Picture this: it’s a gorgeous, sunny afternoon. You have hours of free time on your hands. The only caveat: you’re in Lancaster, Ohio.
To some, the answer would be simple. If you have hours of free time on your hands, then you surely have enough time to leave Lancaster. But if you did this, you would miss out on the four cool things I discovered during an afternoon in the city.
Cool Thing #1 – The Old Shoe Factory
At the risk of sounding like a one-note opera, my first stop was to check out the antique store. But bear with me here – what better way to get to know an area than by checking out the residents’ stuff?
As I flipped through the record albums, dining ware sets and coffee mug collections of generations of Lancaster residents, I gained a sense of the folks who have lived here. These were their treasures, their beloved possessions, and their…really angry dog? Personal taste aside, chances are high that someone really cared about all the thingymabobs that are offered for sale here. I could have spent far more time and money at the Old Shoe Factory, but I had already purchased tickets for my next two stops.
Plus, I had to detour back to my car to put Precious in the trunk.
Cool Thing #2 – Sherman House Museum
I’m not specifically a military or Civil War buff, but I rarely turn down an opportunity to learn more stuff. Therefore, I continued my journey through Lancaster’s history with a visit to the Sherman House Museum.
The Sherman House is the birthplace of General William Tecumseh Sherman and his younger brother U.S. Senator John Sherman. Most of the tour includes walking through the rooms where the Sherman children grew up while learning the family’s history. The furnishings are a unique blend of actual Sherman belongings, furniture purchased from Ulysses S. Grant for the Sherman’s New York home, and period furnishings that were actually made in Fairfield County, Ohio. A color-coded ribbon system lets you know the provenance of each piece.
An interactive museum makes up most of the upstairs, though if you are lucky enough to have a solo tour like I did, you may find yourself lost in trying to find the stencil error in the main bedroom.
Once you’ve perused the artifacts that make up the Civil War museum, return downstairs to check out the impressive used book collection in the gift shop. There were enough aged tomes to convert me to a Civil War buff, but I had a tour scheduled down the road and around the corner in just 10 minutes.
Cool Thing # 3 – The Georgian Museum
The Georgian really is very close to the Sherman House, and I arrived with time to walk around the grounds a bit. Once inside, I discovered that I once again had the luxury of a private tour. That gave me plenty of time to try different shots of the cantilevered spiral staircase and check out the impossible level of detail in the dollhouse and miniature room while chatting with the incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgable docents.
Like the Sherman House, it’s furnished in a mixture of original pieces, local historical pieces, and things that were donated to the Fairfield County Heritage Association. As a result, the Georgian has an entire basement full of local history. I was formally introduced to Alice Kindler and Mary Jose, took a peek at Bob Hope’s report card from the Boys’ Industrial School, and my eyes were opened to a new understanding of how people from the Buckeye State have impacted the world.
The gift shop at the Georgian is brimming with local arts and crafts, so I recommend taking at least a few minutes to browse. If you’re as lucky as I was, you’ll end up learning about eight more cool things you need to do the next time you’re in Lancaster.
Cool Thing #4 – More Shopping
Don’t get me wrong – I’m probably the last person who would qualify as a “shopaholic.” However, as I was checking out a park honoring William T. Sherman, I looked up and down the street to see a lot of unique opportunities beckoning me. As someone who married into a large family, it’s really never too early to start percolating holiday gift ideas.
Lancaster’s official website offers a comprehensive list of shops, but as a basic overview, you’ll find plenty of one-of-a-kind items all within walking distance of each other. There are many boutiques that offer handmade fashion and jewelry options for those who enjoy wearing one-of-a-kind artworks. Every shop window held an enticing array of wares. Artwork and glasswork. Used books. Vintage furniture. Plants and flowers. I had seriously underestimated the range of what one could buy in downtown Lancaster, and for that I am truly sorry – because now I need to drive down there with more time and a list so I can properly shop for my family.
I understand that “cool” is a subjective word, but I concluded my day in Lancaster with a local cup of coffee, beaming about how much fun I had. I was enlightened about the history of not just my home state, but I also felt a deeper connection to the actual people who have helped shape this state, from the earliest settlers to the artisans and craftspeople who continue the tradition of creating treasures that will be shared with future generations.
To design your very own Cool Lancaster Historical Tour, visit Destination Downtown Lancaster and the Fairfield County Heritage Association for more details, including hours and directions.
All photos by Mer Farrar