History lovers have a lot to love in Ohio. From amazing effigies that offer a glimpse into the lives of the state's original inhabitants to historic towns and architectural marvels, history is alive and well in the Buckeye State. If you're looking for a real-life lesson in Buckeye State history, visit Granville, an historic small town in Ohio.
Granville, Ohio, is a special place with an interesting history. Unlike many settlements in the early 1800s, Granville was a planned community, founded in 1805 by people from the town of Granville, Massachusetts.
Today, this New England influence - and celebrated history - can be felt all throughout town. It's also evident in Granville, Ohio, history.
The town's history is front-and-center at Granville Historical Society Museum. The Granville Historical Society was created on March 9, 1885, by Charles Webster Bryant, Crayton Black, and Francis Shepardson, in honor of the town's 75th anniversary.
Today, the museum remains true to its founders' vision; open seasonally, it houses and displays important artifacts from the history of the area, from a mastodon tooth, to a bassoon that saw action in the War of 1812, to a wide array of clothing and household objects.
Another Granville gem, The Avery-Downer House and Robbins Hunter Museum, is a historic house museum furnished with 18th and 19th century decorative arts acquired by the original owners, as well as collectors tied to the house over its long history.
It was completed in 1842, with additions in 1875, 1930, and finally during Robbins Hunter's occupancy from 1956 to 1979. The house has 27 rooms, 16 of which are open to the public.
Founded in 1831, Denison University is an independent residential college of liberal arts and sciences.
Denison’s campus is beautiful and exceptionally well suited for its academic mission.
With historic and contemporary buildings and state-of-the-art facilities -- all within walking distance of each other -- the campus spans 900 acres, including a 560-acre biological reserve. It's the perfect mix of history and scenic beauty.
In fact, this history-meets-nature theme continues with many of the buildings in Granville. The Granville Inn, for example, is surrounded by rolling hills and soaring trees.
Built in 1924, this century-old building is a favorite for special events and weddings -- in addition to being a memorable place to spend the night!
There's perhaps nowhere more beautiful in Granville than the Bryn Du Mansion. The century-old estate, which has 52 rooms and 13 fireplaces, is owned by the village and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Located on 50+ bucolic acres, the Bryn Du Mansion is a popular location for business meetings, weddings, banquets, trade shows, and sporting events like Sunday polo matches.
The historic sites in Granville aren't all brick-and-mortar buildings, however. Alligator Mound is an effigy located in the Village of Granville.
The mound is 200 feet long and five to six feet high at its highest point. It is located on the top of a bluff overlooking the Raccoon Creek valley.
In spite of its name, the mound likely was not intended to represent an alligator. It is in the shape of a four-footed creature with a round head and a long tail that curls at the end. In fact, it resembles an opossum or a panther much more than an alligator.
It may represent the Underwater Panther, a supernatural creature thought by many American Indian tribes to reside in lakes and other bodies of water. Regardless, it's one of the most fascinating historic places in Ohio.
When you visit Granville, you're in for an immersive lesson in Ohio history.
Whether you're a history lover or not, you'll be so delighted to discover this small Ohio town!
Of course, the adventures continue outside this historic small town in Ohio, too. If you'd like to explore more of the area, pack up the car and check out this scenic day trip through Central Ohio!
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