History Lesson
VALLEY GEM STERNWHEELER: Enjoy an afternoon afloat by booking a trip on the Valley Gem, a modern sternwheeler that recalls the romantic heyday of riverboat travel. James and Peggy Sands began offering trips up down the Ohio and Muskingum rivers in 1989, and their operation remains a family business today. Whether you prefer a 90-minute narrated sightseeing tour, a themed dinner cruise or a longer excursion that lasts all day, no visit to this river town is complete without spending some time on the water. 601 Front St., Marietta 45750, 740/373-7862, valleygemsternwheeler.com CAMPUS MARTIUS MUSEUM: Located on the site of the stockade that the Ohio Company built for protection between 1788 and 1791, this museum tells the story of those who lived here through a variety of interesting artifacts and exhibits. Don’t miss the guided tours of the Rufus Putnam House, which still stands within the walls of the museum, to get a true glimpse of what life was like along the Ohio frontier. The original Ohio Company Land Office is also located on the museum’s grounds. 601 Second St., Marietta 45750, 740/3733750, mariettamuseums.org 70
M A R C H / A P R I L 2022
LAFAYETTE HOTEL: In 1892, the four-story Bellevue Hotel rose along Front Street near the banks of the Ohio River, boasting such luxuries as 55 steam-heated rooms, call buttons and hot (or cold) baths. A fire destroyed the place in 1916, but a local businessman rebuilt and reopened the property two years later as the Lafayette Hotel (named in honor of an 1825 visit to Marietta by France’s Marquis de Lafayette). The classic hotel retains a historic feel in its 77 guest rooms, while offering an on-site restaurant and modern amenities that travelers expect. 101 Front St., Marietta 45750, 740/371-7035, lafayettehotel.com
Take a trip into the past in Marietta, the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. The end of the American Revolutionary War brought opportunity west of the Ohio River. In 1788, a band of men known as the Ohio Company traveled to the frontier to set up a land office. They called the place Marietta in honor of French queen Marie-Antoinette, whose nation provided help in the battle for independence. Today, this river town’s long and rich history makes for a great day of exploring.