Corning OhioATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Corning, Ohio.
1. Burr Oak State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Burr Oak State Park offers visitors a stunning natural retreat with a 664-acre lake surrounded by forested hills in southeast Ohio. The park features numerous recreational activities including hiking trails, fishing, boating, swimming, and camping facilities. Visitors can also stay at the Burr Oak Lodge, which provides comfortable accommodations with scenic views of the lake.
2. Smoke Rise Ranch
HORSEBACK RIDING ADVENTURE
Smoke Rise Ranch provides authentic horseback riding experiences in the scenic hills near Corning. The ranch offers guided trail rides suitable for riders of all experience levels through beautiful woodland terrain. Visitors can enjoy western-style riding adventures and potentially participate in special seasonal events.
3. Murray City Coal Mine Museum and History Center
MINING HERITAGE SHOWCASE
The Murray City Coal Mine Museum and History Center preserves and showcases the rich coal mining heritage of southeastern Ohio. Exhibits feature mining equipment, historical photographs, and personal artifacts that tell the story of the region's coal industry and the miners who worked there. The museum offers visitors insight into the challenging lives of coal miners and the significant impact mining had on local communities like Corning.
4. Stuart's Opera House
HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VENUE
Stuart's Opera House is a beautifully restored 19th-century theater that serves as a vibrant cultural hub for the region. The historic venue hosts a diverse array of performances including live music, theater productions, film screenings, and community events. With its rich history dating back to 1879, the opera house combines Victorian charm with modern amenities to provide an exceptional entertainment experience.
5. Corning Museum of Glass
GLASS ART WONDERLAND
The Corning Museum of Glass houses an extensive collection of glass artifacts spanning 3,500 years of glass history and artistry. Visitors can watch live glassblowing demonstrations and even create their own glass pieces through hands-on experiences. The museum features both historical and contemporary glass exhibits alongside an impressive gift shop offering unique glass art pieces.
6. The Rockwell Museum
AMERICAN ART TREASURE
The Rockwell Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate housed in the beautifully restored 19th-century Historic Old City Hall in Corning. The museum showcases an exceptional collection of American art, with particular emphasis on Western and Native American artwork. Visitors can explore changing exhibitions alongside the permanent collection that tells the story of America through art.
7. Gaffer District
CHARMING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
The Gaffer District forms the heart of downtown Corning with its picturesque and walkable historic streets. Visitors can explore numerous boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops, and diverse dining establishments in this vibrant area. The district regularly hosts community events, festivals, and markets throughout the year, making it a cultural and commercial hub for the region.
8. Corning Lake Trail
SCENIC NATURE WALK
Corning Lake Trail offers visitors a peaceful walking path along the shoreline of Corning Lake and Fordham Island. The trail provides excellent opportunities for birdwatching and enjoying seasonal displays of native flora. Located just south of the Display Garden at the Holden Arboretum, this trail combines natural beauty with easy accessibility.
9. Corning Visitor Center
NATURE EDUCATION HUB
The Corning Visitor Center at Holden Arboretum houses three excellent facilities in one building, allowing guests to engage with nature regardless of weather conditions. The center includes the Treehouse Store where visitors can purchase nature-themed gifts and souvenirs. The facility also features the Corning Library, which offers a wealth of resources for plant enthusiasts and researchers.
10. Sunday Creek Valley
HISTORIC COAL COUNTRY
The Sunday Creek Valley surrounding Corning showcases the natural beauty and industrial heritage of southeastern Ohio coal country. Originally focused on farming, this area transformed dramatically with the arrival of the Atlantic and Lake Erie Railway and subsequent coal mining development in 1879. Visitors can explore the valley to appreciate both its natural landscapes and the remnants of its coal mining history that shaped communities like Corning.
11. Mercer Hotel Historic Site
CIVIL RIGHTS LANDMARK
The Mercer Hotel site represents a significant civil rights landmark in Ohio history. In 1895, this establishment became the first Ohio business punished under the state's anti-discrimination laws after refusing service to Richard L. Davis, an African American miner and labor organizer. The incident established an important boundary between acceptable and unacceptable segregation practices across Ohio, marking what historians call the 'High Water Mark of the Color Line in Ohio.'
12. Rendville Historic District
MINING TOWN HERITAGE
The Rendville Historic District preserves the remains of what was once one of Ohio's most diverse coal mining communities near Corning. Founded in 1879, Rendville gained notoriety for welcoming African American and immigrant miners when many other mining towns practiced segregation. The small village was home to Richard L. Davis, the prominent labor organizer whose experience at Corning's Mercer Hotel helped establish important civil rights precedents in Ohio.
13. Wayne National Forest
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE DESTINATION
Wayne National Forest encompasses over a quarter million acres of public land with numerous recreational opportunities near Corning. Visitors can explore hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and ATV use throughout the forest. The forest's diverse ecosystems support wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing, and camping activities across the Athens, Marietta, and Ironton units.
14. Robinson's Cave
HISTORIC UNDERGROUND LANDMARK
Robinson's Cave served as a secret meeting place for coal miners organizing labor unions in the late 19th century near Corning. The natural cave provided shelter and security for miners planning strikes and other labor actions away from the watchful eyes of mine owners and their agents. This historic site played a significant role in the development of mining unions throughout the Hocking Valley coal region.
15. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
HISTORIC TRAIN EXPERIENCE
The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway offers visitors a chance to experience rail travel on historic trains through the beautiful Hocking Hills region near Corning. Operating on tracks originally laid in the 1800s, the railway provides narrated excursions highlighting the area's natural beauty and industrial heritage. Seasonal special events include fall foliage tours, Santa trains during the holidays, and robbery reenactments that bring history to life.