Crane Township Self-Guided Driving History Tour
As America marks 250 years, this tour invites you to see how Crane Township became part of the larger American story, shaped by the same forces of settlement, growth, conflict, and community.
America 250-Ohio is proud to offer Ohioans the following “Signature Program” to help you explore this theme. These carefully crafted experiences and programs shine a spotlight on Ohio’s many contributions to the American story over the past 250 years and beyond.
Join America 250-Ohio as we seek to identify, document, and map the final resting places of Revolutionary War patriots buried in Ohio.
Catch up on the full recording of our webinar, live from the two-day New Perspectives on the Northwest Ordinance conference with The Ohio State University.
Ohio’s history began long before its statehood in 1803. In fact, our state is home to some of the nation’s most significant Native American sites.
A Reflection on Native American Influences on Ohio* (America 250-Ohio Blog)
Ohio and the Revolution #1 Recording*
Ohio and the Revolution #2 Recording*
Hopewell Earthworks: Stories Written on the Land (episode 1) (WOSU and OHC)
The Forgotten History of Ohio’s Indigenous Peoples (Midstory)
One State – Many Nations: Native Americans of Ohio (PBS Western Reserve)
Indigenous History (Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks)
Ohio’s on the World Stage (Ohio.org)
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (book by John E. Hancock – preorder)
Traveler’s Guide to Ancient Ohio (book by John E. Hancock – preorder)
The Emergence of the Moundbuilders (book edited by Elliot M. Abrams and AnnCorinne Freter)
What Made the Earthworks Worth the Journey? (WOSU Public Media docuseries, episode 3)
Ohio’s journey to statehood is an important part of our history, from the first settlement in Marietta to the first capital of Chillicothe.
Finding Lost Patriots’ Graves* (America 250-Ohio Blog)
250th Anniversary of the Fort Gower Resolves* (America 250-Ohio Blog)
Fort Meigs: The Battleground for Democracy* (America 250-Ohio Blog)
Ohio’s Founding and Early Statehood Timeline (OHC)
The Northwest Ordinance (National Archives)
The Point of Beginning (East Liverpool Historical Society)
Early Ohio History (The Ohio Project)
Early Marietta Blog (Campus Martius)
Settling Marietta (Ohio Memory)
Chillicothe’s Pivotal Role in Ohio’s Path to Statehood and Early Industry Development (ABC6 News Amazing America 250 Series)
Celebration of Ohio’s First Veterans (Ohio School for the Deaf and The Ohio State School for the Blind)
Your Next Historic Adventure (Washington County CVB)
The Pioneers (Book by David McCullough)
The Ohio Frontier (Book by Dr. R. Douglas Hurt)
Ohio was a popular route for freedom seekers who used a network of safe houses around the state to escape slavery. Many Underground Railroad sites still survive today, a powerful reminder of Ohio’s role in the fight for freedom.
September 2026 Underground Railroad Gathering* (America 250-Ohio Featured Event)
The Underground Railroad (NewsDepth)
Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail (Ohio.org)
Network to Freedom Sites (NPS)
The River-to-Lake Freedom Trail (ODOT and the Friends of Freedom Society)
Ohio’s Underground Railroad Stations (OHC)
Online Learning Resources (UGRR Freedom Center)
The UGRR in Ohio Learning Module (Ohio Digital Network)
Wilbur H. Siebert Collection (OHC)
Front Line of Freedom (Book by Keith P. Griffler)
The Underground Railroad in Ohio (Book by Kathy Schulz)
Book Talk: The Underground Railroad in Ohio (OHC Interview with Kathy Schulz)
The Conductor (Book by Caleb Franz)
Tales of Ohio’s Underground Railroad (Book by David Meyers and Elise Meyers Walker)
Ohio has played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of American history, with eight US presidents calling Ohio home.
Ohio’s Presidential Past (Western Reserve Historical Society)
Ohio Presidential Trail (OHC)
Ohio’s Presidents (Ohio Statehouse)
Ohio Presidents Trivia (Midstory)
Visiting the Presidents Podcast (Dr. Joe Faykosh)
Grant (Book by Ron Chernow)
Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior & President (Book by Ari Hoogenboom)
President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier (Book by C. W. Goodyear)
William Henry Harrison (Book by Gail Collins)
Benjamin Harrison (Book by Charles W. Calhoun)
President McKinley: Architect of the American Century (Book by Robert W. Merry)
The William Howard Taft Presidency (Book by Lewis L. Gould)
Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G. Harding (Book by Ryan S. Walters)
As a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, Ohio is the home of many “Firsts and Originals.”
Notable Ohioans Who Shaped Our Past and Present (The Supreme Court of Ohio)
11 Suprising Firsts that Ohio Can Proudly Claim (Only in Ohio)
“World’s Largest” List of Record-Breaking Oddities in Ohio (Midstory)
Unforgettable Ohioans (Book by Randy McNutt and Cheryl Bauer McNutt)
Books on Famous Ohioans (OHC Bookstore)
Carl B. Stokes: Groundbreaking Cleveland Mayor (National Park Service)
Carl and Louis Stokes: Making History Exhibit (Western Reserve Historical Society)
Metro Health Medical Center: The Nation’s First Public Hospital System (Cleveland Historical)
America’s First Female News Anchor (NewsDepth)
First Man to Walk Solo Around the World (History in Your Own Backyard)
Celebrating Jerrie Mock, The First Solo World Flight by a Woman (National Air & Space Museum)
The First Farmers Markets in Ohio (Ohio Farmers Market Network)
Ohio’s Legacy of Leadership in Blind Education (Ohio State School for the Blind guest blog)
