Kid-Friendly Sites to Visit All Year ‘Round

There comes a point where you just need to get the kids out of the house. Whether it’s on spring break or summer vacation, it’s easy to forget what you learned in school, especially when it comes to memorizing dates and facts. At Ohio History Connection sites, history comes alive for children of all ages. Whether you're six or six at heart, there are plenty of places to visit that'll see your children having so much fun, they won't even realize they're learning!

Fort Meigs

When it comes to battlegrounds, northwest Ohio’s Fort Meigs should be on every family’s list. Fort Meigs tells the story of the War of 1812 at one of America’s largest reconstructed log forts. With blockhouses, artillery batteries, a quartermaster’s building and traverses that troops used to defend the fort from British cannon fire, there’s plenty of space for your little ones to explore. The blockhouses have fun interactives, including recreated 1812 tents, examples of how to march like a soldier and more. The fort is open from April through October. In the museum and visitor center, open year ‘round, you’ll find exhibits sharing the story of Ohio at the time of the war. Coveted by the British and U.S. governments, Ohio was just nine years old as a state and still the frontier at the start of the War of 1812, and still home to many American Indians whose ancestors had lived and hunted on these lands for thousands of years.

THE NATIONAL AFRO-AMERICAN MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER

The National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center in Wilberforce, Ohio, displays Ohio and U.S. history through the lens of the African American experience. Curators draw on Ohio Education Standards in their content and have a few tricks up their sleeves to make exhibits engaging to kids. For example, the design of Queens of the Heartland, an exhibit featuring stories of 30 Black Ohio women who were influential in the suffrage and civil rights movements, is inspired by social media. The panels look like Instagram selfies, with each movement represented by a custom emoji and quotes designed as tweets. In the exhibit African Americans Fighting for a Double Victory, highlighting those who served our country during World War II, younger kids can dress up in the uniforms of different wartime occupations, learn about rationing and take selfies with protest signs. The exhibit What’s In Your Attic? has a kids’ track low to the floor, where grade-schoolers can learn a bit of the Shawnee and Myaamia languages, play a “Where’s Waldo”-style game and read questions aimed at their age group. The National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center is on Central State University’s campus in Wilberforce, Ohio, about 30 minutes from Springfield and Dayton. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., though we always recommend calling ahead to confirm hours for the day you plan to travel.

OHIO HISTORY CENTER & OHIO VILLAGE

At I-71 & 17th Avenue (Exit 111) in Columbus, the Ohio History Center is the state’s history museum. With exhibits ranging from natural history to Civil War battle flags, it’s a great place to get the kids excited about history. The Nature of Ohio exhibit includes a play area for little ones to explore and read about natural history. The exhibit 1950s Building the American Dream allows you to immerse yourself in the 1950s in a real, fully furnished Lustron ranch-style house made of porcelainenameled steel. If you have littles who like to play house, this is the perfect exhibit for them. The museum is open year ‘round, Wednesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and offers snacks and quick bites at the second-level Plaza Cafe. In summer, your Ohio History Center museum tickets also include admission to Ohio Village, a recreated village of the 1890s located next door to the Ohio History Center. With over a dozen buildings to explore and a playground on site, there’s little time for standing still. Ohio Village is open seasonally, with themed events occurring in October and December. Be sure to check hours before planning your visit.