The Area

Mount Gilead

town Morrow County was founded February 24, 1848. At that time Jeremiah Morrow was the ninth governor of Ohio. He also served in the U.S. Senate and was a member of the House of Representatives at the time the county was formed. It was formed from parts of Delaware, Knox, Marion, and Richland Counties.

Mount Gilead was platted in 1824 under the name of Whetsom, but changed to its present biblical name in 1832 and became the county seat. The discovery of oil in this area brought active business to Mount Gilead, especially after the construction of Route 42, which connects this section of the state with Lake Erie ports.

In the center of Mount Gilead is the Monument (The Victory Shaft), dedicated to the citizens of Morrow County, by the U.S. Government for the highest sales per capita in the state, of World War I War Bonds and stamps in 1919. The reported sales were 727,070, or an average of 43:15 for every man, woman, and child in the County, which totaled 16,800 at that time. The number 1848 in the flag depicts the founding year of Morrow County. The Flag, chosen in a countywide contest, was first flown at the 132nd Ohio State Fair in August of 1885.

Within walking distance is Main Street where you can find a number of gift shops, antique stores and restaurants. The Sames & Cook Coffee House named after a turn of the century hardware store believed to have been located in the same location on South Main Street. The shop features Antiques & Gifts and was opened in the Fall of 2005. You can enjoy a cup of coffee, hot cocoa or tea at the antique coffee bar and browse antiques in the store. While you’re in the vicinity, you can visit the other antique store, “The This and That” shop. Cindy’s Cakery offers a delicious selection of cakes and cookies for a mid day snack or soup and sandwiches for lunch. The Capital Theater on W. High Street features first run movies for a fraction of the price. Enjoy the show in a quaint theater for $3 for a matinee or $4 for an evening show.

Enjoy the unique architecture of the area. Two prime examples of classic architecture include the Morrow County Courthouse and the Jail. Both are listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The Courthouse, first occupied in 1852, was the first courthouse in Morrow County. It still stands today and serves its original role as county courthouse. The original Greek Revival structure was designed by David Ault, a prominent area builder. However, the building was extensively remodeled in the 1890’s to give the building a hybrid Greek Revival-Richardsonian Romanesque appearance. The building has been remodeled further over the years by adding a Neoclassical-style addition to the rear of the previous extension and moving some of the interior court rooms.

The Old Morrow County Jail was first occupied in January of 1884 is an example of Second Empire architecture. Until 1972 this building functioned as the county’s jail where the sheriff and his family resided in living quarters provided in the front of the jail. Presently the jail occupies another location and this building is used for the Prosecutor’s Offices. The Veteran’s Memorial Park will be located in the green area between the courthouse and the old jail and will face East High Street.

Area Attractions

Mt. Gilead State Park
4119 State Route 95 • Mt. Gilead, Ohio 43338 • (419) 946-1961
Mt. Gilead State Park is a 172 acre park located near the eastern boundaries of the village and provides many opportunities for year round activities including summer nature programs and winter sports include sledding and ice skating. This park has 32 acres of water for boating and fishing. There are facilities for camping, and picnicking and trails for hiking.

Living Bible Museum
500 Tingley Avenue • Mansfield, Ohio • 419-524-0139
The Living Bible Museum in Mansfield is like walking through a wax museum of the Bible. There are forty-one dioramas. Tours are divided by the Old Testament and New Testament segments; each are separate 1 hour tours. There are forty-one elaborate dioramas, created entirely by volunteers affiliated with the adjacent nondenominational church. It has been a labor of capital “L” Love since it opened in 1987. People from the Ministry sewed the costumes, and a hairdresser from Columbus shaped the figures’ hairstyles. Prayers have been answered with guidance on how to create each scene, and uncanny help — such as the donation of some spare figures from Madame Tussauds. Our hostess/guide, as it turns out, is a “Mrs. Love.” She leads us along dark black corridors, where each story dramatically comes to life. The LBM concentrates on the cinematic, highly visual parts of the Bible, not exactly in chronological order, but “spiritually sequenced.” You’ve seen some of it via DeMille and Victor Mature, but not exactly this way, and perhaps not with such sincerity.

Malabar Farm
4050 Bromfield Road • Lucas, Ohio 44843 • 419-892-2784
Malabar Farm in Pleasant Valley was the design of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Louis Bromfield. Bromfield and architect Louis Lamoreux designed the 32-room Big House. The house and farm are preserved just as Louis left it in 1956. Malabar Farm reflects the agricultural tradition of Ohio while focusing on Louis Bromfield’s life and philosophies. Tours of the mansion are offered year-round.

There are twelve miles of trail for the hiker or horseperson to enjoy. Trails traverse scenic fields and forests. A picnic area with tables, grills, drinking water and latrines is available. Good catches of bluegill and catfish can be caught from the farm ponds at Malabar. A wheelchair-accessible dock is provided at the Big House Pond. A valid Ohio fishing license is required. Sledding, ice skating and cross-country skiing are permitted during appropriate weather. Cross country ski rental available at the Big House Gift Shop.

Malabar Inn Restaurant, located within the park, is a restored “stagecoach” inn built in 1820. Today, the inn is state-owned and offers home-cooked meals, Tuesday through Sunday, May 1-October 31. The inn is also open on weekends in March and April and during park events and winter weekends.

Brownella Cottage
SR 309• Galion, OH 44833 • 419-468-5567
Brownella Cottage is a restored Victorian mansion (1887) of Bishop William M. Brown, turn-of-the-century national political and religious leader, complete with original furnishings. Grounds feature the Bishop’s library, covered walkways and a history museum. Open on Sundays from June-Oct.

The Heritage Center Museum
7 E. Main Street • Plymouth, OH 44865 • 419-687-5400
A historical museum is located 23 miles north of Mansfield on St. Rt. 61 depicts small town and rural life from 1820s to the present, with industrial locomotives and Silver King tractors. Gift Shop.

Richland Carousel Park
75 N. Main Street • Mansfield, OH 44902 • 419-522-4223
Richland Carousel Park opened in 1991 as the first new, hand-carved carousel to be built and operated in the United States since the 1930’s. The Carousel figures were carved in the style of G.A. Dentzel, one of the most revered carvers of the early 1900’s. All 52 figures were designed, carved and painted by Carousel Works in Mansfield, Ohio. Carousel Works also restored the antique rounding boards, mirrors and mural frames. There are 30 horses and 22 menagerie figures, including 4 bears, 4 ostriches, 4 cats, 4 rabbits, a goat, giraffe, lion, tiger, zebra and a mythical hippocampus. A Stinson Band Organ provides rousing music for carrousel riders. The scenery panels atop the carrousel depict past and present attractions in Mansfield.

Carousel Magic
44 West 4th St. • Mansfield, OH 44901 • 419-526-4009
Watch skilled craftsmen carve, finish, and paint hardwood blocks into beautiful carousel figures. Tours teach you about the history, styles, and construction of carousels.

Kingwood Center
900 Park Avenue West • Mansfield, OH 44906 • 419-522-0211
Kingwood is the 47-acre former estate of Charles K. King. Mr. King made his fortune in Mansfield, Ohio working with the Ohio Brass Company. Hired as the company’s first electrical engineer in 1893, he led Ohio Brass into new ventures, particularly the manufacture of electrical fittings for railroads and trolleys. Mr. King eventually became President and Chairman of the Board of Ohio Brass. The grounds are renowned for both their historic significance and the brilliant floral displays of the new gardens. The French Provincial mansion contains many rooms decorated with Mr. King’s original furnishings and one of Ohio’s outstanding horticultural libraries. An elegant greenhouse features year-round displays and plant sales. The extensive grounds offer opportunities for hiking and quiet isolation.

The Lincoln Highway National Museum & Archives
102 Old Lincoln Way West • Galion, Ohio 44833 • 419-462-2212
The Museum, a nationwide Millennium Project is a “Must See” for all Americans and contains over 10,000 square feet of display space. There is a large Lincoln Highway Exhibit which features a lot of original artifacts and material including the author’s copy of the official history of The Lincoln Highway.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
7721 Steam Corners Road • Lexington, OH 44904-0108 • 419-884-4000
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, located in Lexington, Ohio, is approximately 15 miles from Mt. Gilead, OH. Widely known as the “most competitive in the U.S.” Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a permanent road course with both a 2.4-mile, 15-turn configuration and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn layout. Among the track’s signature turns are the Keyhole, the Esses, Thunder Valley and the Carousel. The track recently celebrated 40 Years of Racing and annually plays host to thousands of race fans and some of the finest amateur and professional racing anywhere in the world.

Mohican State Park
3116 State Route 3 • Loudonville, Ohio 44842 • 419-994-5125
Mohican State Park and the adjacent state forest are outstanding in their beauty and offer limitless opportunities for visitors to explore one of Ohio’s most unique natural regions. The striking Clearfork Gorge, hemlock forest and scenic Mohican River offer a wilderness experience. The Mohican State Park area was once the hunting grounds of the Delaware Indians.

Renaissance Theatre
138 Park Avenue West • Mansfield, OH 44902 • 419-522-2726
A restored movie palace in the grand baroque style, this beautiful theatre celebrated its 75th birthday in January 2003. The Renaissance Performing Arts (RPA) now serves a region of eight counties and a population of nearly 400,000, reaching out much farther than Richland County with its programming. The only large theatre in north central Ohio, the Renaissance is the home of the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program. In addition, Renaissance Performing Arts, with the support of many corporate sponsors, presents the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra concert seasons, the Renaissance Broadway Series, the Summer at the Renaissance Series, as well as country, comedy, and nostalgic rock programming.

Snow Trails Ski Resort
3100 Possum Run Road • Mansfield, OH 44903
Snow Trails Ski Resort is located15 miles south of Mansfield. It is considered to be one of Ohio’s first and finest resort. Snow Trails personnel make your visit pleasant and enjoyable. They know what skiers and boarders want and need. Six chairlifts mean no waiting in long lines. Broad slopes and a warm and comfortable day lodge offer fine skiing, radical riding, casual comfort and the atmosphere of a European resort.

The President Harding Home and Museum
380 Mount Vernon Avenue • Marion, OH
The President Harding Home and Museum is where Warren G. Harding conducted his “Front Porch Campaign” in the 1920 presidential elections. Guided tours are available seasonally. The memorial –a circular, pillared monument of white Georgian marble– contains the tombs of President and Mrs. Harding.

The Mansfield Art Center
700 Marion Avenue • Mansfield, OH 44903 • 419-756-1700
The Mansfield Art Center’s award winning, modern wood and glass building sits on 8 1/2 acres of wooded meadow. The annual exhibition schedule includes two juried shows, four invitational theme shows combining the newest works in all media by contemporary Ohio artists, one very special exhibition borrowed from many of the nation’s most important museums, and the Holiday Fair (an exhibition and sales of fine gifts in November).

Mansfield Fire Museum
W. Fourth St. • Mansfield, OH 44906 • 419-529-2573
A museum of fire fighting history with reproductions of a turn-of-the-century fire station and a part of Main Street in downtown Mansfield featuring the famous Coney Island.

Mansfield Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Museum
34 Park Ave W • Mansfield, OH 44902-1603 • 419-525-2491
The Memorial Building houses the oldest museum in Richland County. The building was built in 1888 and is the oldest continuously used memorial building in the state of Ohio. The museum houses artifacts of military history of Richland County as well as civil and natural history artifacts.

Oak Hill Cottage
310 Springmill Street • Mansfield, OH • 419-524-1765
Oak Hill Cottage is considered to be one of the most perfect Gothic Houses in the United States and welcomes visitors, small clubs or family groups from April through December and hosts exhibits and events throughout the year. Built in 1847, the house has seven gables, five double chimneys and seven marble fireplaces. It also houses the original furnishings. Louis Bromfield, native of Mansfield and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, played at Oak Hill as a child. His memories of the home were the basis for “Shane’s Castle” in his 1924 novel “The Green Bay Tree.”

The Ohio Bird Sanctuary
3773 Orweiler Road • Mansfield, OH
The Ohio Bird Sanctuary is located on the headwater of the Clearfork River in Mansfield, Ohio. The marsh and old growth forest offers great birding and hiking opportunities. Enjoy seeing birds up close at the birds of prey or by walking through the songbird aviary. The Ohio Bird Sanctuary is also a wildlife rehabilitation for native bird species. Groups can schedule” Falcon & Friends”, a live bird presentation. Picnic tables, gift shop area displays.

Kokosing River Lake
36007 State Route 715 • Warsaw, OH, 43844-9534 • 740-824-4343
Kokosing Dam is about 15 minutes north of Mount Vernon and just west of Fredericktown, Ohio. From Fredericktown, access to the dam is via State Route 13 north to Waterford Road. It was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control. It is an impervious earth-fill dam with an unregulated outlet structure and a 3.5 ft x 6.75 ft high outlet tunnel. The picnic and boat launch area is located off Waterford Road and includes concrete picnic sites.

Shamrock Vineyard
111 Rengert Road • Morrow County Road 25 • Waldo, Ohio • 740-726-2883
Shamrock Vineyard, a family winery in Waldo, claims the first successful wine-grape planting in North Central Ohio. They planted their first vines in 1971 in the midlle of grain fields. The cold weather has been a major obstacle. To date, more than 25 varieties have been planted and the most winter-hardy have survived. Their hardy European-American vines produce wines of excellent quality.

Wines produced include two Seyvals; Vidal, Marechal Foch, Shamrock Rose, an oak-fermented robust Chancellor, and Waldeau Red. The Windfall White, a blend of labruscana and hybrid grapes is a local legend. They also produce Buckeye Red and Royal Gold.

Heritage Hall
169 E. Church St. • Marion, Ohio • 740-387-4255
Heritage Hall, once the city’s main post office, is three museums in one. It is the home to the famous Wyandot Popcorn Museum and also features Warren G. Harding memorabilia and thousands of historical relics collected by the Marion County Historical Society.

Day Trips

Cedar Point Amusement Park
(Approximate travel time: 1 hour and a ½)
According to the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA), Cedar Point is the second oldest park in the country. Cedar Point first opened in 1870. The Blue Streak, Cedar Point’s oldest existing roller coaster, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2004. It has given nearly 54 million rides since 1964. Cedar Point was named for the groves of cedar trees that once populated the peninsula. The park’s first ride was a water trapeze in the early 1880s that hurled riders into Lake Erie. Cedar Point’s historic Hotel Breakers opened in 1905, under the careful planning of then-park president, George Boeckling. It was his idea to build “the largest and greatest hotel on the Great Lakes.” The first roller coaster opened at Cedar Point in 1892. Named the Switchback Railway, this scream machine thrilled riders with its 25-foot-tall first hill. Top Thrill Dragster is Cedar Point’s 16th roller coaster and it opened in May 2003, enabling the park to break its own record for having more coasters than anywhere else in the world!

Longaberger Company
(Approximate travel time: 1 hour)
The Longaberger Company is America’s premier maker of handcrafted baskets and offers other home and lifestyle products, including pottery, wrought iron, fabric accessories and specialty foods. The company is based in Newark, Ohio, and there are tens of thousands of independent home consultants located in all U.S. states who sell Longaberger products directly to customers.

Longaberger Homestead will create a warm feeling in your heart as it was designed to take you back in time, when the pace of life was slower and families had more time to spend together. Visit Longaberger Homestead to experience wonderful family events, great shopping and delicious dining! Longaberger offers a variety of restaurants to help keep you going. Their various facilities offer guests many options, including different styles of food, atmosphere, price ranges, grab and go to a nice relaxing seated dinner. Longaberger Homestead® is located at: 5563 Raiders Road, Frazeysburg, OH 43822.

The Longaberger Company’s Home Office really is a basket! Actually, the building is a replica of their Medium Market Basket, only 160 times larger. The Home office is located at One Market Square, 1500 East Main Street, Newark, Ohio 43055.

Columbus Zoo
(Approximate travel time: 50 minutes)
Founded in 1927, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium today hosts more than one million visitors annually and is home to more than 6,000 animals representing 700 species. Situated along the Scioto River, the zoo grounds cover more than 588 acres, 90 of which are used by the park, as well as a golf course.

The 400 acres of animal exhibits stress natural habitats. The Columbus Zoo features 700 species of plant life indigenous to the animal’s original environment. During the ’80s and ’90s, the zoo was the wacky domain of its director, Jack Hanna. Famous for bringing large hissing cockroaches and monkeys to visit network talk-show hosts from Katie Couric to David Letterman, Hanna used his personality and antics to help build the third largest municipally-owned zoo in North America.

The world’s largest indoor pachyderm exhibit is hugely popular. A leader in captive breeding, the zoo saw the first gorilla born in captivity in 1956. Renowned for its conservation program as well, the zoo features an aquarium including the “Manatee Coast” exhibit where visitors can stroll along a muddy beach through a recreated manatee habitat and glimpse the rare and endangered creatures.

Holmes County – Amish Country
(Approximate travel time: 1 hour and a ½)
Follow the horse-drawn buggy into a world that is truly unique, truly different. Here at the center of the world’s largest Amish population, two worlds of culture meet and thrive. Holmes County blends the best of progressive up-to-date growth with the time-honored values of its gentle rural past. The atmosphere is dynamic, the hospitality is genuine. The Amish are the most conservative segment of the Anabaptist movement, which also produced the Mennonites. The Amish resulted from division within the Swiss Brethren. They derived their name from Jacob Amman, an influential Swiss Brethren leader of the late 1600s and early 1700’s.

The Amish believe the Bible teaches a life of simplicity and a distinct separation between the church and the world. In view of this, they have refrained from accepting technology and a lot of cultural changes that have been introduced as progress.

Cleveland – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
(Approximate travel time: 1 hour and a ½)
The Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was opened to the public on Labor Day weekend in September 1998. Its unique design pays tribute to Rock and Roll and the artists who made the music. Designed by I.M. Pei, it is more an experience than a museum. It is situated on the North Coast of Lake Erie near the East Ninth Street Pier. It is sure to become one of Cleveland’s major attractions. The museum documents the entire history of rock and roll, regardless of induction status. Hall of Fame inductees are honored in a special exhibit inside the museum’s spire.

Mount Gilead

Area Attractions

Day Trips

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