Looking for interesting places to go in the Columbus, Ohio area? There are so many places to choose from that we’ve narrowed it down to historical sites. Step back in time and explore roads to the past at any one of these eight Columbus area historical places that are perfect for seniors and older adults!
1. Ohio History Center in Columbus, Ohio
For those who are interested in our great state’s past, the Ohio History Center is brimming with Ohio history. Spanning from the frontier days to World War I, there’s something for everyone. Spend the day wandering around through the various exhibits and enjoying interactive displays.
The museum is handicap-accessible and has free parking. Admission is $13 for seniors and free for Ohio History Connection Members.
2. Shrum Mound in Columbus, Ohio
Thousands of years ago, pre-contact Native American tribes populated the area we know today as Central Ohio. Though they moved frequently, the hunter-gatherer tribes buried their dead in prominent mounds. Some of those mounds remain standing, including the Shrum Mound.
The Shrum Mound is one of the last remaining ancient conical burial mounds in Columbus. You can visit this 20-foot-high and 100-foot-diameter mound anytime during daylight hours, free of charge.
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Related: Senior-Friendly Places in Columbus, Ohio
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3. The Kelton House Museum & Garden in Columbus, Ohio
The Kelton House has a rich history that allows you to immerse yourself in the refined atmosphere of the Victorian era. It was built in 1852 by Fernando Cortez and Sophia Stone Kelton, who were such staunch abolitionists that their house was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Free parking is available in a museum lot on Franklin Avenue. For visitors with wheelchairs, the first floor is accessible and there is a video tour available for the second and third floors. Admission for seniors is $5.
You can go on a self-led tour by yourself or with your group, or you can go on a docent-led tour on Sundays. For $15 per person, you can arrange for a tour and tea with “Sophia Kelton.” She will guide you through her home and offer you afternoon tea.
4. Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio
Visit the home where James Thurber, one of the foremost American humorists of the 20th century, spent his young adult years. You can tour the rooms of the house that have been restored to reflect the period in which Thurber and his family lived in the house, from 1913-1917.
Different from other similar historical sites, at the Thurber House you are allowed to interact with some of the exhibits, including sitting in chairs or playing the piano. There’s also a reading garden where you can sit back and relax, enjoying the beautiful landscaping. Self-guided tours are free and guided tours are $2 for seniors.
5. Slate Run Living Historical Farm in Canal Winchester, Ohio
Step back in time to the 1880s at the Slate Run Living Historical Farm in Canal Winchester. You can tour the farm as costumed staff performs chores just as they would have been done in the 1800s.
There are also activities held at the farm that are open to the public, including naturalist-led walks and educational programs such as a demonstration of 19th-century canning, pickling, and preserving methods. Admission is free and hours vary by season.
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Related: Senior-Friendly Festivals in Central Ohio
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6. Hilliard Historical Village in Hilliard, Ohio
If you like visiting the farm, you may also like visiting a historical village. You’re in luck because there’s one located in Hilliard!
The Hilliard Historical Village is run by the Hilliard Historical Society and features a chapel, one-room schoolhouse, caboose, 19th-century lattice truss bridge, log cabin, granary, gazebo and voting booth. Take an afternoon to stroll the park and peek in the various old-timey structures.
7. Central Ohio Military Museum in Harrisburg, Ohio
Staffed by veterans and historians, the Central Ohio Military Museum features letters, photos, documents, insignia, maps and uniforms of armed forces veterans. Its mission is to capture the stories and experiences of our country’s veterans.
Admission is $2 but veterans get in free.
8. Ohio’s Small Town Museum in Ashville, Ohio
Over the years, Ohio’s Small Town Museum has attracted its fair share of attention. It has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and written about in the popular Country Living magazine.
See for yourself what makes this museum so special by exploring the displays of local artifacts that bring to life the small town days of yesteryear in a building that was once a silent movie theater.
Columbus Senior Resources
For more resources for Columbus seniors, check out our blog. There you’ll find helpful articles on senior health and wellness, as well as senior living options. You can also explore our resources page to find helpful information for both seniors and their loved ones.
