There’s nothing quite like a road trip through Northeast Ohio. You’ll pass stunning landscapes, charming communities, and fascinating historical landmarks. You never know what splendor you’ll find right here in Northeast Ohio, but it certainly helps to have a few set destinations to visit. Along the way, you’ll make both incredible discoveries and memories, especially if you stop at some of the region’s most intriguing historical sites.
Pack some road trip snacks, because we’re about to traverse the loveliest places in Northeast Ohio.
Google Maps For an interactive map, click here.
- Dunham Tavern Museum, Cleveland
Dunham Tavern Museum/Facebook As the second home to sit on this plot of land on Euclid Avenue, east of East 55th Street, one would expect the Dunham Tavern to boast a later construction date than 1824. However, the first home was a mere log cabin that sheltered Rufus and Jane Pratt Dunham until their official home was completed. It once served as a stagecoach stop, but Cleveland’s oldest home is now a museum that offers a glimpse back in time.
- Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, Bedford Reservation
Matthew Dillon/Flickr All throughout Greater Cleveland, the power of flowing water fueled early industry. Many of our former mill towns have ceased to exist as their technology became obsolete, leaving mere ruins behind as a remnant of the hardworking locals that fought to establish the local industry. At the Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek, visitors will spot remnants of an old mill town in its gorge.
- The Cherry Valley Coke Ovens, Leetonia
Roseohioresident/Wikimedia Commons Abandoned and mysterious, this line of ovens in Leetonia often leaves visitors baffled. What were these ovens used for, and why are they abandoned? Built by the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company following the conclusion of the Civil War, these ovens purified coal and turned it into coke, an ingredient used to make iron and steel. Surrounded by splendid hiking trails, this site delights visitors longing to see one of the largest intact beehive coke oven sites in the nation.
- Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool
Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons Charles Arthur Floyd, also known as Pretty Boy Floyd, was a name feared throughout the Great Depression. Floyd was both tragic and notorious, a victim of the Depression that pursued a life of crime in favor of the alternative options. A bank robber, gunfighter, and murderer, Floyd died at the age of 30 when he was shot in a cornfield in what is now Beaver Creek State Park. The area surrounding the park was also the site of the capture of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan during the Civil War, and remnants of history remain throughout the entire park.
- First Ladies National Historic Site, Canton
Kralizec!/Wikimedia Commons Our nation’s First Ladies have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to improve a country that they adored, yet some of their influence has been forgotten by the general public. Two lovely sites, the Ida Saxton McKinley Historic Home and the Education & Research Center, ensure that their legacy will never be forgotten. The museum includes a collection that replicates the first-ever White House Library, relics from Ida McKinley’s childhood, and all sorts of fascinating pieces of local and national history.
- Farnam Manor, Richfield
Ghosts of the Farnam Estate/Facebook Constructed in 1834, this unique home has witnessed decades of change. The site on which the home is built has an even older history, as an old Native American trail runs through the site and a road on the estate was traveled by participants in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Now a museum, this unique site offers a glimpse back in time. You can find the full story here.
- Stanford House, Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Donald G/TripAdvisor The lovely Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the only national park in Ohio, and it’s unusual among the National Park District as it is surrounded by large urban areas. Stretching across 32,572 acres, it’s no surprise that this pretty place includes oodles of history. One of its more fascinating sites is the Stanford House, a site founded by one of the first homesteaders in what is now the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. He arrived in 1806 and established his beautiful Greek revival home circa 1830.
- Fort Hill Loop Trail, Rocky River Reservation
Tim Evanson/Flickr This lovely landscape was one of the first pieces of land purchased by the Cleveland Metroparks, and within its expanse is an ancient structure that fascinates locals. If you look closely, you’ll spot ancient earthworks created by an Early Woodland culture, a group of pre-Columbian peoples that lived in the region until roughly 1100 C.E. The structures are perched up on the top of a cliff, meaning the spot has enchanted locals for thousands of years.
There’s fascinating history all throughout Northeast Ohio, and Greater Cleveland has its own fair share of fascinating stories. What’s your favorite historical monument in Cleveland? Let us know in the comments below!
Google Maps
For an interactive map, click here.
Dunham Tavern Museum/Facebook
As the second home to sit on this plot of land on Euclid Avenue, east of East 55th Street, one would expect the Dunham Tavern to boast a later construction date than 1824. However, the first home was a mere log cabin that sheltered Rufus and Jane Pratt Dunham until their official home was completed. It once served as a stagecoach stop, but Cleveland’s oldest home is now a museum that offers a glimpse back in time.
Matthew Dillon/Flickr
All throughout Greater Cleveland, the power of flowing water fueled early industry. Many of our former mill towns have ceased to exist as their technology became obsolete, leaving mere ruins behind as a remnant of the hardworking locals that fought to establish the local industry. At the Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek, visitors will spot remnants of an old mill town in its gorge.
Roseohioresident/Wikimedia Commons
Abandoned and mysterious, this line of ovens in Leetonia often leaves visitors baffled. What were these ovens used for, and why are they abandoned? Built by the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company following the conclusion of the Civil War, these ovens purified coal and turned it into coke, an ingredient used to make iron and steel. Surrounded by splendid hiking trails, this site delights visitors longing to see one of the largest intact beehive coke oven sites in the nation.
Nyttend/Wikimedia Commons
Charles Arthur Floyd, also known as Pretty Boy Floyd, was a name feared throughout the Great Depression. Floyd was both tragic and notorious, a victim of the Depression that pursued a life of crime in favor of the alternative options. A bank robber, gunfighter, and murderer, Floyd died at the age of 30 when he was shot in a cornfield in what is now Beaver Creek State Park. The area surrounding the park was also the site of the capture of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan during the Civil War, and remnants of history remain throughout the entire park.
Kralizec!/Wikimedia Commons
Our nation’s First Ladies have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to improve a country that they adored, yet some of their influence has been forgotten by the general public. Two lovely sites, the Ida Saxton McKinley Historic Home and the Education & Research Center, ensure that their legacy will never be forgotten. The museum includes a collection that replicates the first-ever White House Library, relics from Ida McKinley’s childhood, and all sorts of fascinating pieces of local and national history.
Ghosts of the Farnam Estate/Facebook
Constructed in 1834, this unique home has witnessed decades of change. The site on which the home is built has an even older history, as an old Native American trail runs through the site and a road on the estate was traveled by participants in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Now a museum, this unique site offers a glimpse back in time. You can find the full story here.
Donald G/TripAdvisor
The lovely Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the only national park in Ohio, and it’s unusual among the National Park District as it is surrounded by large urban areas. Stretching across 32,572 acres, it’s no surprise that this pretty place includes oodles of history. One of its more fascinating sites is the Stanford House, a site founded by one of the first homesteaders in what is now the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. He arrived in 1806 and established his beautiful Greek revival home circa 1830.
Tim Evanson/Flickr
This lovely landscape was one of the first pieces of land purchased by the Cleveland Metroparks, and within its expanse is an ancient structure that fascinates locals. If you look closely, you’ll spot ancient earthworks created by an Early Woodland culture, a group of pre-Columbian peoples that lived in the region until roughly 1100 C.E. The structures are perched up on the top of a cliff, meaning the spot has enchanted locals for thousands of years.
If you enjoyed these fascinating places, just wait until you uncover these beautiful historical destinations throughout Cleveland.
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