Bunker Hill Universalist Pioneer Cemetery

c/o Metroparks of Butler County

2051 Timberman Road, Hamilton, OH  45013

(513) 867-5835 or (877) PARKFUN

www.butlercountymetroparks.org

A one-acre burial ground located on Reily-Millville Road in Reily Township that includes the interments of veterans from the Revolutionary War, Civil War and the War of 1812. Many visitors, searching for their past, have traced their way to Bunker Hill. Access is through Pater Park Wildlife Area off Reily-Millville Road. Open daily.

Butler County Records Center & Archives

123 North Third Street, Hamilton, Ohio  45011

(513) 887-3437

www.butlercountyohio.org/records

The records center contains county archival holdings, except land records, dating from the establishment of the county in 1803.

Cummins Local History Room

Hamilton Lane Public Library

300 North Third Street, Hamilton, OH  45011

(513) 894-7158

www.lanepl.org/cummins_room.htm

The Cummins Local History collection includes material related to the history of Butler County and a number of sources of interest to genealogists such as cemetery indexes, deeds, wills, topographical maps and newspaper articles on microfilm.

Greenwood Cemetery

1602 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton, OH  45011

(513) 896-9726

Hamilton’s original burying ground is a prime example of the rural cemetery movement of the first half of the 19th century. Modeled after the world-famous Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston and Spring Grove in Cincinnati and listed in the Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places, Greenwood is noted for its fine collection of marble statuary and large number of impressive Victorian monuments. Unusually splendid tree-lined roadways match the exuberance of the monuments. Everything in this type of cemetery is designed to impart an intimation of Heaven. Also visit St. Stephen’s Catholic Cemetery (adjacent) and the two Jewish Cemeteries and St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Lindenwald.

Indian Creek Pioneer Church and Burial Ground 

c/o Metroparks of Butler County

2051 Timberman Road, Hamilton, OH  45013

(513) 867-5835 or (877) PARKFUN

www.butlercountymetroparks.org

A brick meeting house, built in 1829, and the cemetery, established in 1810, dominates the site located on Indian Creek Road in Reily Township. The cemetery, reported to be Butler County’s first public burying ground, serves as the final resting place for the area’s earliest settlers. Today, visitors find solace here. Open mid-May through mid-October.

Miami Chapel Cemetery

River Road, Fairfield, OH  45014
(513) 867-5348

www.fairfield-city.org

This quarter-acre historical cemetery is the final resting place for a Revolutionary War soldier, a War of 1812 soldier and four Civil War veterans. The earliest burial is believed to be in 1810, and its latest in 1941.

Pioneer Cemeter

West State Street, Trenton, OH  45067

For those who enjoy history, genealogy and tracing ancestral roots, the Pioneer Cemetery may be a good starting point. It is the final resting place of several Revolutionary War soldiers, marking its first interment in 1804. Trenton’s founder, Michael Pearce, donated the land in 1802. He and wife Phoebe are also buried there. A stone marks the site of an early 1820 church, Elk Creek Baptist, which stood on the land for over a century before being torn down.

Smith Library of Regional History

15 South College Avenue, Oxford, OH 45056

(513) 523-3035

www.lanepl.org/smith.html

The Smith Library, one of the Lane Public Libraries' special collections, is a repository of information on the history of southwestern Ohio with an emphasis on Butler County. The non-circulating collection includes books, magazines, photographs, newspapers, maps, wills, deeds, letters, diaries, yearbooks, census records and other significant materials.

Symmes Burial Ground

Nilles Road at Hicks Boulevard, Fairfield, OH 45014

(513) 867-5348 or www.fairfield-city.org

This one-acre historical site is the burial ground of the city’s first settlers, with many burials taking place in the late 1700s. Early Fairfield area settlers, Celadon and Phebe Symmes and seven of their children are buried in the cemetery.

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Butler County Courthouse

High and Court Streets, Hamilton, OH  45011

(513) 785-5154

One of the county’s foremost active landmarks, this grand, four-story structure is an outstanding example of Second Empire architecture built in the late nineteenth century. The cornerstone was placed in 1885, and the $305,000 structure was occupied February 4, 1889. The courthouse was considered grandiose at the time it was built and showed great confidence in the future to build such a big and fine building with its use of imported granite, marble and plate glass, along with solid black walnut for trim and doors. It has survived fire, flood, numerous storms, other natural and man-caused problems, several cosmetic alterations and at least one ghost. Parts of the building are still used for court hearings. Open Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:30PM.

Dayton-Campbell Historic District

c/o Nye Family Vision Center

712 Dayton Street, Hamilton, OH  45011

www.historicdaytonlane.org

View nearly 200 nineteenth century homes representing a variety of architectural styles prominent between 1870 and 1910 including Queen Anne, Italianate, Colonial Revival, Prairie, and Second Renaissance Revival. This National Register Historic District also includes five exceptional carriage houses on Dayton Street and a unique livery stable at 720 Campbell Avenue. Dayton Street features the mansions of prominent industrialists of that time. Campbell Avenue features a tree-lined boulevard originally used as a racetrack by daring young equestrians that later became the favorite meeting place for young people during the bicycle craze of 1890. The Dayton-Campbell Historic District continues to be the center of neighborhood and visitor activities including summer concerts in the park, craft shows, park fest, community cookouts, and the biannual tour of homes.

German Village Historic District

North Third @ Dayton Street, Hamilton, OH 45011

(513) 868-9000

In 1973, German Village was the first Historic District to be established in Hamilton.  In 1989, this district was listed on the National Register of Historical Places. German Village is fortunate to have many of Hamilton's most beautiful historic buildings proudly preserved within a nine-square block district starting at North Third and Dayton Streets in Hamilton. German Village was the first residential development outside of Fort Hamilton and was included in the original layout of the City of Hamilton. Construction in the early 1800s was mostly frame and reflected several different periods of 19th century architecture: Queen Anne, Italianate, Eastlake, Gothic Revival and Greek Revival. The neighborhood housed both prominent businessmen and laborers, resulting in a number of significant and unusual buildings. By the 1840s and the completion of the nearby Hydraulic Canal, a wave of German immigrants had arrived and Hamilton was becoming a prominent industrial center. Lampposts, red brick sidewalks, and window boxes today provide nostalgic atmosphere for the current residential homes and businesses.  Christmas Walk in the Village ... a Hamilton tradition for over 15 years ... celebrates the spirit of Christmas past and present in full Victorian splendor.  Many businesses, organizations and private residences open their doors to the public for this free event.

Lane Hooven House

319 North Third Street Hamilton, OH  45011
(513) 863-1389

This rare, restored octagonal home with a unique spiral staircase was built in 1863 and was the private residence of Clark Lane, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist. Today the building houses the Hamilton Community Foundation. The Victorian Gothic house is architecturally highlighted with ornate details on the exterior and fancy multi-colored wallpapers and wall stenciling on the interior. Open Monday–Friday 9AM-4PM. Groups by appointment.

Lane Public Library

300 North Third Street, Hamilton, OH 45011
(513) 894-7156

www.lanepl.org

Built in 1866, the Hamilton Lane Library, an octagonal structure, was the first free public library west of the Alleghenies. This octagonal structure and the Lane Hooven House are two of only 400 found in the U.S. For genealogy, historical records of Butler County, including census, books, maps, wills, deeds, diaries, and newspapers dating back to the early 1800s, The Lane Public Library has two separate historical/genealogical collections: The Smith Library and the Cummins Local History Room. Call for hours and schedule of events.

Monument Cabin

c/o Metroparks of Butler County

2051 Timberman Road, Hamilton, OH 45013

(513) 867-5835 or (877) PARKFUN

www.butlercountymetroparks.org

Located on Monument Avenue in Hamilton, the Monument Cabin is an 1804 log house restored on the site of old Fort Hamilton next to the Butler County Soldiers, Sailors, and Pioneers Monument is open for public viewing Monday–Friday 10AM-4PM and Saturday 11AM-3PM.

Rossville Historic District   Rossville, on the west side of the Great Miami River, existed as a separate city from 1810 to 1854, when it merged with the city of Hamilton. The area is bounded by Main Street, The Great Miami River, Millikin Street and South “D” Street. The district contains 116 buildings, most of which were built between 1840 and 1900. The district now protects buildings to aid in an understanding of the community’s history by future generations. Some of the districts most significant homes are seen on Ross Avenue and “D” Streets. Windows, gables, roof styles, porches, columns, stone lintels and steps and other hallmarks help identify the architectural roots of these early buildings. Hamilton’s heritage is obviously strong and proud.

Chrisholm Historic Farmstead

2070 Woodsdale Road, Trenton, OH  45067
c/o Metroparks of Butler County

(513) 867-5835 or (877) PARKFUN

www.butlercountymetroparks.org

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, this Amish-Mennonite home, built by Samuel Augspurger in 1874, is being restored as an educational facility and museum by the MetroParks of Butler County in collaboration with a number of community organizations. A prominent Pennsylvania-style barn is also situated on the property. Chrisholm is the site used by the Butler County Antique Machinery Club for exhibitions and special events, including the Fall Harvest Fest. It can be viewed as a part of an auto-tour that directs visitors to roadside views of a total of twelve historic sites in Trenton. Many of these homes were part of an Amish-Mennonite settlement that came to Butler County under the leadership of Christian Augspurger in 1819. In 1829, many of those families began settling in or near Trenton. Site is open Saturdays & Sundays Memorial Day through Labor Day 1PM-5PM.

Cox Homestead

Near SR 744 & Oxford-Middletown Road, Jacksonburg, OH

Located near the smallest incorporated village in Ohio is the birthplace of three-term governor, congressman and presidential candidate James M. Cox. Now maintained as a private museum, the house dates back to 1820. Open by appointment only April to October.

Elisha Morgan Farm Mansion

6181 Ross Road, Fairfield, OH 45014
(513) 867-5834

www.fairfield-city.org

This beautifully restored 1817 Flemish Bond brick house listed on the National Register of Historic Places is located at Gilbert Farms Park. Gilbert Farms Park features picnic facilities, play structures, soccer fields, a baseball diamond, tennis and basketball courts.

Governor Bebb Preserve

1979 Bebb Park Lane, Okeana, OH
c/o Metroparks of Butler County, 2051 Timberman Road, Hamilton, OH  45013  (513) 867-5835 or (877) PARKFUN

www.butlercountymetroparks.org

A touch of nostalgia, the smell of fresh air and a bit of historical flavor are just of few of the ingredients in this preserve. Park features include a circa 1850 covered bridge and historical pioneer village. The pioneer village includes the log house birthplace of William Bebb, Ohio’s nineteenth governor and Butler County native, along with six other log structures depicting a general store, tavern, blacksmith shop, one-room schoolhouse and more. Several special events are held here each year including the Native American Encampment, Pioneer Days, and Christmas in the Village.

Hughes Schoolhouse

5994 Princeton Road, Liberty Township, OH  45011

(513) 777-4761

This restored one-room schoolhouse built in 1887 is complete with authentic furnishings. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this schoolhouse is located on Princeton Road, just east of LeSourdsville-West Chester Road. Open by appointment only.

Monroe Log Cabin

South Main Street, Monroe, OH.
(513) 539-7310

Monroe Community Park is the home to a circa 1800, one-room cabin with period pioneer furnishings. Open by appointment only.

Station Road Schoolhouse

Station Road, West Chester, OH  45069

(513) 759-7301

A two-room schoolhouse built in 1900.

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Butler County Museum/Benninghofen House

327 N. Second Street, Hamilton, OH 45011

(513) 896-9930

http://home.fuse.net/butlercountymuseum

Visit the home of the Butler County Historical Society and Museum and experience the fine architectural detail and furnishings of this Italianate-style National Register residence, which allows a wonderful glimpse of the best of the past. The extensive collections include 19th century decorative arts, many toys and dolls of the period, and items representing prominent persons and events in the history of Butler County. Admission charged. Open Tuesday–Saturday 11AM-4PM.

Butler County Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument

High & Monument Avenue, Hamilton, OH  45011  
(513) 867-5823

www.butlercountyohio.org/monument

Located at High & Monument Avenue in Hamilton, this Butler County monument stands proudly at the 1790s site of Fort Hamilton on the Great Miami River. Dedicated July 4, 1906, the $71,266 three-story structure was erected by grateful citizens to “perpetuate the memory of the soldiers, sailors and pioneers of Butler County.” Notable features are colorful windows, including two large displays that honor the service of women during the Civil War. Most prominent is Billy Yank, a 17-foot, 3,500-pound Civil War soldier proclaiming victory that was designed and built by Rudolph Thiem, who learned sculpture and model making in Germany before migrating to Hamilton. Military displays are housed within. Open Monday–Friday 10AM-4PM and Saturday 11AM-3PM.  Free Admission.

Butler County Veterans Memorial

Veteran's Park, 20 New London Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011

(513) 785-7060

Home of the Butler County Veteran's Memorial with over 700 names of local Armed Service heroes from World War I to present.  This city park, also, has a retired Howitzer Cannon and the Michael J. Colligan Lodge.

Heritage Hall

20 High Street, Hamilton, OH  45011

(513) 737-5958

Located inside the former Hamilton Municipal Building, the new Heritage Hall and Robert McCloskey Museum officially opened on May 6, 2007 and is now open for tours. Staffed hours are Friday, 9AM-5PM and Saturday 9AM-2PM; otherwise open by appointment only.  It takes approximately 45 minutes to view the history exhibit, the McCloskey Room and the Council Chambers. There are two separate video presentations on the life of Robert McCloskey. A touch-screen kiosk shows different historic sites in Hamilton, the architecture of the Municipal Building and information on Robert McCloskey. Young McCloskey played a prominent role in both the exterior and interior design of this historic structure.  Donations are accepted.  For information on Heritage Hall, click here.

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity Museum

5134 Bonham Road, Oxford, OH  45056

(513) 523-7591

This museum is located In the offices of Beta Theta Pi college fraternity, founded at Miami University in 1839.  The Museum offers a comprehensive history of the Fraternity’s founding, the history and lore of one of the nation’s oldest and largest fraternities, its music and heraldry as well as the involvement of its members in wars from the Civil War through the Vietnam War.

Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Canal Museum

Smith Park, 1605 N. Verity Parkway, Middletown, OH

(513) 422-7161  or (513) 424-5539

Located on the route of the Miami-Erie Canal (c. 1825 to 1929). On the opposite side of the building is the Hydraulic Canal, built in 1852 to provide waterpower to Middletown’s growing industry. Constructed in 1982 by the Middletown Historical Society in the style of a locktender’s house, the Canal Museum presents displays documenting the story of the Miami-Erie Canal and the early industry of Middletown. The Canal began in Middletown in 1825 when New York governor DeWitt Clinton, the father of the Erie Canal, dug the first spade full of dirt. The Canal signaled the beginning of industrial growth for Middletown as a paper and steel town. Open mid-April to mid-October, Sundays 2PM-4PM and other times by appointment.

Freedom Summer 1964 Memorial

Western College Historic District, Western Drive, Oxford, OH  45056
(513) 523-8687

This outdoor memorial commemorates civil rights workers who trained here in 1964. On June 20, 1964 the first group of workers left Oxford for Mississippi. The next day, three were reported missing and six weeks later, their bodies were found buried in an earthen dam. The memorial is a joint project of the Oxford NAACP, Friends of the Mississippi Summer Project and Miami University.

McGuffey Museum

Miami University, Spring & Oak Streets, Oxford, OH 45056

(513) 529-8380

www.lib.muohio.edu/mcguffey/museum.php

McGuffey was a Miami faculty member in 1836 when he compiled the first edition of the McGuffey Eclectic Reader in this home at 410 East Spring Street. This innovative textbook and the series that followed reshaped the American public school curriculum and became one of the nation's most influential publications. After the Civil War the Readers became the basic schoolbook in thirty-seven states and by 1920 sold 122,000,000 copies, stimulating the growth of publishing in Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. An 1833 Federal vernacular home with later stylistic changes, an extensive renovation was completed in May 2002. The Museum exhibits University, regional and local history, domestic architecture and material culture, and interprets the history of literacy and schooling, personal items of McGuffey and his family, and a rare collection of Readers. McGuffey House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and an Ohio Bicentennial site in 2002.

The Monroe Historical Society Museum

Main & Elm Street, Monroe, OH

(513) 539-2270 or (513) 539-7310

This Historical Society operates two museum buildings displaying artifacts depicting the history of Monroe and the surrounding areas. Platted in 1817, the town is rich in farming heritage. The museum is open Thursdays 1PM-3PM or by appointment.

Oxford Museum Association

P.O. Box 184, Oxford, OH  45056
(513) 523-2546

The Oxford Museum Association, a non-profit organization of community members, maintains a goal of preserving the past for the education and appreciation of future generations. Through such activities as historic demonstrations and re-creations, cooperative school programs, college internships, special tours, historic programs, and local exhibits, the association strives to foster an understanding of lifestyles of the nineteenth century. Historic sites maintained by the organization include the Pioneer Farm & House Museum on Brown Road, north of Oxford which features the 1836 homestead of the Doty family and an 1840s pioneer barn which houses a broad range of farming artifacts; the DeWitt Log Homestead on Miami University property near SR 73, east of Oxford which was built in 1805, is listed on the National Historic Register as the oldest surviving structure in Oxford Township, and is currently undergoing comprehensive restoration; and the Black Covered Bridge constructed in 1868 which spans Four Mile (Tallawanda) Creek along SR 732, north of Oxford and was restored in 2000. Contact the Museum Association for group guided tours of these sites or for more information.

Pickwick Building

56 South Main Street, Middletown, OH

(513) 424-5539

The Pickwick Building was built in 1836 and is the second oldest surviving commercial building in Middletown. No one remembers when it was first called the Pickwick, but the name almost certainly came from the English author Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers, which was penned that same year. Through the years the building has had many lives – as an inn, a tavern, a private residence, doctor’s office, lawyer’s office and many more. Today it is the headquarters for the Middletown Historical Society. On the first floor are three exhibit rooms where the Society mounts various displays highlighting local history. In addition, there is the Herbert Fall Gallery of Art, a resource room, gift shop and the Society offices. The second floor provides space for archiving and storing the collections of the Society. Open year-round Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-2PM, Sunday 1PM-5PM, and other times by appointment.

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Hamilton Historic District Walking Tour

c/o Greater Hamilton Visitors Bureau

One High Street, Hamilton, OH  45011

(513) 844-8080 or (800) 311-5353 or email

Among the legacies of Hamilton's success is an accessible assortment of architectural and historic treasures. Hamiltonians, proud of their history, have preserved and polished structures that represent a cross-section of the city's cultural and economic past. Discover history at your own pace by participating in this self-guided tour of historic Hamilton. An understanding of ancestry can be gleaned from numerous sites of three compact historical districts and downtown Hamilton that showcase homes large and small along with a variety of business, industrial, and public buildings. Call for a free, comprehensive brochure, including detailed historic facts within Dayton-Campbell, German Village, Rossville, and downtown Hamilton! Group escorted tours are also available. Call for a copy of the Walking Tours of Historic Hamilton brochure

Miami University Walking Tour

c/o Oxford Visitors Bureau

30 West Park Place, 2nd Floor Oxford, OH  45056

(513) 523-8687

Take a walk through Miami’s historic campus. The campus map contains a walking tour that highlights many historic sites, such as The Old Manse, 410 East High Street. Built in 1852, this structure was also referred to as the "Coffee Mill House." Its classic proportions feature a façade with a paneled effect on each side of the entrance. It served as a manse for Oxford's Presbyterian Church from the 1880s through the 1960s and is now the department of comparative religion. Langstroth Cottage, Patterson Ave, between Bachelor Hall and Western Drive (513) 529-5628, was built in 1856. Home of the "Father of American Bee-Keeping", Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth, the façade of the eight-room brick house features brick pilasters at each corner and at the center of the sidewalls, giving the effect of a recessed panel. This decorative and economical architectural feature is seldom found in Oxford. A sculpture commemorating the movable-comb beehive invented by Langstroth is located in the front yard. Listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Lewis Place, located on High Street between University Avenue and Bishop Street, has been home to Miami University presidents since 1903. Built in 1839, the17-room Southern Plantation style mansion features a long veranda on the front with four long "walk-through" windows. It was named after Romeo and Jane Lewis, its first residents. Since this is a private residence, it is not open to the public.

Trenton Historical Society Museum & Driving Tour

17 East State Street, Trenton, OH

(513) 424-0740 or (513) 988-9634

Circa 1890, the museum features exhibits relating to the development of Trenton, platted in 1816, and is open for special events or by appointment. Visitors also enjoy the spontaneity and pace of Trenton’s self-guided auto tour with 77 sites along with a guide of the Trenton area homes that are on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the favorites, the Henry P. Deuchler Farm, is preserved by the fifth generation of the home’s founder and namesake. The private farm home was constructed in 1870 and is believed to be built by the same contractor of the “Chrisholm Farmstead,” located nearby.

Uptown Oxford Historic Walking Tour

c/o Oxford Visitors Bureau

30 West Park Place, 2nd Floor Oxford, OH  45056

(513) 523-8687

Designated by the City of Oxford in 1987, the Uptown Oxford Historic District includes commercial, residential, recreational, and religious sites, which comprise the High Street business district. This self-guided walking tour covers a twelve-block area and provides brief descriptions of the historic and architectural significance of nearly 100 sites. Buildings included in the tour were constructed prior to World War II and (with one exception) are still standing today. Group escorted tours are also available.

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