Celebrate Legendary Women at These 5 Ohio Museums

From the White House to the Wild West, Ohio women have shaped the history of our nation, a fact that is honored and celebrated to this day at historic sites and attractions throughout the Buckeye State. Explore the influences that shaped the life of Uncle Tom’s Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe, learn about the legendary life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley and uncover other inspirational stories of women who broke new ground at these destinations across the state. 

First Ladies National Historic Site, Canton
As the only site in the country solely dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of America’s first ladies, the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton shows the impact of the first ladies beyond their time in the White House. Rotating exhibits in the visitor center showcase personal artifacts from the National First Ladies Library & Museum’s collection that span from the late 1700s to present day. Visitors can also tour the Saxton-McKinley House, the childhood home of first lady Ida McKinley, which has been restored with furnishings and family artifacts. 205 Market Ave. S., Canton 44702, 330/452-0876, nps.gov/fila, firstladies.org

Victoria Woodhull Clock at Robbins Hunter Museum, Granville
The chimes of the Victoria Woodhull memorial clock echo as a reminder of a woman ahead of her time. The clocktower at the Robbins Hunter Museum was the first memorial dedicated to Woodhull, who was born in nearby Homer in 1838. It was built the year of our nation’s bicentennial to celebrate Woodhull’s pioneering role as the first woman to testify before Congress about women’s suffrage, the first female stockbroker on Wall Street and the first woman to run for president, which she did in 1872. Reopens for season in April. 221 E. Broadway, Granville 43023, 740/587-0430, robbinshunter.org

The National Annie Oakley Center at Garst Museum, Greenville
The National Annie Oakley Center in Greenville celebrates the life of the famous female sharpshooter. Born in 1860 in Darke County, Annie Oakley came from a poor family but through skill and determination went on to become a star in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The Garst Museum showcases artifacts from her life, such as a traveling trunk from her days in the Wild West Show, a silk dressing gown and riding outfit, gifts she received from Sitting Bull and even some of her guns — including a Winchester rifle and a pearl-handled revolver. 205 N. Broadway St., Greenville 45331, 937/548-5250, garstmuseum.org

Harriet Taylor Upton House and Women’s Suffrage Museum, Warren 
Suffragist Harriet Taylor Upton’s former home in Warren stands as a lasting tribute to the 30 years she devoted to the movement. After attending a lecture by Susan B. Anthony, Upton was inspired to take up the cause. She went on to serve as treasurer of the National Women’s Suffrage Association, which operated from the home for a decade. She was also a founding member of the National League of Women Voters and president of the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Association. Today, the house hosts tours that share Upton’s legacy of fighting for women’s rights. 380 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren 44483, 330/395-1840, uptonhouse.org

Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Cincinnati
Best known for penning Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe spent her 20s and 30s in Cincinnati, where she lived in or near her father’s home — a house that is preserved today as a museum and African American cultural center. The museum explores two distinct eras of the house’s life: the 1840s, when Stowe researched and wrote there, and the 1940s, when the home was a boarding house known as the Edgemont Inn, managed by African American proprietor Irene Bacon. Visitors can see reproduced rooms as well as exhibits showcasing Stowe’s research and a collection of Uncle Tom’s Cabin translations. 2950 Gilbert Ave., Cincinnati 45206, 513/751-0651, stowehousecincy.org

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