Sites and Attractions
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Museums
Country Treasures Tourism Local History Museums Courthouses |
Religious Attractions
Lighthouses on Grand Lake St. Marys Other Attractions |
Museums
Auglaize County Historical Society-Mooney Museum
223 S. Main St.
St. Marys, OH 45885
419-394-7069
Major Charles Hipp, a former Civil War officer, had this home at 223 South Main Street constructed in 1876. Mr. Hipp was a lifelong St. Marys citizen and longtime postmaster for the community.
The house later became the residence for Daniel and Carrie Mooney.
Carrie Steinemann was a native of Minster. Trained as a classical musician, she married St. Marys attorney Daniel Mooney in 1918. Mooney later served as a state senator and then as United States Ambassador to Paraguay. The Mooneys made their home here on South Main Street after their return from Paraguay. Mr. Mooney died in 1930. In 1942, Mrs. Mooney married Fred Bettelini, who died a year later.
Carrie Steinemann Mooney Bettelini bequeathed her home to the Historical Society upon her death (1978). It was the organization’s first museum, and opened in 1981.
About her gift Mrs. Bettelini said, “I am happy to deed my home in St. Marys to the Auglaize County Historical Society. I believe the society can do much toward preserving the memories of our pioneer fathers and mothers, the hardy men and women of undaunted courage who developed this area.”
Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Located at I-75 & Exit 111, 500 S. Apollo Drive, Wapakoneta 45895
419-738-8811 or 800-860-0142
www.armstrongmuseum.org
Opened in 1972 by the Ohio Historical Society, and named in honor of Wapakoneta native astronaut Neil Armstrong, the museum chronicles Ohioans’ contribution to the history of flight and new horizons in space travel including the space shuttle program and the International Space Station. See a moon rock and the Gemini VIII spacecraft. The museum’s Astro Theater presents the sights and sounds of space. Recent renovations have included the addition of interactive exhibits with a space shuttle landing simulator and a lunar landing simulator. Admission: $8 Adults, $7 Seniors and $4 Children 6-12, 5 and under free. Group rates available. Open year round. Labor Day to Memorial Day Tues. thru Sat.: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sundays and holidays: noon to 5:00 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day Monday -Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Bicycle Museum of America
7 West Monroe St., New Bremen 45869
419-629-2220 ext.3808
www.bicyclemuseum.com
This museum, the largest in the world, dedicated to the history of cycling opened in 1997 in downtown New Bremen. Featuring over 250 bicycles, the collection includes over 160 bicycles from the former Schwinn Museum in Chicago. See unique and unusual bicycles and accessories. Have your picture taken atop a big wheel bicycle, a fun stop for young and old alike. Admission charged. Summer Hours: Mon. - Fri.: 11a.m. to 7p.m., Sat.: 11a.m. to 2p.m.; Winter Hours: Mon. - Fri.: 11a.m. to 5p.m., Sat.: 11 a.m. to 2p.m.
The Bicycle Museum of America has been in New Bremen, Ohio since 1997. The museum displays over 300 bicycles, the core of which were the Schwinn family collection formerly displayed at the Navy Pier in Chicago. With its total collection numbering over 600 bicycles, the Bicycle Museum of America is the largest private collection in the world open to the public. Summer hours are Monday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. For more information contact the museum at 419-629-2220, ext. 3808 or visit the museum’s website at www.bicyclemuseum.com
Ft. Recovery State Museum
State Routes 119 and 49, Ft. Recovery 45846
419-375-4649
www.fortrecoverymuseum.com
Museum features Anthony Wayne’s legion and the two Indian battles fought here. Also shown is a typical 1790's Native American and one of the largest collections of Indian Artifacts in the state of Ohio. On the grounds are two reconstructed blockhouses, a connecting stockade and the Greenville Treaty Line marker. Fort Recovery is the site of two of the most dramatic Indian battles in American history. The first was the devastating defeat of General Arthur St. Clair in 1791 and the second, the successful defense of the fort by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne in 1794. A 103' monument stands to remember the 900+ soldiers that died here and an oak tree to remember the Native Americans. Other attractions are a log home, blacksmith shop, historical walkway, local walk-by museum and a state park. Admission charge. Open daily 12-5, June thru August. Open weekends in May and September. Group Tours by appointment March -November.
Lost in the 50’s Diner/Gasoline Alley Museum
Rick Frances/Vice President
1533 Celina Rd.
St. Marys, OH 45885
Phone: 419-394-4959
Fax: 419-394-4959
50’s Style Diner, Best Tenderloins, Great Black Angus Steaks, All Your Favorite 50’s Food, Daily Blue Plate Special, Lot’s of Autographed Pictures of TV and Musical Stars, Gas Pumps from 1920’s to 1960’s, TV Memorabilia, Cars, Signs, Pedal Cars, Model Cars, Neon Signs.
Wapakoneta Museum
206 West Main St.
Wapakoneta, OH 45895
419-738-9238
The Auglaize County Historical Society’s Wapakoneta Museum is housed in the former First Presbyterian Church. Constructed in 1861-1862, the building is architecturally significant as the only example of the distyle in antis mode of Greek Revival architecture in an eight-county area of west-central Ohio (so named because of the placement of paired columns within the recessed front entrance). The Germans who settled much of this area disdained Greek Revival architecture, preferring Gothic Revival instead.
The First Presbyterian Church is historically significant because of its association with the early Auglaize County's most politically influential citizens. They were not German immigrants, but had moved here from New England, New York, and Virginia (where Greek Revival architecture was more prevalent).
The First Presbyterian Church is the oldest extant religious structure in Wapakoneta and the oldest Protestant church in Auglaize County.
The First Presbyterian Church of Wapakoneta was incorporated in 1860, but its years here were relatively brief. The congregation was rocked by financial scandal, causing membership to fall from 264 in 1922 to 20 in 1930. The church dissolved in late 1930 and its trustees sold the building and contents.
Mrs. Ida Wintzer purchased the church and presented it to the Wapakoneta Woman's Club for $1.00 (after which the tower was removed). The Woman's Club met here until 1997, when the property was sold to the Auglaize County Historical Society.
The First Presbyterian Church of Wapakoneta was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Today the building houses artifacts from Wapakoneta and Auglaize County.
Courthouses
Auglaize County Court House CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS
201 Willipie St., Wapakoneta 45895
www.auglaizecounty.org
This neoclassical structure of Berea sandstone features a central gallery open to the second floor making the stained glass skylight visible from both floors. “The Copper Lady, “ who once stood proudly atop the courthouse tower, now has a prominent place in the gallery. Restored for the Courthouse’s 100th birthday in 1994, “The Copper Lady” once again reigns over the buildings activities. Seventeen elementary schools in Auglaize county raised 453,589 pennies for her restoration.
Mercer County Courthouse
101 N. Main St., Celina 45822
419-586-3178 for group tours
www.mercercountyohio.org
Forty foot Ionic columns grace the four entrances to the Greek Revival, gray Bedford limestone courthouse in the heart of Celina. Its impressive interior is enhanced with large bronze doors, marble floors, walls and staircases. One can climb the beautiful staircase and gaze from the third floor upon the rotunda below or cast one’s eyes upward to view the colored glass courthouse dome.
Religious Attractions
Land of the Cross Tipped Churches
800-860-4726 – for information or for group tours
www.grandlake.net/lctc/
In July of 1979, over sixty buildings representing the German Catholic settlements of southern Auglaize and Mercer Counties, as well as portions of northern Darke and Shelby Counties, were placed on a National Register of Historic Places. Consisting of churches, schools, rectories and convents, this grouping is symbolic of the cultural and historical; uniqueness of the region. Today, these structures remind us of the hard work and dedication of these early settlers as they built the Miami-Erie Canal and forged a new life on the area’s rich and productive farmland. Trips through the rural countryside follow the quaint churches with their cross tipped “spires to heaven” and include stops at the focal points of the region: the former convent at Maria Stein; St. Augustine Church - the original Mother Church of the area at Minster and St. Charles center, the magnificent and impressive former seminary at Carthagena.
Maria Stein Heritage Museum
2291 St. Johns Rd., Maria Stein 45860 419-925-4532 www.mariasteincenter.org
Located on the second floor of the former convent building, this museum interprets the German settlements of southern Auglaize and Mercer Counties and the history of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. Admission by donation. Tues. - Sun. noon to 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays.
Stop by the Pilgrim Gift Shop and be sure to enjoy the country setting, including a lovely patio, statue garden and pathways for relaxed strolling.
National Marian Shrine of the Holy Relics
2291 St. Johns Rd., Maria Stein 45860 419-925-4532 www.mariasteincenter.org
The shrine contains approximately 1000 relics of the saints and is the second largest collection of its type in the United States. Built in 1890, the shrine and the adjacent former convent were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Donations accepted.
Tues - Sun: noon - 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and holidays.
Spiritual Center of Maria Stein
St. Johns Road, Maria Stein, OH 45860, 419-925-7625
The Spiritual Center Retreat House is a unique place to experience God’s Peace and Guidance. Arrangements can be made for group or private retreats. A chapel, meeting rooms, dining rooms and recreation hall are available. Mysteries of the Rosary along gravel paths and a Respect Life Memorial are added attractions in the lovely wooded setting.
St. Charles Center
2860 U.S. Route 127 South, Celina 45822
419-925-4516
http://ma.noacsc.org/stcharl/
This magnificent former seminary rest on 500 acres. Begun in 1861 by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, the current structure is a late gothic revival building. The awesome facility features a 370 foot frontage and is topped by a five story octagonal dome. It currently serves as the mother house for the Priests of the Society of the Precious Blood as well as their retirement facility. Group tours by appointment.
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