By ALICIA DEMO
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December 13, 2023
Ohio’s Amish Country is ripe with culture ranging from Amish and Mennonite history to a glass plant to pro football memorabilia. This post features 13 different museums and historical sites. Even if you visit two a day, you will still need an entire week to see them all. Of course, you can always plan multiple little trips throughout the year to see them all. Each museum or historical site is listed below, in alphabetic order, with three reasons why you should add that location to your Ohio Amish County vacation. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum The museum features locomotives, railroad cars, tools, and machinery. The building is also an active roundhouse specializing in the preservation of railroad history. Since it is a working museum, visitors are allowed onsite via guided tours only. However, the guided tours guarantee behind-the-scenes information. Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center The highlight of the center is Behalt, a 265-foot circular mural depicting Amish and Mennonite history. The center also features a pre-civil war, one-room school house and a pioneer barn with an Amish buggy display. Stop into the bookstore and gift shop for local crafts, handmade baskets, and a selection of books about Amish and Mennonite culture. BibleWalk Ohio’s only wax museum features 325 wax figures portraying 100 biblical scenes. The interactive exhibits include sound effects and dialogue. While parts of the museum have fees, there are free exhibits including a rare bible collection, Christian art gallery, and American votive folk art. David Warther Carvings The exhibit includes more than 90 carvings made from antique ivory, ebony wood, and abalone pearl. David Warther works in his on-site workshop daily. There is a high chance you will get to see him working on a piece when you visit. The carvings depict the “History of the Ship.” The museum has five rooms focusing on different eras of shipbuilding. Erb’s Coleman Lantern Museum Erb services Coleman lanterns and started a collection three decades ago. The museum houses more than 3,000 Coleman items. Along with lanterns, visitors will see gas cooking stoves, ice chests, irons, hot plates, and advertising. Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens The museum includes hand-sculpted pieces that focus on the steam-engine. The museum is owned and operated by third and fourth generation family members and it includes the Warther Family Home, “Button House,” Ernest’s workshop, and an arboretum. Ernest Warther was David Warther’s grandfather (see David Warther Carvings above). German Culture Museum Visitors are treated to a snapshot of life in Holmes County and Walnut Creek Township during the 19 th and 20 th The museum features artifacts relating to Joseph Stutzman, the “Father of Amish Country.” Exhibits include a surrey which is a doorless, four-wheeled carriage. Historic Roscoe Village The town, along the Ohio & Eric Canal, was originally built in 1830 and restored 50 years ago. Self-guided living history tours are available daily from 10am until 4pm. See the city along a unique horse-drawn canal boat ride. Killbuck Valley Historical Society and Museum Learn about the natural and cultural history of the region. Venture into the taxidermy section for birds and small game native to the area. Every visit is different because the museum features rotating displays. Millersburg Glass Museum The museum features Millersburg Carnival and Crystal glass made between 1909 and 1912. Visitors can also learn about the history of the local glass plant. The glasswork is cherished by collectors. Some of the items on display are on loan from private collections. Open Air Art Museum The museum features art created by local and regional artists using a variety of mediums. The Haiku Walk boasts 30 large stones with gingko leaf-shaped steel plates engraved with haiku poems in both English and traditional Japanese characters. Woven is a massive installation that used materials found on the grounds of the Open Air Art Museum. Pro Football Hall of Fame Learn about each hall of famer by using the kiosks beside each bronze bust in the Hall of Fame Gallery. See one-of-a-kind artifacts and championship rings in the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery. Upgrade to the “Insider’s Tour” to learn background about the exhibits that is not included on the captions. Victorian House Museum The home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is a 28 room Queen Anne style home that spans 7,000 square feet. The home was featured on HGTV’s “Victorian America.”