Webinar: The Historic Summit Station
Wednesday, June 14th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Columbus’s legendary Logan’s Off Broadway, Jack’s, Jack’s A Go-Go, or Summit Station (it was known by all of these names) served as a haven for lesbians, trans, queer and their friends for nearly four decades. On June 10th, patrons of Summit Station will dedicate Central Ohio’s first LGBTQ+ Ohio Historical Marker outside of the former bar. Join us to hear from Julia Applegate, one of the community leaders that helped make this marker possible to learn how the marker application process morphed from quest to memorialize lesbian life into a documentary focused on preserving this important community her story, We will also be sharing how the Ohio History Connection’s Gay Ohio History Initiative (GOHI) is hoping to spark a memorialization of LGBTQ place-based history across Ohio in the coming years.
Presenters
Julia M. Applegate is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Julia holds a Masters of Public Health and a Master of Arts in Women’s, Sexuality and Gender Studies from The Ohio State University and has 25 years of teaching experience. In addition to teaching she has served as a public health professional, an HIV/AIDS activist, a barista, swim coach, storyteller and most recently an aspiring filmmaker. She lives with her wife of 21 years, two kids, three cats, one leopard gecko and a ball python in the Glen Echo neighborhood of Columbus.
Ben Anthony is the Manager of the Community Engagement Department at the Ohio History Connection. Ben’s background in community trust building, Asset-Based Community Development and equity inform his team’s work to catalyze and empower marginalized and historically excluded Ohioans. Before joining the Ohio History Connection, Ben worked across Ohio as a community and political organizer. Columbus is now home for his wife, three incredible children and two cats. A lover of all things Ohio and the outdoors, Ben is an Ohio State and Columbus Blue Jacket fan who will sneak away to go backpacking whenever he finds the time.
A Warm Handshake and Plate from NAICCO
Life moves fast, and we often forget to ask ourselves, “What am I doing for future generations?” Well, the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO) is sustaining their community by centering around the universal love and need of food.
Preserving and revitalizing does not solely rely on physical efforts, while they are important, there is a cultural component of preservation that leads to physical revitalization projects.
In 2011, Ty and Masami Smith took management roles NAICCO, an urban Indian center based in Columbus. Since that time, they have focused on building up the local Native American community and preserving and restoring their peoples’ cultures, heritages, and traditions. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are a husband-and-wife duo who value family and are focused on giving back to their fellow Native American people, who they now serve as Project Director and Executive Director respectively. Their goal has been to engage the community and to create a sustainability program for the people who personify their mission work at NAICCO.
The Project
The result is NAICCO Cuisine, a food trailer that serves Native American street food. This project has been eight years in the making and came to fruition on Indigenous Peoples Day in 2020. NAICCO Cuisine has come together through the dedication of NAICCO leadership in connecting with their community’s wants and needs. After the NAICCO team collaborated with community elders, NAICCO Board of Trustees, the families and the youth involved in NAICCO they wrote a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans grant proposal and received funding for NAICCO Cuisine.
Native American street food was an instant hit and soon NAICCO Cuisine was invited to take their food trailer to other places around Central Ohio. They never thought this would be possible so soon, or at all for that matter during the pandemic. Originally, they had only planned to operate out of the NAICCO parking lot.
By the end of November, Ohio’s weather had turned cold and there was a spike in COVID-19 cases. NAICCO had to put the trailer away.
After the success from the food trailer, they knew NAICCO Cuisine could not come to an end so soon. Mrs. Smith, Executive Director, pitched the idea for curbside pickup– a way to spread culture and food while be socially distant. The food platters had different themes: Intertribal, Southwest, Oklahoma, Northern Plains and Northwest. Highlighting different areas of food is important for NAICCO to do since the community is intertribal. These platters could be picked up right in NAICCO’s parking lot.
The Effect
“NAICCO is focused on writing a new chapter in Native American history,” Ty Smith, Project Director, notes.
NAICCO Cuisine is about much more than food. It is about teaching, learning, family, visibility, pride and so much more. Ohio does not have any federally recognized tribes which leads to a lack of resources for the indigenous peoples residing here. NAICCO Cuisine provides sustainability to pave the way for future Native American programs to take place at NAICCO and highlight the possibilities for all Native Americans going forward.
From the outside, NAICCO Cuisine looks like a food trailer, or a warm platter of food, but it provides more than sustenance. It provides social and economic development for the people NAICCO represents while preserving Native American culture here in Ohio.
The Possibilities
The food trailer was able to be brought back out in May of this year and was in such high demand that they were booked throughout 2021. NAICCO Cuisine intends to travel throughout Central Ohio and beyond in 2022 and can be tracked on NAICCO’s website and Street Food Finder. Now that the weather has gone cold, the trailer is being stored for winter again and the platters will pick back up again like last winter. They have received stellar reviews and high praise and won the Whitehall Food Truck & Fun Fest Runner-Up Foodie Food Truck Award this summer. Such a successful first year is unprecedented and NAICCO is ready to not only continue but expand this program for the future generations of Native Americans in Ohio and across the United States.
Ty Smith says it best, “NAICCO Cuisine is a warm handshake unto the rest of society.”
There is more to Indigenous culture than what is visible on the surface. It goes deeper. It is a belief system. It is a way of life. It is thinking of future generations. It is self-assurance. It is so much more than words can possess. NAICCO Cuisine gives the Indigenous Peoples of central Ohio the opportunity to connect with one another and find confidence in their identity, while introducing this way of life to the rest of the population.
By Kenzie Hahn
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Revitalize Ohio. All rights reserved.
Historic Tax Credit Coffees in Southeast & Central Ohio
Monday, November 18th, 2019
Have you been wondering about historic tax credit programs here in Ohio? Wondering about the application and review process? Here is an easy introduction to the 20% federal historic tax credit and 25% Ohio historic preservation tax credit which you can use to rehabilitate your historic building. Come chat at a quick informal get together to learn about how the historic tax credit programs work and meet the people who manage them.
Locations of Coffees:
9:00 – 10:00 AM Athens: Athens Community Center – 701 East State Street
12:00 – 1:00 PM Somerset: Village Hall – 100 Public Square
2:30 – 3:30 PM Lancaster: Chamber of Commerce – 109 North Broad Street
5:00 – 6:00 PM Columbus: Fortin Ironworks – 944 West Fifth Avenue
Hayden Easement
16 E Broad St,
Columbus 43215
If you spend some time in the preservation field, you invariably will hit upon this truism: building rehabs don’t move in a straight line, from developer interest, to finished product 12 months later. In fact, more often than not, a rehab project may die a couple (few) deaths, before the building owner holds a ribbon cutting welcoming in new tenants. A dedicated developer is certainly part of the mix; however, financing may fall through, stopping a project dead in its tracks. The hoped for tax credit application may not be approved. The can’t miss tenant pulls out of a project. An owner partnership goes south. The real estate market takes a dive. Given all that can go wrong, it’s a wonder more projects don’t fail.
In December of 2009, we welcomed the latest round of Ohio tax credit projects in the soon-to-be Hotel Indigo on 20 East Broad Street in downtown Columbus. Then-Governor Strickland touted the arrival of the boutique hotel, and everyone was excited. However, as happens so often, the project announced with much fanfare never came to fruition.
Fast forward 10 years, however, and a new ownership group has taken control of the property, secured rehab financing, applied for and received an OHPTC award, and was ready to take the next step: protecting the buildings at 16 and 20 East Broad Street by donating a preservation easement to Heritage Ohio.
It’s wonderful just to see a historic rehab project reborn, but the owner donating a preservation easement is the icing on the cake. Although under a tight deadline to have everything filed by the end of the year, we completed our due diligence and decided to accept the preservation easement.
Executive director Joyce Barrett commented on the buildings, “The very heart of downtown Columbus, and Ohio, is the Statehouse at the corner of Broad and High, and receiving an easement on two historically significant buildings overlooking the Statehouse is an honor for Heritage Ohio. We look forward to safeguarding their historic character for generations to come.”
Columbia/Larrimer Easement
3161 N High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
In December of 2012, Heritage Ohio received a conservation easement on the historic Columbia/Larrimer Building, a commercial property located on High Street in downtown Columbus. If you’ve ever walked past the building you probably know it from its unique storefront windows: a recessed entry decorated with elaborate stained glass panels, with two domed storefront windows that advertise the former “BOTT BROS CIGARS” and “BOTT BROS BILLIARDS.” Although Bott Brothers has been out of business now for many years, the signage has gained historical significance in its own right, and that historical signage is a critical element that tells the story of building, and therefore, is an element protected by the easement.
Today, that area within the building once home to cigars and billiard tables is now home to Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus, and has been for many years. The history of the building itself is fascinating as it has undergone a number of changes and alterations over the years, including the removal of its top two floors at one point in the past.
Executive director Joyce Barrett commented on the unique aspects of the Columbia/
Del Monte Easement
341 South Third St,
Columbus, OH 43215
Last year at this time we were putting the finishing touches on an easement for the Del Monte Building in Columbus (no relation to the company supplying your bananas!) While many of our easements are taken on large commercial buildings in downtown areas, the Del Monte is a smaller example. Originally built as a six-unit apartment building in the early 1900s, the building served a need for living units as Columbus experienced a growth phase during the first quarter of the twentieth century.
The Del Monte is a handsome three-story masonry building with a buff stone foundation and simple cornice. The building features numerous window openings, so even in the early 1900s, the units must have had a light and airy feeling.
Joyce Barrett commented on the positive impact of the easement: “Even modest downtown buildings can benefit from the owner placing an easement on the property, making this a win-win for the owner and for preservationists. In the case of the Del Monte Building, we’ve ensured that a historic building not under local design review will be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come. And the owner can receive a tax deduction for donating the easement.”
A Brief History of Columbus
October 11th, 2017 1 pm – 2 pm
Join Heritage Ohio and Columbus historian Ed Lentz for a webinar discussing some of the interesting histories of Ohio’s capital city. In preparation for Heritage Ohio’s Annual Conference the following week, learn a little about the city we will be exploring during various tours offered.
Heritage Ohio Members Register Here
Not a Member? Join Heritage Ohio now to get access.
Ed Lentz has been teaching, writing and exploring the history of Central Ohio for more than fifty years. When not doing that sort of thing, he teaches from time to time at various local colleges and universities. He writes for local newspapers, consults in history and historic preservation and keeps company with his wife, two cats and occasionally visiting two children.
Ed worked at the Ohio Historical Society for a number of years and was Executive Director of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation from 1983 to 1988 and from 2013 to 2017.
Mr. Lentz holds degrees in history from Princeton University and The Ohio State University. He has written a weekly column on Columbus history for the This Week Community Newspapers since 1992. He has been Historical Consultant to Columbus Neighborhoods programming on WOSU Public Media since 2010. He is the author of several books, including Columbus – The Story of a City ( 2003), A Home of Their Own (2010) and Historic Columbus (2012).
The Most Stunning Historic Theatres in Ohio
We love seeing historic theatres restored in Ohio to their former glory and once again a proud centerpiece of the community. Can you believe some of these theatres were once threatened with demolition to make way for parking lots? Thanks to the work of preservationists across the state, you can still visit these stunning Ohio historic theatres.
Northwest
The Ritz Theatre – Tiffin
The Ritz Theatre opened to great fanfare in December of 1928 in downtown Tiffin. The theatre’s design takes elements from the Italian Renaissance, including an artistic interpretation of a Roman villa in the concert hall. The theatre was renovated in 1998, bringing the theatre back to its original charm and elegance.
Today, the theatre offers a variety of performances including live music, classic films, and theatrical pieces. See the current schedule here.
The Holland Theatre – Bellefontaine
The Holland Theatre is one of the more uniquely designed theatres in Ohio. Both inside and out, the theatre transport the visitor to Holland, with classic Flemish design, including a dutch village-scape in the interior. The theatre opened in 1931 as The Schine’s Holland Theatre. While some alterations have occurred over the years, much of the original splendor of the theatre is intact and ready to wow.
With numerous performance throughout the year, you will have plenty of opportunities to visit the theatre. See the current schedule here.
The Sandusky State Theatre – Sandusky
The Sandusky State Theatre opened in 1938 as The Schine Theatre with a showing of Night Watch. The theatre fell into disrepair in the 1960s, but was extensively renovated in 1990. Theatre hosted a performance of Michael Bolton to celebrate its 75th anniversary. For its centennial anniversary, the Sandusky State Theatre hopes to be completely renovated to its original splendor.
The Sandusky State Theatre offers a wide variety of programming. See their upcoming events here.
The Pemberville Opera House – Pemberville
Resting on the second floor of the Pemberville Town Hall, the Pemberville Opera House opened to Jeptha’s Daughter, an adaptation of the Biblical story. The opera house was wildly popular in before WWII, especially after electric lights were added in 1899. Following years of neglect, renovations were started in 1998 to return the opera house to use.
Today, the Pemberville Opera House hosts several productions every year. See their current schedule at the link above.
The Huber Opera House & Event Center – Hicksville
The Huber Opera House started life as Mackey’s Brick Hotel in downtown Hicksville in 1882. After a fire destroyed the Pettit Opera House, the hotel was converted to an opera house in 1895. The opera house remained the center of community life well into the 1970s, before it became rundown. In 1999, a coalition of community members and businesses purchased the opera house, giving it a new lease on life.
You have plenty of opportunities to visit The Huber Opera House. See their current schedule here.
Southwest
The Victoria Theatre – Dayton
The Victoria Theatre in Dayton traces its roots to The Turner Opera House, opened in 1866. The Turner only existed a few years before being destroyed in a fire. After the opera house was rebuilt, it underwent a series of name changes: The Music Hall in 1871, The Grand Opera House in 1885, The Victoria Opera House in 1899, and The Victoria Theatre in 1902. After surviving the Flood of 1913, another fire destroyed the building in 1918. After being rebuilt, it became The Victory Theatre. It thrived up into the late 1950s, but was marked for demolition in 1972. The community stepped up to save the theatre and the Victory Theatre Association began renovations in 1976. The theatre was transferred to the Arts Center Association in 1988 and was renamed again, back to The Victoria Theatre.
The Victoria Theatre offers extensive programming throughout the year. You can see their current schedule here.
The Murphy Theatre – Wilmington
The Murphy Theatre opened in downtown Wilmington in 1918. After operating as a Vaudeville theater, it was leased to Chakeres Theaters in 1929. In 1989, the theatre was purchased by a local group of citizens who sold stock options to save the theatre. Since the great work of these enterprising citizens, the Murphy Theatre continues to operate to this day.
The Murphy Theatre has numerous films and presentations every month. See their current schedule here.
The Baum Opera House – Miamisburg
The Star City Opera House was constructed by German immigrant Charles Baum in 1884, and quickly became the epicenter of life in Miamisburg. Like many other theaters and opera houses after WWII, it went through a series of name changes and uses, including housing a dinner theater, bowling alley, skating rink, and a few bars. It was slated for demolition in the early 1990s, but was purchased at a Sheriff’s sale. Since then, the Baum Opera House Association has managed the opera house and has fully renovated and restored the space to its former glory.
The Baum Opera House hosts several plays, musicals, and dances throughout the year. See their current schedule here.
The Cincinnati Music Hall – Cincinnati
Music Hall opened with a performance of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Alceste in 1878. More commonly known as Cincinnati Music Hall, the concert hall is the defining structure of Washington Park in Cincinnati. With the decline of the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood, Music Hall’s future came into doubt. It was listed on the 2006 National Trust for Historic Preservation‘s 11 Most Endangered List. Through a grant from the City of Cincinnati, The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, and the generous donations of thousands of people, Music Hall has recently been renovated and will continue to serenade Cincinnati.
To see the current schedule of events at Music Hall, click here.
The Majestic Theatre – Chillicothe
The building that currently houses The Majestic Theatre was built in 1853 as a Masonic Hall. In 1876, the Masons designed an opera house to be built within the Masonic Hall. This opera house became the foundation for The Majestic. In 1904, the Masonic Hall and Opera House were sold, and sold again in 1915. The new owners changed the name of the theater to The Majestic Theatre and it soon became a cinema. After a sale of the building in the 1970s, the structure was renovated, and in 1990, the current non-profit association took control of the theatre.
Today, the theatre still shows films, as well as live performances. You can see the theatre’s full schedule of events here.
Paxton Theatre – Bainbridge
The Paxton Theatre is located on the upper floor of the Paxton Township Hall, opening around 1910. Soon after opening, the space was leased to show motion pictures, continuing under different operators until the early 1950s. In later years it was used as rental and entertainment space. In 1992, it was sold to host the Paint Valley Jamboree, which still takes place in the theatre. The building was recently sold and the current owners plan to make it the center of the community for years to come.
The Paxton Theatre continues to host the Paint Valley Jamboree, as well as numerous other musical guests and Shrek Jr. See all of the Paxton’s events here.
Central
The Ohio Theatre – Columbus
The Spanish Baroque-style Ohio Theatre opened as a Loew’s movie house in 1928. Opening at the end of the silent era of film, the theatre boasted its own orchestra and theater organ. The Ohio remained a cinema until the early 1960s and was threated with demolition by the end of the decade. The citizen-led “Save the Ohio’ campaign raised over $2M in less than a year and the Columbus Association for Performing Arts (CAPA) purchased the theatre. Today, the Ohio Theatre is the crown jewel of Columbus theatres, and hosts The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, The Broadway Series, and more than 100 CAPA events each year.
See CAPAs current schedule here.
The Midland Theatre – Newark
Opened in 1928, The Midland Theatre began its life showing Vaudeville shows and silent films. Interestingly, it was only a week later that the theatre premiered its first “talkie”. The theatre quickly transitioned into a full-time cimema, rotating films on a 3-day schedule. After years of decline, the theatre closed after the Blizzard of ’78 killed the boiler in the theatre. In 1992, The Longaberger Company purchased the theatre and renovated it. It entrusted the theatre to The Newark Midland Theatre Association to be stewards to the theatre and to provide quality programming for Newark.
Today, The Midland Theatre shows a variety of performances including live music and musicals. To see the Midland’s schedule, click here.
The Southern Theatre – Columbus
Just a few blocks south of The Ohio Theatre is another fantastic theater in downtown Columbus. Opened in 1896, the Great Southern Fireproof Hotel and Opera House filled a large gap in theaters in downtown. In the years prior to construction, 5 theaters were lost to fires in just 4 years. Other than being “fireproof”, meaning it was constructed with “fireproof” tile, brick, iron, steel, and concrete, the theatre was one of the first commercial buildings in Columbus to use electric lighting. In 1931, the theatre was converted to a cinema. After years of struggling, the theatre was closed in 1979. In 1982, the Great Southern Hotel was purchased and the owners offered the theatre to CAPA. After a combined effort of state and city funding, as well as donations from numerous donors and businesses, the Southern Theatre reopened in 1998.
See CAPAs current schedule here.
The Marion Palace Theatre – Marion
The Marion Palace opened as a cinema and Vaudeville theater in 1928, premiering with 4 Vaudeville acts and the film, Excess Baggage. The theatre is designed in Spanish Colonial Revival-style, and has several Roman and Greek statues designed by Pietro Caproni. Following several successful years as a cinema and multiple owners, the theatre needed extensive work to maintain its splendor. In the mid-1970s, a group of business owners, dubbed The Palace Guard, started a funding campaign to revitalize the theatre. The Palace Cultural Arts Association has operated the Marion Palace Theatre since then, and continues to provide new and exciting performances for Marion.
The Marion Palace Theatre shows films and live performances several times a month. See their schedule here.
The Lincoln Theatre – Columbus
Located just to the east of downtown Columbus, in the historic African-American neighborhood of King-Lincoln Bronzeville, is The Lincoln Theatre. Opened in 1928 as The Ogden Theatre, the Egyptian Revival theatre originally was used for Vaudeville performances and musical acts, but quickly transitioned into a cinema. It was renamed The Lincoln Theatre in 1939. Following several hard years, the theatre was closed in the early 1970s. The theatre reopened in 2009, with funding assistance from The City of Columbus and Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits, and was widely seen as a catalytic revitalization project for the neighborhood.
See CAPAs current schedule here.
Northeast
The Akron Civic Theatre – Akron
In 1919, construction of a new theatre began in downtown Akron called The Hippodrome. In addition to a theatre, there were 30 planned shops inside an arcade. The project went bankrupt before it was complete. Soon after, Marcus Loew purchased the partially constructed Hippodrome and completed the newest Loew’s Theatre in Akron, designed by architect John Eberson. The interior is designed to resemble a Moorish castle, with Mediterranean elements throughout and is only one of a handful of surviving atmospheric theaters. After several ownership changes and nearly becoming a parking lot in the 1960s, the Akron Civic Theatre was extensively renovated in 2001, it reopened to fanfare with a new partnership with The University of Akron.
The Akron Civic Theatre has many live performances each month. See their current schedule here.
The Brecksville Theatre – Brecksville
The Old Brecksville Town Hall was built in 1874. In the 1940s, performances by the Brecksville Little Theatre began to be held in the town hall building. Paul Newman, yes, that Paul Newman, directed the comedy, Here Today in 1951 there. In 1975, a second theater group, Theater on the Square was established. Tragically, the old town hall was damaged in a fire in 1976, but was repaired. In 2017, it was announced the two theater groups were merging into The Brecksville Theatre and will continue to perform in the old town hall.
The new Brecksville Theatre has several shows lined up this fall. See the schedule here.
The Canton Palace Theatre – Canton
Like The Marion Palace Theatre and The Akron Civic Theatre, The Canton Palace Theatre was designed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style. It is also one of a few surviving atmospheric theatres. The Canton Palace Theatre opened in 1926 as a movie house and Vaudeville theatre. After a period of decline, the theatre closed on its 50th anniversary in 1976 and was soon scheduled for demolition. The Canton Jaycees saved the building and held it in trust until The Canton Palace Theatre Association was formed to operate the theatre. It reopened in 1980 and over $4M in renovations have taken place.
The Canton Palace Theatre continues to show films and have live performances. Their schedule of events can be viewed here.
The Gordon Square Arts District – Cleveland
The Gordon Square Arts District composes three theatres in the Detroit Shoreway: The Capitol Theatre, The Cleveland Public Theatre, and The Near West Theatre.
The Capitol Theatre opened in 1921 as part of the Gordon Square Arcade. As new cinemas arose, the arcade and theatre declined. A parapet collapsed in 1978, damaging both the arcade and Capitol. It was slated for demolition, but the building was saved by the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization. The Capitol closed in 1985. It was reopened in 2009 with the help of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits, and become a catalyst toward neighborhood redevelopment.
The Cleveland Public Theatre was founded in 1981. In 1994-95, The Cleveland Public Theatre moved into two adjoining buildings on Detroit Avenue, including The former Gordon Square Theatre building, one of Cleveland’s oldest standing theatres.
The Near West Theatre sprang to life in 1978, using the third-floor ballroom of the St. Patrick Church Club Building as performance space. The newly constructed Near West Theatre building in The Gordon Square Arts District opened in 2015.
Lions Lincoln Theatre – Massillon
The Lincoln Theatre opened in 1915 during the silent era of film. It switched ownership several times during its life as a cinema. By the late 1970s, it was closed and waiting to be demolished. The Massillon Lions Club acquired the theatre in 1982, saving it from destruction. After extensive renovations, the Lions Lincoln Theatre was reopened and continues to entertain audiences.
The Lions Lincoln Theatre currently shows classic films and live performances. To see their current schedule, click here.
The Historic Ohio Theatre – Loudonville
The neoclassical Loudonville Municipal Hall and Opera House opened in 1910, with the opera house located at the rear of the building. The first performance at the opera house was The Flaming Arrow. The opera house was renamed The Ohio Theatre in 1931. Renovations of the theatre are ongoing with fundraising for a new lighting system underway.
The Ohio Theatre currently has live performances and movies. View their current line-up here.
Playhouse Square – Cleveland
Playhouse Square, the “world’s largest theater restoration project,” and the country’s largest performing arts center outside New York City, composes 5 historic theatres: The Allen Theatre, The Hanna Theatre, The Ohio Theatre, The Palace Theatre, and The State Theatre. Playhouse Square draws more than 1 million people annually to its 10 performance spaces while contributing in excess of $43 million in local economic impact every year exclusively from its performing arts activity
The Allen Theatre opened in 1921 as an Italian Renaissance silent movie house. The first film shown at The Allen was The Greatest Love starring Vera Gordon. It continued to show films until it closed in 1968. It was reopened in 1994 and underwent renovations in 1998 and 2011.
The Hanna Theatre opened in 1921 with a performance of Mark Twain’s The Prince and The Pauper. The theatre was designed in French Imperial style. It closed in 1988. It was reopened in 1997 and was fully renovated in 2008.
The Ohio Theatre was designed as an Italian Renaissance theatre. It opened in 1921 with a performance of The Return of Peter Grimm. It closed in 1969 and was reopened in 1982.
The Palace Theatre was opened in 1922 as a French Imperial-styled Vaudeville theatre. It was adapted to show films in 1926. It closed in 1969 and reopened in 1988 as The Connor Palace Theatre.
The State Theatre opened as an Italian Renaissance Loew’s theatre. The first film show was Polly with a Past. The theatre contains 4 murals by James Daugherty and a 320-foot long lobby, one of the longest in the world. The theatre closed in 1969. It was nearly demolished with The Ohio Theatre in 1972, which led to the revival of Playhouse Square. The KeyBank State Theatre reopened in 1984.
To view current events for Playhouse Square, click here.
Southeast
The Markay Cultural Arts Center – Jackson
The Markay Theater opened in 1930 with a showing of Playboy of Paris. The Art Deco theatre features 6 prominent panels depicting life in Jackson. It closed in the early 1990s, but reopened with the help of the Southern Hills Arts Council in 1997. An extensive renovation of the theatre took place and a grand reopening of the theatre occurred in 2015.
Currently, the Markay has several live performances and classic films. For a complete list of events, click here.
Peoples Bank Theatre – Marietta
The Hippodrome Theatre opened in downtown Marietta in 1919 as a Vaudeville theatre and movie house with a showing of the film, Daddy-Long-Legs. In 1949, it was renamed the Colony Cinema. In 1957, it hosted the world premiere of Battle Hymn, starring Rock Hudson. The Colony Cinema had numerous ownership changes and ultimately closed in 1985. The Hippodrome/Colony Theatre Association spent 15 years raising funds for the theatre, including an Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit for the project. Peoples Bank Theatre reopened in 2016 and hosted the State of the State address the same year.
Peoples Bank Theatre hosts live performances and film viewings. View their full line-up here.
Stuart’s Opera House – Nelsonville
Stuart’s Opera House opened in 1879 and was named after George Stuart. It continued operating until 1924, when the local coal economy crashed, bring down the opera house with it. In 1977, the Hocking Valley Museum of Theatrical History bought the opera house and began to restore the historic property. Following a fire in 1980, the process of restoring the property was begun anew. The opera house was officially reopened in 1997, after 20 years of hard-fought restoration work.
Stuart’s Opera House offers a variety of live performances to the Nelsonville community. For the current list of events, click here.
Twin City Opera House – McConnelsville
The Twin City Opera House opened in the late spring of 1892 to Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”, sharing space in the mammoth building with the McConnelsville town hall. Nearly 20 years after opening, the first silent movies were shown in the opera house, and the first sound system was installed around 1930 using Vitaphone technology. In 1936, the opera house was updated to install sound projectors and renovate the auditorium to accommodate a new projection booth. This was the only time the opera house was closed to the public in its long history.
The Twin City Opera House continues to show films and hosts live performances, including The Ohio Valley Opry. Check full schedule for details of upcoming performances.
The Ariel Opera House – Gallipolis
The Ariel Opera House opened in 1895, just blocks from the Ohio River in downtown Gallipolis. After struggling in the post-WWII era, the opera house closed in the 1960s. Local citizens, led by local professional musician Lora Lynn Snow, banded together in the late 1980s to restore the opera house, and it reopened in 1990, becoming home to The Ohio Valley Symphony. In 2006, the Ariel was rededicated as The Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre, after local resident Ann Carson Dater purchased the opera house and presented it to the community as a permanent home for The Ohio Valley Symphony and for use as a performing arts center.
The Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre continues to be the home of the Ohio Valley Symphony and has theatrical performances as well. See their current events here.
Best Ice Cream in Ohio: Local Shops to Sample this Summer
July is National Ice Cream Month, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. To celebrate this quasi-month-long holiday, we discovered and sampled some of Ohio’s best ice creams (jealous yet?). So here is Heritage Ohio’s list of the best ice cream parlors in Ohio.
photo via TripAdvisor
Dietsch Brothers Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream – Findlay
Dietsch Brothers has been serving ice cream and chocolates using family recipes since 1937. The popular Findlay store has been repeatedly named a “Top 10 Ice Cream Shop” by TripAdvisor and their chocolate-covered pretzels are a favorite of Bette Midler. In addition to ice cream cones, the store offers a variety of sundaes, old-fashioned sodas, and a unique banana split.
Locations
400 W. Main Cross St. & 1217 Tiffin Ave., Findlay
photo via Cincinnati USA
Aglamesis Brothers – Cincinnati
A Cincinnati tradition since 1908, Aglamesis Brothers is an ice cream lover’s paradise. The Oakley Square location, opened in 1913, is mostly unchanged since its opening, decorated with bright colors and warm marble. Beyond the traditional ice cream flavors you would expect are several creative flavors including pineapple pecan and banana chocolate chip. They also offer a good selection of Italian ices.
Locations
3046 Madison Rd. & 9899 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati
photo via Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Jeni’s Spledid Ice Creams – Columbus & Cleveland
James Beard Award winner Jeni Britton Bauer opened her first scoop shop in 2002, offering what was at the time a truly innovative approach to ice cream making. Ice cream at Jeni’s is made from grass-fed cow milk and whole ingredients, as well as a whole lot of creativity. The stores offer classic Jeni’s flavors like salty caramel and the milkiest chocolate in the whole wide world, as well a rotating collections of ice cream that offer some truly unique flavors such as sweet corn with black raspberry and banana with honey. We may be biased as Columbus locals, but we think this is some of the best ice cream in Ohio. This isn’t your ordinary ice cream parlor and should be a destination for any true ice cream lover.
Numerous Locations in Columbus & Cleveland
photo via Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream
Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream – Cleveland
After an evening of fruitlessly hunting for homemade ice cream in Seattle in the 1990s, Mike & Pete Mitchell decided to make the “best, most delicious ice cream.” They opened their first store in Westlake in 1999 and have been serving Cleveland ever since. The stores offer ice cream classics and unique flavors like porter chocolate chunk and vegan offerings as well. The Ohio City location offers several flavors that you can only find at that store, which is also an Ohio Historic Tax Credit project. Simply put, the next time you are in Cleveland, visit a Mitchell’s store and thank us later.
7 Locations in the Cleveland Metro Area
photo via Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl
Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl – Zanesville
Tom’s has been a Zanesville fixture since 1948. The shop has a great retro vibe to it, inviting you to eat more ice cream. Tom’s offers a good variety of classic ice cream flavors, but many people go for the over-the-top sundaes. Either way, you’ll be happy you stopped by.
Location
532 McIntire Ave., Zanesville
photo via Thought & Sight
Graeter’s Ice Cream – Numerous Locations
When people talk about Cincinnati ice cream, you’ll undoubtedly hear that Graeter’s is the best ice cream in Ohio. Graeter’s traces its ice cream history back to 1868 when Louis Graeter started selling ice cream at street markets in Cincinnati. Starting in 1900, he and his wife started making ice cream using French Pots and the technique is still used by the company today. Vanilla and black raspberry chocolate chip are local favorites, but we suggest you try them all.
Locations in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, & Oxford
photo via Thought & Sight on Instagram
Taggarts Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant – Canton
Opened in 1926, Taggarts has been a family favorite since day 1. The restaurant offers a large selection of soups and sandwiches, but the ice cream takes center stage here. The most popular item is ‘The Bittner’, a 3/4 lb. sundae of vanilla ice cream blended with chocolate syrup and topped with roasted pecans. Absolutely delicious.
Locations
1401 Fulton Rd. NW, Canton & 107 S. Main St., Magnolia
photo via Queen City Discovery
The Cone – West Chester
The origin story of The Cone has to be one of the more unique tales in Ohio ice cream lore. The owner wanted to open a new and unique ice cream store. When his parents were vacationing in Florida, they happened upon a ice cream cone-shaped building for sale. He purchased it, brought it back to Ohio and opened The Cone in 1995. The Cone is known for their soft-serve ice cream, especially the strawberry, made with real strawberries. The ice cream and shaved ice menu is extensive, so you will have no trouble finding something to put a smile on your face.
Location
6855 Tylersville Rd., West Chester
photo via One Tank Trips
Hartzler Family Dairy – Wooster
Just a few miles northeast of historic downtown Wooster is the Hartzler Family Dairy. The farm operates on the principle of “farming as nature intended,” so you won’t find dairy products made with antibiotics or pesticides used on crops. The family opened the dairy in 1996 to meet the demand for high quality dairy products. Hartzler’s Ice Cream Shoppe sells both food and ice cream. The centerpiece is the Barn Buster Parfait, an oversized hot fudge sundae with vanilla custard. Delicious.
Location
5454 Cleveland Rd., Wooster
photo via Stoddard’s
Stoddard’s Original Frozen Custard – Kent
OK, ice cream purists, custard is not ice cream. But that shouldn’t stop you from visiting Stoddard’s, just outside of downtown Kent. To be clear, the shop does have ice cream too, but people absolutely love the frozen custard at this ice cream stand since it opened in 1948. It’s super creamy and delicious
Location
1321 W. Main St., Kent
photo via Weldon’s Ice Cream
Weldon’s Ice Cream Factory – Millersport
Buckeye Lake is a popular summer destination for thousands of Ohioans each year. What many people who are visiting don’t know is there is a wonderful ice cream parlor on the southwest shore of the lake in Millersport. Weldon’s opened in 1930 and continues to churn out the same delicious ice cream.
Location
2887 Canal Dr., Millersport
photo via Citymaps
Bidinger’s Ice Cream – Wadsworth
Heading towards downtown Wadsworth on College Street, you’ll be greeted by a giant ice cream cone, letting you know you’ve arrived at Bidinger’s. The stand offers both hard-packed and soft-serve ice cream, but may astonish any visitor is the variety. Across the year, the store offers an ever-growing list of rotating soft-serve flavors including toasted coconut, creme brulee, and key lime, with all varieties available in a twist as well.
Location
410 College St., Wadsworth
photo via Honey Hut
Honey Hut Ice Cream – Cleveland
Honey Hut opened in 1974 with two flavors, vanilla and chocolate. The menu options soon expanded with the owner testing out new flavors on local firefighters. Today, you will find local favorites such as honey pecan on the menu, in addition to vanilla and chocolate, as well as other frozen treats to try.
5 Locations in the Cleveland Metro Area
photo via Cherry St Creamery
Oser’s Dairy & Deli and Cherry Street Creamery – Canal Fulton
W are sure we’re committing a major faux-pas in the minds of locals, but we’re going to sit on the fence and say both Oser’s and Cherry Street Creamery are great. The two shops are located on opposite sides of the Ohio & Erie Canal that runs through the middle of Canal Fulton. Cherry Street Creamery is for fans of fresh-made custard and Oser’s serves hard ice cream devotees. Visit Canal Fulton and pick a side in this ice cream battle.
Location
Cherry Street Creamery, 136 Cherry St. W., Canal Fulton
Oser’s Dairy & Deli, 102 N. Canal St., Canal Fulton
Bonus: International Ice Creams
Tucked away in your city are many hidden ice cream gems you may have not discovered yet. We are talking about ethnic ice cream stands. You may have to find them by exploring your city or by word-of-mouth, but when you do find them, don’t be afraid to try them. They are always amazing. Since we are in Columbus, we will highlight just a few in our area that we think you should try, but find the ones closest to you! If you’re looking for more offbeat things to do in Columbus, Choosy Traveler has the lowdown on one of our favorite quirky statues.
photo via fitt.co
Diamonds Ice Cream
Diamonds specializes in Mexican ice cream, fruit desserts, and authentic paletas. The ice cream is excellent, but you really want to go for the paletas, which you will recognize as a popsicle, but a popsicle that is better than any normal popsicle you’ve had. Trust us. They come in a wide variety of flavors and are either milk-based or water/juice-based. There are dozens to pick from, so go wild and get a few to try.
Location
4561 Bethel Sawmill Center, Columbus
photo via Thought & Sight on Instagram
Belle’s Bread
This Japanese bakery is part of a larger Japanese menagerie of shops and restaurants in the Kenny Centre Mall. The store offers amazing cakes and baked goods, but they also offer soft-serve ice cream. You can get vanilla, matcha, or matcha-vanilla swirl flavors. For those of you who want the full Japanese experience, we suggest getting a matcha ice, which is shaved ice with matcha syrup, condensed milk, and azuki beans topped with matcha ice cream. Absolutely delicious.
Location
1168 Kenny Centre Mall, Columbus
photo via WOSU
Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream
This Indian ice cream store has some of the creamiest ice cream you are going to find anywhere. They have the classic American flavors as well as a dozen or so Indian flavors such as rose, anjeer (fig), lychee, and Kesar Pista, a blend of pistachio, almond, saffron, and a pinch of cardamom. It’s some of the best ice cream we’ve had in Ohio. The owners are very proud of their ice cream and will let you sample them all to get the right one for you.
Location
1947 Hard Rd., Columbus
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Go Outside and Play: Ohio’s 23 Best Parks
The Best State Parks and Metro Parks Across Ohio
Ohio has natural beauty in spades! We ought to know, we spend much of our year traveling around the state, and the team at Heritage Ohio has some pretty strong opinions on the best parks in Ohio. Here’s our favorite state, city and metro parks, organized by region:
Northeast Ohio Parks
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is Ohio’s only national park, but you couldn’t ask for a better example of Ohio’s natural splendor. Just a short drive south of downtown Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley has plenty to offer any visitor. A few highlights of the park are the 65-foot high Brandywine Falls, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and the historic village of Peninsula.
Ohio’s National Park covers 33,000 acres of parkland, leaving you and your family many weekends of exploration.
Where to Stay at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
We say get closer to nature and camp or rent an RV when exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park! Find all the details to plan your trip here.
Liberty Park – Twinsburg
Just outside of Twinsburg is one of the hidden gems of Northeast Ohio. Liberty Park has a diverse offering of natural spaces for a suburban park. Visitors will delight in the natural beauty of the Tinkers Creek Nature Preserve and the towering Twinsburg Ledges area, both located in the park. You can explore both and more on the numerous trails within the park.
Holden Arboretum
Holden Arboretum is just a short drive from historic downtown Chardon in Geauga County. The arboretum will be a unique experience for many visitors, including Ohioans. Some of the many offerings of the Holden Arboretum include a butterfly garden, several rhododendron gardens, a hedge collection, and the famous Canopy Walk.
Mill Creek Park
It may be hard to believe, but Mill Creek Park in Youngstown rivals other large metropolitan parks like Central Park in terms of absolute beauty and depth. The sprawling park covers 4,400 acres and has diverse areas and topography. Highlights of the park for new visitors include Lanterman’s Mill, several historic bridges, the Wall Garden, and many archaeological sites from Youngstown’s steel-making history.
Franklin Mills Riveredge Park
Located in downtown Kent, Franklin Mills Riveredge Park is small compared with other parks on this list, but will surprise you with its design and features. The main focus of the park in the Cuyahoga River with an arched stone dam. You can explore the river along a boardwalk that follows the river. There are plenty of observation areas, as well as benches and tables to enjoy your day in downtown Kent.
Bonus: Killbuck Marsh
Located between Millersburg and Wooster, Killbuck Marsh is a hidden gem just south of Route 30. The area has an extensive natural history, and several Ice Age animals such as mastodon have been unearthed. Some of these animals can be seen at the Killbuck Valley Museum, just down the road.
Southeast Ohio Parks
Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills is quite possibly the most famous of all the Ohio State Parks. Within minutes of arriving, you will certainly see why. The park is divided into five sections, but really they are parks within parks and all worth a visit. Absolute must-see features include the falls at Old Man’s Cave, the Cantwell Cliffs, and the nearby Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve.
Beyond the parks, there are rustic cabins to stay in the area and lots of unique small towns to explore.
Where to Stay in Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills has a wealth of lodging options, including treehouses, luxury yurts, cabins, and even a cute vintage train car!
Lake Hope State Park
Just south of Hocking Hills State Park is Lake Hope. The park is encapsulated by Zaleski State Forest, making for some beautiful scenery. The beach is a great place to relax and go for a swim. The area has numerous hiking trails and connectors, including a trek up to the famous Moonville Tunnel. You can also visit the restored Hope Furnace, a blast furnace that sits near one end of the lake.
Salt Fork State Park
Just a few miles from historic Cambridge, is Salt Fork State Park, Ohio’s largest state park. The Park surrounds much of Salt Fork Lake and offers a variety of activities, such as hiking, boating, horseback riding, and golf.
Where to stay at Salt Fork State Park
The Salt Fork Lodge is a great place to stay with the family, as well as host a conference.
Central Ohio Parks
Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve
Named for a famed, and lost, Native American petroglyph that was found in the gorge, Blackhand Gorge is one of the most beautiful areas in Central Ohio. The preserve has many hiking trails to explore, as well as remnants of its past, including a section of the Ohio & Erie Canal locks and an interurban tunnel. Visitors can also explore the area via canoe or kayak on the Licking River.
Buckeye Lake State Park
Renowned in Central Ohio for boating, Buckeye Lake State Park is a water lover’s paradise. The lake is surrounded by quaint communities, and has plenty of activities for non-boaters as well. You can even visit Cranberry Bog, which is a natural marvel. Tours of the bog usually occur in June.
Mohican State Park
Located between the historic communities of Wooster, Millersburg, Mount Vernon, and Ashland, Mohican is a forested oasis and perfect for a weekend getaway. The park has several hiking trails, campgrounds, and even a covered bridge.
Where to Stay at Mohican State Park
For a unique place to stay during your visit, check out the treehouses at The Mohicans.
Dawes Arboretum
Just east of Columbus, you will find a true gem of a park, Dawes Arboretum. The Arboretum seems to have it all: historic Daweswood Farm, numerous trails, a nature center, formal Japanese garden, and even a driving tour. It’s a definite stop for any nature lover, and best of all, it’s free to visit!
While in the area, make sure to visit the newly revamped downtown in Newark and catch a show at the historic Midland Theatre.
Rhododendron Cove State Nature Preserve
Located just south of Lancaster, Rhododendron Cove Preserve sits on an unassuming hill, but offers a bounty of beauty once you make it to the summit. Atop the hill are dozens of Rhododendrons nestled amongst rocky outcroppings, making for great photography. After visiting Rhododendron Cove, travel down the road and visit two additional parks: Wahkeena Nature Preserve and Clear Creek Metro Park.
Bonus: Topiary Park
On the east side of downtown Columbus, The Topiary Park is a living art installation on the grounds of the former Ohio Deaf School campus. Visitors can either take docent-led tours or explore the park on their own. In addition to the numerous plant sculptures, there is also a “tree walk” visitors can take to see the many types of trees within the park. Choosy Traveler has details on some other worthwhile parks in the Columbus area, including Battelle Darby Creek, where you can see wild bison, and Shrum Mound.
Where to Stay in Columbus / Central Ohio
Columbus has a number of incredible hotels to suit every taste, from the stunning historic art deco Leveque Hotel, to the beer-tap-in-every-room Doghouse Hotel, and quaint vacation rentals in the historic German Village neighborhood.
Southwest Ohio Parks
John Bryan State Park – Clifton
Located near the historic Village of Clifton, John Bryan State Park is defined by the Little Miami River and the Clifton Gorge area it carved out. The striking features of the gorge and the forested landscape surrounding it make for some beautiful hiking scenery year-round. The next time you visit Clifton Mill, make sure to stop by John Bryan State Park.
Caesar Creek State Park
Nestled between Waynesville and Harveysburg, Caesar Creek State Park is a fossil hunter’s playground. You will need to apply for a fossil collecting permit to hunt fossils at the park, but it is well worth the effort. Some common finds include trilobites, brachiopods, and corals. In addition to fossil hunting, the park also offers camping, swimming, and boating. Other attractions in the area include historic downtown Lebanon and Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village.
Fallsville Wildlife Area
Like the name suggests, the prominent feature of the Fallsville Wildlife Area is a large, serene waterfall. The small park packs in the beauty and is perfect for a relaxing afternoon stroll to the eye-pleasing waterfall and old mill site.
While in the area, check out the historic downtown of nearby Wilmington. There are a lot of great shops and the inside of the Clinton County Courthouse is stunning.
Ault Park
When you look at “must-see” lists of Cincinnati, you will undoubtedly come across Ault Park. A visit to the park will certainly show you why. As you arrive, you will immediately notice the large and picturesque Renaissance-style pavilion, popular with wedding parties. Beyond the pavilion, you will find several walking trails, a beautiful botanical garden, and plenty of relaxing space.
Where to Stay Near Ault Park in Cincinnati
Even if you only stop by to gawk at the truly incredible art deco lobby, Cincinnati’s Netherland Plaza Hotel is not to be missed!
Northwest Ohio Parks
Side Cut Metropark
Side Cut Metropark is steeped in history. The park occupied land that was once part of a side cut of the Miami & Erie Canals. You can still visit 3 of the 6 locks from the canals, having been restored by WPA workers in the 1930s. Beyond the historic locks, the park offers picturesque scenery, an extensive network of trails, and plenty of wildlife.
Wildwood Metropark
Wildwood Preserve was once the home of Champion Spark Plug founder, Robert Stranahan. The park has an amazing wooded trail network and the property still has the Georgian Colonial Manor House Stranahan built. It is a must visit park in the heart of Toledo.
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
Every spring, thousands of migratory birds visit Magee Marsh on their way to their summer nesting spots. Located on the shore of Lake Erie, the marsh is not only a destination for birders, but the extensive trail network of the wildlife area and nature center make for a great afternoon out with the family.
North Bass Island State Park
Unlike other parks on this list, getting to North Bass Island is a bit challenging to get to, but worth the hassle. Currently, the only means to get to the island are boat and airplane. Once you get to the island, you’ll be able to take in the gorgeous, untouched wilderness. Fishing is permitted on the island, as well as hiking and camping via permit.
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