WALKING TOURS
We know you always meant to visit these historic communities – and here is your chance. Each Walking Tour provides photos and histories of the wonderfully old buildings and homes and the people who lived or worked in them. This is a great way to become familiar with an area before you visit.
KELLEYS ISLAND WALKING TOURS
Walk down the two roads on Kelleys Island. Walking Tour no. 1 takes you from the ferry dock to downtown. Tour 2 starts downtown and travels down Division St. to the Kelleys Island History Museum. Each tour highlights about 30 homes and businesses. People often forget that this island, unlike the Bass Islands, are located in Erie County. Kelleys Island has a remarkable history that is, fortunately, very well documented.
MILAN – WALKING AND DRIVING TOUR
Tour historic Milan Ohio in this architectural tour, with a little history thrown in. Milan has one of the nicest collections of fully restored architecturally significant houses, all gathered in easy walking distance from each other.
VERMILION – A TOUR OF VERMILION’S CAPTAINS’ HOMES
Vermilion was once known as the “Village of Lake Captains,” and no other place has so many captains’ homes in its historic district. Vermilion was initially settled in the early 19th century and formed as a village in 1837. 29 homes are features here.
VERMILION – HISTORIC VERMILION
Take a walk back through time in historic downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Our tour begins in the Commons area of the Ritter Public Library at 5680 Liberty Avenue in downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Along the way, view our historic village, the Captain Henry C Leidheiser House, the Vermilion River, the Vermilion Lighthouse, the Wakefield Home, the Gilchrist/Bradley Houses and the legendary Simon Kenton Stone.
SANDUSKY – DOWNTOWN
The Historic Downtown walking tour lets you explore the history of downtown Sandusky’s most historic buildings. You start down Columbus Ave., then you can explore the cross-streets: Washington Row, Market St., Water St., Shoreline Dr. and the piers. There is a detailed history of each site.
SANDUSKY – WASHINGTON PARK
This tour focuses around the area surrounding green space park and includes the history of the Red Popcorn Wagon and Boy with the boot, as well as all the churches, the library and old jail, the courthouse, a little Underground Railroad and some amazing houses.
SANDUSKY – UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
The city’s waterfront played a critical roll in the operation of the Underground Railroad. Visit some of sites and meet some of the people that played a role in the Underground Railroad.
SANDUSKY – AN ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
This is a great brochure to download and carry with you. It comes from Sandusky’s Old House Guild and contains photos and a very brief history of most of downtown Sandusky’s most architecturally significant buildings.
SANDUSKY – WASHINGTON ROW
A massive hotel, department stores and some surprising homes overlooked the park along this short street.
SANDUSKY – COLUMBUS AVENUE
This was the heart of Sandusky. The street offered hotel accommodations (the West House Hotel) and featured shops for every taste. Columbus Ave. ends right at the steamboat docks.
SANDUSKY – MARKET STREET
Not just the commercial district, but also the governmental center with buildings for City Hall, the Post Office, Fire Department, another hotel, a cigar factory, shopping and several theatres.
SANDUSKY – WATER STREET
Water Street is more business oriented with meeting halls, offices, an opera house, a wholesale grocery, a granery and one of the oldest hotels in Sandusky, Colt’s Exchange Hotel/the Steamboat Hotel. Charles Dickens stayed there in 1842! We also included a look at the back of some of these buildings, along Shoreline Drive.
THE SHORELINE, THE PIERS & JACKSON STREET
The industrial area,. featuring the Hinde & Dauch building and the paper district. The coal docks played such an important part in this area’s history and the Jackson Street Pier area was the landing place for steamboats. Trans ran right down the street in this area. Some cool photos of the inside of the Sandusky Register building on Jackson St.
SANDUSKY – HISTORIC HOMES
OK, not a walking tour, but Sandusky has some truly gorgeous houses, most built within a short distance of the downtown area, which was the center of culture, shopping, schools, and religion. Take a minute to look at these houses. Many are located just a block to the east of Columbus Ave. on Wayne Street, or a little South on Columbus, and along some of the side streets. One can dram right?