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10 minute read
Columbus, p. 34, 55 84, 101
Ohioans changed the world. Here is where you can revisit history and learn more about some of our most notable names.
Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Wapakoneta: This tribute to
native son Neil Armstrong rises along I-75 like a futuristic moon base. The museum highlights Ohio’s role in aeronautics, but its focus is the first man to walk on the moon. Artifacts include the plane Armstrong learned to fly in as a teen, his Gemini 8 capsule and an Apollo 11 training spacesuit. 500 Apollo Dr., Wapakoneta 45895, 419/733-8811, armstrongmuseum.org
The National Annie Oakley Center, Greenville: Annie Oakley
became famous for her sharpshooting talents as she shattered expectations of what a woman of her era could do. Today, the Greenville native’s legacy is preserved at the Garst Museum, which also has Oakley artifacts on display, including a collection of her guns and a traveling trunk with her name stenciled on the side. 205 N. Broadway St., Greenville 45331, 937/548-5250, garstmuseum.org
John & Annie Glenn Home, New Concord: John Glenn, the
first American to orbit the Earth, was born in Cambridge, and his family moved to New Concord in 1923. Today, the home where he lived tells the story of Glenn and his wife, Annie, who also grew up in New Concord. Displays include artifacts from Glenn’s time in the military, space program and politics. 72 W. Main St., New Concord 43762, 740/825-3305, johnglennhome.org
Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum, Milan: The man who
brought the world the first commercially successful lightbulb, the phonograph and scores of other inventions got his start in the Erie County town of Milan. Today, the house he was born in reflects the time when his family lived there, and a home next door houses a small museum with some of Edison’s famous inventions. 9 Edison Dr., Milan 44846, 419/499-2135, tomedison.org
Wright Brothers National Museum, Dayton: Located at
Carillon Historical Park, this museum displays more Orville and Wilbur Wright artifacts than anywhere else. The highlight is the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical airplane. It is displayed in Wright Hall, which was built for the purpose.1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton 45409, 937/293-2841, daytonhistory.org
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Artistic
Expression
Explore visual art, vintage finds, makers and more throughout the city of Akron’s downtown.
Akron was built on tire production, but there is a lot of arts muscle covering the city’s industrial skeleton. The place that gave us Goodyear (the company is still headquartered here) also brought us rock ’n’ roll legends Devo and The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde as well as the platinum-selling bluesy rock duo The Black Keys. Creativity runs deep here, and you can sample it at these spots throughout downtown.
AKRON ART MUSEUM:
The city’s art museum moved into downtown’s 1899 post office building in the early 1980s. A 2007 expansion tripled the museum’s size and remade the institution with a signature look and modern feel, thanks to a design by renowned Viennese architecture firm Coop Himmelblau. Inside, art lovers can browse a diverse collection that is focused on pieces from the 1850s to the present day. Special exhibitions are hosted throughout the year, and a garden added in 2016 offers a space for the public and art to meet. 1 S. High St., Akron 44308, 330/3769186, akronartmuseum.org
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NORTHSIDE
MARKETPLACE: This space inside the Northside Lofts building supports startup businesses and grassroots artisans by providing them a place to sell their wares. Items for sale when we visited ranged from fun pillows and cute crocheted animals to one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces to artisanal food items such as honey and cookies. Pick up a fun, Akron-centric T-shirt at Rubber City Clothing (on weekends they’ll put their designs on the shirt color and size of your choice as you wait) and then grab a seat for a bite in the lounge. 21 Furnace St., Akron 44308, 234/542-6627, northsidemarketplace.com THE LOCKVIEW: The former home of the Lime Spider concert club now houses a restaurant known for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, adorably served with a side of Goldfish crackers. Our favorites among the 15 artful options include The Number Eight (goat cheese, roasted red peppers and spinach on Tuscan herb bread) and The Number Six (cheddar cheese, grilled apples and applewood smoked bacon on country butter-top bread). If you want full-on comfort food, The Number Twelve stacks roasted garlic mashed potatoes and American cheese between Texas toast with a side of gravy. 207 S. Main St., Akron 44308, 330/252-5128, thelockview.com
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THE BOMB SHELTER: Just look for the huge letters sprouting from the roof and the black-and-yellow fallout shelter symbol painted on the garage door. Since 2011, this retro superstore has preserved and sold vintage and antique finds in a beautifully arranged space. From the array of early TVs flanked by era-appropriate living room furniture to a bivouac of army surplus items and footlockers to wonderfully old-school kitchen decor, searching is as fun as discovering here. Plus, an adjoining micro museum celebrates the Akron music scene of the mid-1970s to mid-1980s. 923 Bank St., Akron 44305, 330/2580088, thebombshelterstore.com
SUMMIT
ARTSPACE: Housed in the building the Akron Beacon Journal first called home and located a couple blocks east of the Akron Art Museum, this exhibition and studio space operates as a nonprofit that supports local artists by connecting them with resources to support their work. In addition to artist workspaces and offices for creative organizations, Summit Artspace also hosts multiple free exhibitions each season. Plan a visit during one of the city’s Akron Artwalk events or stop in during the building’s public visiting hours on Fridays and Saturdays. 140 E. Market St., Akron 44308, 330/376-8480, summitartspace.org
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Landmark Eats
From a 24-hour doughnut shop to authentic German fare, these Columbus favorites have been around for years.
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Our capital city is full of excellent culinary fare and inventive chefs who are changing how we eat. But sometimes you just want the classics, and these neighborhood spots have become part of the fabric of life in Columbus. Each place offers a sense of history, tradition and food that makes you instantly understand why they’ve been around for years.
THE THURMAN CAFE: Founded in 1942, this family-owned spot is known for burgers — 12-ounce ones in fact — and served a variety of ways. The Thurman Burger is topped with ham, sauteed onions and mushrooms, mozzarella and American cheeses, lettuce, tomato, pickles, banana peppers and mayonnaise. If you’re feeling especially adventurous (and hungry), The Thurmanator — a huge burger inspired by athletes in town attending Arnold Schwarzenegger’s annual Arnold Sports Festival — features two 12-ounce patties and the same toppings but then adds cheddar cheese and bacon to the mix. Calling it “epic” seems like an understatement. 183 Thurman Ave., Columbus 43206, 614/443-1570, thethurmancafe.com SCHMIDT’S: This Columbus favorite has roots stretching back to the Schmidt family’s meat-packing business that was founded in 1886. They opened their restaurant in the city’s German Village neighborhood in 1967, and ever since it has been drawing diners who seek out its authentic fare and delicious cream puffs. The restaurant is known for its signature Bahama Mama (available as a sandwich or platter) and German classics ranging from bratwurst to schnitzel. Even as Schmidt’s has evolved to keep up with the times, the local landmark’s focus on high-quality fare is always apparent. 240 E. Kossuth St., Columbus 43206, 614/4446808, schmidthaus.com
TOMMY’S DINER: A fixture of the city’s Franklinton neighborhood since 1989, this breakfast and lunch spot along West Broad Street draws loyal customers in with its quality food and reasonable prices. The menu spans traditional diner fare, home-cooked specialties and innovative cuisine that shows up in the daily specials. Breakfast is served all day with diners choosing from among 10 omelets and 16 combos. Lunch features a large lineup of sandwiches, gyros, burgers, soups and salads, along with hearty entrees like homemade meatloaf, pork chops and roast beef. 914 W. Broad St., Columbus 43222, 614/224-2422, tommysdiner.com
BUCKEYE DONUTS:
“Open Always, Closed Never” is the enduring motto of this 24/7 doughnut shop along North High Street that has been a fixture for Ohio State University students since 1969. Owned by the same family since it opened, Buckeye Donuts is known for its fresh coffee, gyros, breakfast foods and, of course, doughnuts that are available any time you’re in the mood for one. The doughnuts are made fresh daily and twice a day on weekends to keep up with demand from locals drawn to the lights that never turn off. 1998 N. High St., Columbus 43201, 614/291-3923, buckeyedonuts.net GRANDVIEW CAFE: Founded in 1925, Grandview Cafe has long been a neighborhood staple, but a 2015 overhaul brought garage windows, more TV screens, a second floor now open to patrons and an expanded heated patio. The long history still comes through though, from the original ironrailed staircase and the antique chandelier to the wood floors and framed pictures that tell this landmark’s tale. It’s a place where the locals gather for a bite and a drink, thanks to a lineup of classic eats on a menu that spans appetizers like wings and fried pickles to sandwiches and wraps to pizzas and fish and chips. 1455 W. Third Ave., Columbus 43212, 614/725-1077 grandviewcafe.com
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These storied performance spaces have been restored over the years in order to ready them for new generations of audiences.
Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati: This Victorian Gothic-style
music hall was built in 1878, and an extensive $143 million renovation completed in 2017 revived the elegant concert space. Today, the landmark venue is home to resident companies such as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera and May Festival Chorus. 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/621-2787, cincinnatiarts.org
The Woodward Opera House, Mount Vernon: Built in 1851,
this opera house hosted a range of performances and lectures during its heyday, including a talk by President William McKinley. But by the 1920s, the venue was well past its peak and ultimately shuttered. In 1994, locals launched an effort to restore the opera house — a $22.5 million project that was completed in 2016. 107 S. Main St., Mount Vernon 43050, 740/263-6737, thewoodward.org
Peoples Bank Theatre, Marietta: Opened in 1919, this the-
ater was a showplace of its time, with a stage big enough for Broadway plays and outstanding acoustics. In 1989, a local businessman purchased the aging theater to save it. Following a 15-year fundraising effort, the venue’s $7.5 million revitalization was completed in 2016. 224 Putnam St., Marietta 45750, 740/371-5152, peoplesbanktheatre.com
Valentine Theatre, Toledo: This theater opened on
Christmas night 1895 with a play based on Rip Van Winkle. Over the years, it went through changes and ultimately became a movie house. The theater nearly met the wrecking ball in the 1970s, but a 20-year, $28 million effort saved it. It reopened in 1999 and now hosts performances by touring acts and local resident companies alike. 410 Adams St., Toledo 43604, 419/242-2787, valentinetheatre.com
Southern Theatre, Columbus: This venue opened in 1896
with electric lights rather than gas. Another modern choice was the concentric arches that naturally amplified voices from the stage. The theater closed in 1976 but reopened in 1998 following a $10 million renovation. It is now home to the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Opera Columbus, Chamber Music Columbus and the Jazz Arts Group. 21 E. Main St., Columbus 43215, 614/469-0939, capa.com
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