Summer / Fall History Walks
Join us for Saturday and Sunday History Walk this summer. Register online or by visiting the Oberlin Heritage Center.
August
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. - "One Step More" Oberlin Women's History Walk
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. This illustrated walking tour explores how Oberlin confronted and defined issues of femininity in the 19th and 20th centuries. 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 John J. Shipherd's promise to shape what it meant to be a woman in Oberlin and in the United States. Tickets are available online through the Event Calendar and at the Museum Store in the Monroe House up until tour time.
Every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. - Freedom's Friends History Walk
"Oberlin is perhaps the most important station along the whole line of the Underground Railway. It has rendered the most important services to Freedom. It is second only to Canada as an asylum for the hunted fugitive." Hear stories about Oberlin's most famous freedom seekers and people known to have helped them make their way to freedom. Tickets are available online through the Event Calendar and at the Museum Store in the Monroe House up until tour time.
Every Sunday at 1:00 p.m. - Scholars and Settlers History Walk
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.
September
First Saturday of the month at 3:00 p.m. - I Spy Oberlin: History & Architecture Scavenger Hunt.
This fun program is designed for children aged 5-11 with an adult companion. Families will be guided through historic Oberlin while keeping their eyes peeled for historic markers, decorative details, and Oberlin oddities. Fun and engaging for all!
Every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. - Radicals & Reformers History Walk of Westwood Cemetery.
Walk with us through historic 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. Tickets are available online through the Event Calendar and at the Museum Store in the Monroe House up until tour time.
See our Group Tours page for more information about these and other tour offerings and how you can reserve private tours throughout the year.
