oberlin heritage center

A concentrated history lesson on the origins and historical importance of the town and college. Well worth the visit.

This is truly a wonderful historic tour of the early beginnings of a small town. It is a completely different perspective on the Underground Railroad and women's acceptance in an academic world. Early settlers had such a great vision for the future. We had a wonderful guide who is very knowledgeable about the beginnings of Oberlin and the surrounding area. This is truly a gem of a find for history buffs!!!!!

Thank you very much for your review of your tour and visit to Oberlin! I wanted to follow up with you about your final comment. I have heard different explanations for why the Hall marker was moved out of the center of Tappan Square, ranging from bawdy to functional. If you have a moment, I would love to hear your answer! Liz Schultz, Museum Education and Tour Coordinator (tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org)

Thank you very much for your review! We are delighted you enjoyed the "Freedom's Friends History Walk" of Oberlin and hearing about the community's role in the abolition movement.

The Oberlin Heritage Center was a great find. I stumbled upon this center while looking for B&B hotels in Oberlin. My cousin and I went to Oberlin to learn more about our family, and the staff at the Heritage Center were very helpful. We met with them and traded information and photos. The tour of the three historic buildings was very informative. The docent was knowledgeable and friendly. The tour does including a bit of standing, stair-climbing, and walking.

The Heritage Center provides guided tours of three home that tell the story of the founding of Oberlin and its pivotal role in US history.

The Heritage Center is staffed by volunteers who are brimming with enthusiasm about their town of Oberlin. My wife spent four years there as a student and, after the excellent Underground Railroad tour conducted by Ron (Gardiner, I think), was astounded at what she didn't know! The Monroe House, where the Heritage Center is headquartered, is a nicely restored building with a history, too.

Full disclosure: I am a resident of Oberlin, but did not go on a tour at the OHS until this year. The staff and volunteers are dedicated to preserving and sharing Oberlin's history in a way that makes it very relevant to the present day. Oberlinians were active in the anti-slavery and temperance movements, operated safe houses during the time of the Underground Railroad, and started one of the first colleges in the US to admit women. OHS is an accredited museum with a very professional and knowledgeable staff -- the presentations are balanced and fascinating. If you are over 21, I highly recommend the history walks that conclude with a visit to a local "watering hole"!

After four years of visiting our son at the college, we finally took the guided walk about The Underground RailroadA wonderful guide. We learned so much about the town and the history we had been surrounded by on all our visits. Very worthwhile.

The buildings themselves are interesting although not so special if you've been to lots of historic buildings. What makes OHS special are the stories that are prompted by the buildings and their occupants. This is a nice way to learn something of Oberlin's history.

The setting for OHC is one of Oberlin's oldest homes and one of the rooms has recently been redone in the period style, so the dedication to authenticity is evident right from the start. We were a little pressed for time but our knowledgeable docent managed to present Oberlin's history succinctly and interestingly. The Little Red Schoolhouse is adorable, and we loved the fact that third graders are still invited to come take a class in it once a year. Lots of good history books are available for sale but no pressure whatsoever to buy anything.

Thumbs up for a well-planned and effective sharing of art and history!