Mount Pleasant OhioATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Mount Pleasant, Ohio.
1. Quaker Yearly Meeting House
HISTORIC QUAKER LANDMARK
The Quaker Yearly Meeting House is the first Quaker yearly meeting house west of the Alleghenies, designed by Rev. Jacob Ong and completed in 1815. This historic building stands as a testament to the Quaker influence in the region and their significant role in the abolitionist movement. Visitors can tour the Meetinghouse through the Historical Society of Mt. Pleasant by appointment only.
2. Benjamin Lundy House
ABOLITIONIST HISTORIC HOME
The Benjamin Lundy House is where noted abolitionist Benjamin Lundy lived while in Mt. Pleasant around 1820. This historic home represents an important piece of American anti-slavery history and the Underground Railroad network. The house stands as a reminder of Mount Pleasant's significance in the abolitionist movement.
3. Free Labor Store
ETHICAL SHOPPING HISTORY
The Free Labor Store in Mount Pleasant was a unique establishment that sold only goods produced by free labor, refusing to profit from the exploitation of enslaved persons. This historic site represents early ethical consumerism and the practical application of abolitionist principles in daily commerce. The store stands as an important landmark in the National Historic Landmark District.
4. Mount Pleasant Historic District
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD LANDMARK
Mount Pleasant Historic District features forty antebellum homes that line this National Historic Landmark District of the Underground Railroad. With over 40 historic buildings still standing, most are still in use and privately owned, creating a living museum of 19th-century architecture. Visitors can explore this remarkably preserved village that played a crucial role in American history.
5. The Black Sheep Vineyard
LOCAL WINE EXPERIENCE
The Black Sheep Vineyard offers visitors a taste of locally produced wines in the scenic countryside of Mount Pleasant. This family-owned vineyard provides a relaxing atmosphere where guests can sample various wine varieties while enjoying the rural landscape. The vineyard represents the growing Ohio wine industry and provides a modern contrast to the historic aspects of Mount Pleasant.
6. Serpent Mound
ANCIENT NATIVE EARTHWORK
Serpent Mound is the largest and finest serpent effigy earthwork in the world, likely built by people of the Fort Ancient culture circa A.D. 1100. Visitors can follow a footpath around the serpent and hike wooded trails nearby to experience this remarkable ancient monument. This archaeological wonder provides insight into the sophisticated cultural and spiritual practices of prehistoric Native American societies.
7. Paul Laurence Dunbar House
CELEBRATED POET'S HOME
The Paul Laurence Dunbar House preserves the restored home of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906), who gained international acclaim as a writer. Dunbar was a significant voice for equality for African Americans and one of the first African American writers to gain national recognition. The house contains many of the poet's personal items and original furnishings, offering an intimate glimpse into his life and work.
8. Story Mound
ANCIENT ADENA CULTURE SITE
Story Mound was constructed by people of the Adena culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100) and excavated in 1897, located in a Chillicothe neighborhood. This prehistoric earthwork represents one of many such structures built by early Indigenous peoples throughout the Ohio Valley. The mound offers visitors a tangible connection to the ancient past of the region and insights into early Native American ceremonial practices.
9. Ulysses S. Grant Birthplace
PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIC SITE
The Ulysses S. Grant Birthplace preserves the humble beginnings of the Civil War hero and 18th President of the United States. Visitors can explore the small cottage where Grant was born in 1822 and learn about his early life through exhibits and guided tours. The site offers a fascinating glimpse into how this modest beginning shaped one of America's most significant military and political leaders.
10. Grant's Boyhood Home
PRESIDENTIAL CHILDHOOD HOME
Grant's Boyhood Home has been restored to its appearance in 1839, the year Grant left for West Point. This historic house offers insight into young Ulysses Grant's formative years and the environment that shaped his character. Visitors can explore the home and learn about the future president's education and family life before his military career began.
11. William Henry Harrison Tomb
PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL SITE
The William Henry Harrison Tomb holds the remains of the ninth president of the United States, featuring a monument that honors his life and accomplishments. Harrison had the shortest presidency in American history, serving only 31 days before his death in 1841. The site includes informational displays about Harrison's military career, his role in westward expansion, and his brief presidency.
12. Dennison Railroad Depot Museum
WWII HISTORIC SITE
The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum preserves a significant WWII-era train station that served as a vital canteen for troops during the war. Known as 'Dreamsville, USA,' this depot provided refreshments and comfort to over 1.5 million service members traveling by train between 1942-1946. The beautifully restored Pennsylvania Railroad depot now houses exhibits on railroad history, the WWII home front, and the remarkable volunteer effort that made the canteen possible.
13. Hocking Hills State Park
NATURAL SCENIC WONDER
Hocking Hills State Park showcases some of Ohio's most spectacular natural scenery with deep gorges, towering cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. Visitors can explore popular features like Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls along well-maintained trails through ancient hemlock forests. The park offers year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, photography, winter ice formations, and stargazing in one of Ohio's darkest night sky regions.
14. Amish Country
CULTURAL HERITAGE REGION
Ohio's Amish Country centers around Holmes County, home to one of the largest Amish communities in the world where visitors can experience a simpler way of life. The region features rolling hills dotted with farms, one-room schoolhouses, and horse-drawn buggies traveling along country roads. Visitors can enjoy authentic Amish restaurants, bakeries, cheese factories, and handcrafted furniture stores while learning about Amish culture and traditions.
15. National Museum of Cambridge Glass
HISTORIC GLASSWARE COLLECTION
The National Museum of Cambridge Glass showcases the colorful history and remarkable craftsmanship of the Cambridge Glass Company that operated from 1902 to 1958. The museum displays thousands of pieces of handmade and blown glass in a rainbow of colors and hundreds of patterns that were once made by skilled local artisans. Visitors can learn about the glassmaking process through demonstrations and exhibits that preserve this important part of Ohio's industrial heritage.