Elgin OhioATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Elgin, Ohio.
1. DeShia, The Country Shoppe
UNIQUE LOCAL GIFTS
DeShia, The Country Shoppe offers visitors a charming retail experience featuring specialty items and gifts in Elgin. The shop showcases locally crafted products and unique merchandise that can't be found in typical retail stores. Visitors can browse through a variety of handcrafted goods and specialty products that make perfect souvenirs or gifts.
2. Delphos Canal Commission Museum
HISTORIC CANAL HERITAGE
The Delphos Canal Commission Museum preserves the rich history of the Miami and Erie Canal system that once connected the region. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays that tell the story of canal transportation in Ohio. The museum offers insights into how the canal system transformed transportation and commerce in the region during the 19th century.
3. Brumback Library
HISTORIC PUBLIC LIBRARY
Brumback Library stands as one of Ohio's architectural treasures and the first county library in the United States. The castle-like structure, built in 1899, features impressive Gothic architecture with turrets, gargoyles, and stained glass windows. Beyond its striking appearance, the library houses an extensive collection of books and regularly hosts community events and educational programs.
4. Benjamin Hanby House
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STATION
The Benjamin Hanby House served as the family home of Benjamin Hanby, who was an abolitionist, teacher, minister, and composer of popular songs including the Christmas favorite 'Up on the Housetop.' This historic site functioned as a busy station on the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom. Visitors can tour the preserved home and learn about Hanby's contributions to American music and the abolitionist movement.
5. Logan Elm State Memorial
NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY
Logan Elm State Memorial marks the site where, in 1774, Chief Logan of the Cayuga tribe delivered his famous speech on relations between American Indians and early Ohio settlers. The historic site commemorates this significant moment in early American and Native American relations. Though the original elm tree is no longer standing, the memorial preserves the legacy of Chief Logan's eloquent address about peace and conflict.
6. Newark Earthworks
ANCIENT GEOMETRIC MOUNDS
The Newark Earthworks comprise the Great Circle Earthworks, Octagon Earthworks, and Wright Earthworks, forming the largest set of geometric earthworks ever known. These remarkable structures were built approximately 2,000 years ago by indigenous peoples of the Hopewell culture. Visitors can walk through these precisely constructed mounds that demonstrate sophisticated knowledge of geometry and astronomy.
7. Ohio History Center
COMPREHENSIVE STATE HISTORY
The Ohio History Center offers extensive exhibits on Ohio history, archaeology, and natural history in a central location serving as the state's flagship historical site. Visitors can explore a recreated 19th-century Ohio community that brings the past to life through authentic structures and period demonstrations. The center also houses a vast library and archive where researchers can delve deeply into Ohio's rich historical record.
8. Campbell Mound
ANCIENT BURIAL SITE
Campbell Mound stands as one of the last ancient cone-shaped burial mounds remaining in Columbus, situated within the one-acre Campbell Park. This prehistoric earthwork was constructed by indigenous peoples who once inhabited the region thousands of years ago. The mound offers visitors a tangible connection to Ohio's ancient past and the sophisticated cultures that created these enduring monuments.
9. The Maize at Little Darby Creek
FALL CORN MAZE
The Maize at Little Darby Creek offers a seasonal corn maze adventure that challenges visitors to navigate through intricate pathways cut into acres of corn fields. Beyond the maze, visitors can enjoy hayrides, pumpkin patches, and various fall-themed activities for all ages. This family-friendly attraction provides a quintessential autumn experience in rural Ohio with opportunities for outdoor fun and agricultural education.
10. Mud Run Farm
FAMILY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Mud Run Farm welcomes visitors to experience a working family farm with seasonal activities including u-pick fruits and vegetables during harvest seasons. The farm features educational programs where guests can learn about sustainable agricultural practices and the importance of local food systems. Children particularly enjoy interacting with farm animals and participating in hands-on activities that connect them to rural traditions.
11. Mad River Mountain
WINTER SPORTS RESORT
Mad River Mountain stands as Ohio's largest ski resort with multiple slopes catering to skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. The resort features modern snow-making equipment that ensures optimal conditions throughout the winter season regardless of natural snowfall. Visitors can also enjoy snow tubing, terrain parks, and a lodge offering dining options and warming areas between runs.
12. Der Dutchman Restaurant
AUTHENTIC AMISH DINING
Der Dutchman Restaurant serves authentic Amish-style cooking in a welcoming family atmosphere that draws visitors seeking traditional country fare. The restaurant's menu features hand-rolled bread, homemade noodles, and farm-fresh vegetables alongside hearty meat dishes prepared according to generations-old recipes. Adjacent to the restaurant, guests can browse a bakery and gift shop offering homemade pies, cookies, jams, and handcrafted Amish goods to take home.
13. Piatt Castles
HISTORIC GOTHIC MANSIONS
The Piatt Castles consist of two stunning Gothic-style mansions named Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee, built by brothers Abram and Donn Piatt in the 1860s. These architectural marvels feature towers, turrets, and ornate interior woodwork that showcase the craftsmanship and aesthetic of the Victorian era. Guided tours take visitors through rooms filled with original furnishings and personal items belonging to the influential Piatt family, offering insights into 19th-century upper-class rural life.
14. Ohio Caverns
UNDERGROUND CRYSTAL WONDERLAND
Ohio Caverns invites explorers to venture underground and witness some of the most colorful and varied mineral formations found in any cave system. The constant 54-degree temperature inside the caverns provides a cool adventure regardless of the season above ground. Guided tours showcase spectacular crystal-white stalactites, stalagmites, and rare dual formations that have been growing for thousands of years.
15. Freshwater Farms of Ohio
AQUACULTURE AND MARKET
Freshwater Farms of Ohio operates as the state's largest indoor fish hatchery where visitors can learn about sustainable aquaculture practices and local food production. The on-site market offers fresh fish, locally raised meats, and Ohio-made specialty foods that showcase the region's agricultural bounty. Families especially enjoy the hands-on trout petting zoo where children can interact with friendly fish in specially designed touch tanks.