nelsonville's Historic Square in Athens County. Beginning at 6 p.m., attendees tour special after-hours art events at the square's galleries and retail shops. East of Columbus, the Zanesville Museum of Art houses works by Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, among others, in its permanent collection. The museum, on Military Road in Zanesville, is open to explore Wednesday through Saturday.
Sample Wine Country
- South of Bidwell, Merry Family Winery offers handcrafted Cabernets and Pinots paired with views of the lush, tree-laden Ohio countryside. In addition to red wine, visitors sample white, blush, fruit and dessert wine, as well as craft ales and lagers produced at the onsite brewery. The winery opens Tuesday through Saturday. Shade Winery, named for the nearby Ohio town, welcomes wine enthusiasts to try its Red Shoulder Corot Noir and Spiral Cabernet Franc. Guests can sip wine while snacking on mixed olives and smoked salmon, Fridays and Saturdays March through December.
See What Was
- Serpent Mound, a 1,300-foot prehistoric effigy mound, overlooks the Brush Creek Valley in Adams County. Attributed to the Adena people, the mound resembles an uncoiling serpent. The serpent's head points to the summer solstice sunset, while the three coils point to the summer and winter solstice sunrises and equinox sunrise. Admission to the site is charged per vehicle. In Zanesville, the Stone Academy Historic Site and Museum chronicles Ohio's anti-slavery history, having previously served as an Underground Railroad station. Today the historic site, open April through October, features artifacts honoring its abolitionist past.
Off the Beaten Path
- Inside the Toy and Plastic Brick Museum in Bellaire, the small plastic brick houses from childhood have been re-imagined on a grander scale. Full-size movie characters are displayed alongside small-scale cities and football stadiums made from toy plastic bricks. The museum is open weekends, or on weekdays by appointment. A day at Blue Rock Station, a working experiment in sustainable living in Philo, means exploring the possibility of everyday products. Tours explore Earthship, a home made from tires, cans and mud, a straw bale chicken coop, a solar shower made from milk jugs, and a plastic bottle greenhouse, among other innovations.
