2021 History Walks (May-September)
OHC is delighted to announce its 2021 History Walk schedule!
This year, OHC will be mixing things up with a uniquely-themed history walk each month, May-September.
All history walks will be scheduled on Saturdays at 11:00am, unless noted otherwise.
Please note that because history walks take place outdoors, with little or no indoor stops, they may be canceled if there is inclement weather at the tour start time. History walks start at various locations around town, so please check our website or ask for more details when you register. Masks are optional for visitors and tour guides.
Advance registration is recommended as there is limited capacity for each tour. Participants can register online or by calling 440-774-1700. Adults: $6; children/students/members: Free.
Please keep an eye on our website as additional history walks are scheduled throughout the season.
Current & Upcoming History Walks
September - Radicals and Reformers (Westwood Cemetery)
This guided tour promises a pleasing balance of Westwood's scenic landmarks and stories of some of the many spirited men and women of Oberlin who simply refused the status quo. Find out which resident was remembered as "gentle, soft-spoken, tolerant and yet nobody's fool." Visit the headstone of the man who escaped from slavery (twice!) and later served on the Oberlin village council. Note: this tour begins at the front of Westwood Cemetery (Morgan St.).
Click on a date to register: September 4, September 11, September 18, September 25
Past History Walks
May - Architecture (in honor of Historic Preservation Month)
Find out how the landscape, college campus, and town developed over its 180+ years on this 60-minute walking tour of Oberlin. Learn which architectural styles prevailed, which were criticized by the community, and how several renowned architects came to work in Oberlin. Note: this tour begins at the Flagpole on Tappan Square at the corner of College and Main Sts.
Click on a date to register: May 1, May 8, May 15, May 22, May 29
June - Freedom's Friends: Abolition and the Underground Railroad (in honor of Juneteenth)
Hear stories about Oberlin’s most famous freedom seekers and people known to have helped them make their way to freedom. Note: this tour begins near the front steps of First Church (106 N. Main Street; Oberlin) at the northwest corner of Main Street (Route 58) and Lorain Street (Route 511).
Click on a date to register: June 5, June 12, June 19, June 26
June 5, 12, & 19 @ 2pm - Scholars & Settlers (special addition to summer schedule)
Learn about the earliest residents of Oberlin and hear fascinating stories of the triumphs, debates, and scandals linked to the landmarks around Tappan Square. Compare the buildings of today to the buildings of yesteryear using historic photographs and walk away with a lively appreciation of Oberlin's unique heritage. Whether you've lived in Oberlin forever or are new to the area, you'll find much to enjoy. Note: this tour begins at the Flagpole on Tappan Square at the corner of College and Main Sts.
Click on a date to register: June 5, June 12, and June 19
July - Civil War to Civil Rights
This tour highlights historic events that reveal both Oberlin's progress and setbacks in race relations dating from early Oberlin all the way up to the 21st Century. Learn how Oberlin was a leader in abolition, participating heavily in events such as the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue, the Raid on Harpers Ferry, and the American Civil War, but also struggled with its own issues of equality and racism during these early years and later through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, and today. Note: this tour begins near the front steps of First Church (106 N. Main Street; Oberlin) at the northwest corner of Main Street (Route 58) and Lorain Street (Route 511).
Click on a date to register: July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31
August - One Step More: Oberlin Women's History (in honor of Women's Equality Day)
In 1834, John J. Shipherd pledged Oberlin’s commitment to “the elevation of female character” through education. Little did he know, there was dynamite in that promise, and women carried the matches. Hear stories of powerful Oberlin women including Lucy Stone, Marianne Parker Dascomb, Adelia Field Johnston, Mary Church Terrell, and Lucy Stanton Day, and learn how they used Shipherd’s promise to shape what it meant to be a woman in Oberlin and in the United States. Note: this tour begins at the Flagpole on Tappan Square at the corner of College and Main Sts.
Click on a date to register: August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28
