Plan an extra special outing. Stroll through time. Hear the stories. See the world around you in a new way. Teach your class history by experiencing Oberlin's historic places. Find your "place" in history. Create memories.

Join the Oberlin Heritage Center for a guided history walk around town during the warmer months of the year.

Fees for regularly scheduled history walks:

$6 per adult ($1 discount for members)
Children accompanying their parents tour for free (most likely to be enjoyed by children 9 years of age and up)
Tickets for history walks must be purchased prior to the tour, either online or at the Oberlin Heritage Center Museum Store in the Monroe House. Tickets are not available at the start location.

Fees for group history walks:

$6 per adult for adult groups ($1 discount for members)
$3 per child for youth groups (chaperones tour free)
Please see our youth group and adult group pages for more information.

History Walks Offered:

Tappan Square 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. This hour long guided history walk is offered at 11:00 a.m. every Friday from May 14 through September 10, by group reservation, and during certain special events. This tour begins at the corner of Main Street (Route 58) and College Street, at the flagpoles in Tappan Square. Whether you've lived in Oberlin forever or are new to the area, you'll find much to enjoy.

Tickets are available online and at the Museum Store in the Monroe House. Registration is required 48 hours prior to tour time. Tickets will not be available at the tour start location. This history walk will be cancelled if fewer than five participants are registered by 48 hours prior to a scheduled tour time. Registrants will be notified of the cancellation by phone or email and the tour fee is refundable or transferable. History walks will also be cancelled if it is raining at start time and registrants may request refunds or transfers.

Freedom’s Friends: Underground Railroad and Abolitionist 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. This new guided history walk is approximately an hour and fifteen minutes and is offered every Saturday at 11:00 a.m., May 15 through September 11, and by group reservation and during certain special events. This tour begins near the front steps of First Church, U.C.C. at the northwest corner of Main Street (Route 58) and Lorain Street (Route 511).

Advance registration is not required for this tour, although it is appreciated. Tickets will be available online and at the Museum Store in the Monroe House up until tour time. Tickets will not be available at the tour start location. This history walk will be cancelled if it is raining at start time and registrants may request refunds or transfers.

I Spy Oberlin: History and Architecture Scavenger Hunt

This fun program is designed for children age 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! The "hunt" begins at the Monroe House and traverses outside in fair weather; we will "spy" inside our historic buildings if it's raining. The fee for this program is $5 per child. Reservations are required for this program, so please check our Event Calendar or call to reserve a group program.

Downtown Oberlin Historic District History Walk

Explore the history and architecture of Oberlin’s downtown National Register Historic District. Compare old storefront photographs to shops today and learn about Oberlin’s early residents and the formation of our unique downtown. This tour can be linked to history, preservation, and architectural lessons in the classroom. This tour is available by group reservation from April through October and will be available on some Sundays. For some visitors, it will be a trip down memory lane!

Look for a new history walk coming in fall 2010!

Register online for a History Walk