Join me as I visit the sites in the Ohio History Connection network! This month’s trip took me to Fort Recovery Museum and Monument in the Village of Fort Recovery.

Fort Recovery is the site of two important battles: The 1791 victory of nine Native Nations over General Arthur St. Clair’s forces (commonly referred to as “St. Clair’s Defeat”); and the 1794 victory of General Anthony Wayne’s army over a larger alliance of Native Nations.

The events at this battlefield were pivotal in the relationship between the Native people defending their homelands and invading American soldiers and settlers. The battles at this site set the stage for the 1795 Treaty of Greenville, after which Native Nations relinquished most of their land holdings in Ohio. They also set the course for the determination of land ownership in contemporary Ohio and the 1830 Indian Removal Act, forcibly removing American Indians from their homelands in Ohio.

Today, visitors can tour the excellent museum, follow a walking tour of the battlefield and see the monument that honors U.S. soldiers killed during the battles.

The museum consists of three floors. The first-floor features exhibits about the battles and their historical context. The second floor has some great interactive displays for kids and explores the precontact era of the area. The basement space includes a video, more kids’ activities and restrooms.

Maps of the walking tour are available both inside and outside the museum. The first stop is right outside the museum’s front door and leads visitors around a series of 15 wayside exhibits. I’m the first to admit that I’m directionally challenged, so I might have gotten lost had I been by myself on this trip. But luckily, my colleague Neil could have been an army scout in a past life. He happily led us through the walking tour, during which we saw a log cabin, the Fort Recovery Monument, the Pioneer Cemetery and much of the lovely Village of Fort Recovery. I would highly recommend the walking tour. However, if you aren’t up for a walk, the museum is well worth visiting on its own.

Address: Fort Recovery is located at 1 Fort Site Street in Fort Recovery, OH.

How much time: I’d budget about 45-60 minutes to explore the museum and another 60-90 minutes to do the walking tour around the town of Fort Recovery.

Truda’s Tips: Fort Recovery Museum is cash or check-only. While you won’t need to pay for your admission since you have an Ohio History Connection membership, you’ll want to be sure to have some cash or your checkbook available to make purchases in the gift shop, which features books, toys and other souvenirs. There is an ATM next door.

Don’t forget to go in the blockhouses that are located right outside the museum.

Kid Friendly? For elementary school aged kids and up.: There are a lot of things at Fort Recovery that would appeal to kids. The grounds are perfect for running around. I know my kids would have had a ball running from sign to sign to learn about the history of the site. Inside the museum, the third floor has pump drills, a weaving activity and animal bones and deerskins that they can touch. Kids would also enjoy the blockhouses (open during normal hours) and reading the map during the walking tour.

Lunch: You know lunch is a very important part of any road trip for me! There are lots of picnic tables available in the park behind the Fort Recovery Museum, so bringing your lunch is a great option. There are also some cute restaurants in the Village of Fort Recovery. If you’re interested in eating in town, I would ask the museum staff for recommendations.

We opted to drive about 30 minutes south to Greenville to eat at the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe. My brother-in-law had been telling me about Maid-Rite and their loose meat sandwiches for years, so I jumped at the chance to visit. I was not disappointed.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of a loose meat sandwich, think sloppy joe without the sauce. I ordered a Maid-Rite and a Cheese-Rite (which is just a Maid-Rite with cheese). The sandwich consists of browned ground beef, onions, pickles and mustard on a bun. I had expected it to be a little soggy or greasy, which it wasn’t at all. The toppings gave the sandwich a slightly sweet taste that I enjoyed. I would recommend that you order two to make a meal. I also ordered a chocolate milkshake, which was thick and delicious. Two of my coworkers ordered the same thing I did, and my colleague Emily had a strawberry shake, which she reported was yummy.

The restaurant itself has been a Greenville staple since 1934 and not much has changed about it. There’s indoor seating–both booths and counter seating–as well as a thriving drive-thru option. There’s plenty of parking on the north side of the building. Bathrooms are located in the auxiliary building next door. I would highly recommend a visit to Maid-Rite, both for the food and the historic atmosphere. Greenville residents clearly love their Maid-Rite and I think you will too.

For more information: To learn more about Fort Recovery, you can visit our website or the site’s website. Be sure to note the days and hours of operation. Fort Recovery is open through October and then will close for the season.

Want to make a day of it? Fort Recovery is located in Mercer County. Discover everything the area has to offer by visiting the Grand Lake Region website.

Ohio History Connection members enjoy free general admission to Fort Recovery and the rest of the historic sites and museums in our network. Visit ohiohistory.org/join for more details!

“Children should be seen but not heard,” goes the old adage. But what if we can help our students view their role in history differently? What if we taught students to view children not as mere background players in history, but as a key part of unlocking historical curiosity?

Though children’s voices are often underrepresented or absent from traditional history instruction, there is great value in helping our students recognize the role that kids like them have played in history. Including the child’s perspective on historical events offers students a unique way to engage with history and teaches them how to be good historians, while also fulfilling social studies, SEL, and ELA standards at all grade levels.

Unique Perspectives & Connections

There is a growing movement in history to recognize and analyze the experiences of children in history as a unique and important group, worthy of consideration in their own cultural, social and historical context. Historian Frijhoff Willem has been a key voice in this shift, arguing that children should not be viewed in history as simply miniature adults, but instead have always existed as a distinct group with specific needs and roles. Willem further argues that by examining historical representations of children in light of their social and cultural contexts, we are better able to appreciate and understand the important role children play and the unique perspective they provide in history. [1]

Focusing on children's artifacts, perspectives, and materials in the classroom allows us to create a more inclusive and comprehensive historical narrative. Students are not only able to able to identify and connect with the history they’re learning in significant ways, but they are also presented with the opportunity to consider how future generations will look back on their role in history. In order to facilitate this impactful learning opportunity in the classroom, teachers should give consideration to the politically, socially and culturally defined aspects of childhood in the time period they’re focused on. With that context in mind, teachers can help students recognize children's voices, agency and presence in history.

Take, for example, World War I. What were the experiences of children during the Great War? We can look to the actions of Girl Scouts across the country for an answer. Food conservation was a significant concern for Americans during World War I and was an issue of which children were well aware. In response, Girl Scouts throughout the United States planted and maintained Victory Gardens to help their communities. [2] The actions of these young ladies reflect the context in which they lived, while also demonstrating the agency and perspective of kids in World War I.

How can you bring this into the classroom?

Finding and comprehending children's voices can present teachers with a challenge, as the voices of kids have not always been recognized for their importance. Fortunately, museums and libraries have created spaces for children's histories, uncovering their material culture such as dresses, toys, songs, riddles, books, and even children's versions of the Holy Scriptures. Read on for a compiled list of example lesson plans, books, and other resources broken down by grade level standards to help you include children’s perspectives in the classroom.

Activities, Lessons & More for Bring Children's Voices into the Social Studies Classroom

Footnotes:

[1] Willem, Frijhoff. “Historians Discovery of Childhood,” Paedagogica Historica 48, no. 1, (Feburary 2012): 11-29. doi:10.1080/00309230.2011.644568

[2] “How Have Children Helped Their Communities by Caring for the Environment?” Library of Congress Blogs, Library of Congress, Jan. 5, 2024, https://blogs.loc.gov/families/2024/01/how-have-children-helped-their-communities-by-caring-for-the-environment/.

Blog image citation: Students and teacher at blackboard photograph. Photograph. Ca. 1906-1908. Ohio Memory, Albert Belmont Graham Collection. https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/9630/rec/63 (Oct. 1, 2024).

The Ohio History Connection is proud to host two great presentations as part of our Archaeology Day Celebration on October 5th!

Alexander C. Corkum II of Terracon will discuss the planning, execution, and results from multi-technique remote sensing surveys in cemeteries.

This talk, with Al Tonetti of Heartland Earthworks Conservancy, will discuss the science and technology used to find previously unknown earthworks!

Both presentations and entrance into the event are free with regular museum admittance.

By Wendy Korwin, Archives Services Manager

In 1992, Columbus architect Harry Phillian delivered a heavy volume to the Ohio Historical Society, as we were then known. The embossed title promised a 1915 catalog of fall and winter fashions from Edward E. Strauss & Co., a wholesale tailor in Chicago. Opening the book to any page, however, would surprise someone expecting to find the wool suits suggested on the cover.

The volume had been altered by Harry’s mother, Mary Bird Phillian, when he was a child in Delaware, Ohio. Mary transformed austere arrangements for suits with names like “The Standard" and “The Century” into a giant, vibrant picture book for Harry. She used art from advertising cards and magazines to create collages that sometimes incorporated, and other times covered, the catalog’s original illustrations. The images Mary chose represented everyday life during World War I through notices for savings bonds, the American Red Cross, the YMCA and YWCA. Like many other scrapbookers, she clipped ads for consumer products like Murad cigarettes and Cream of Wheat, both of which profited on racist caricatures. She included many images of infants and animals for Harry to enjoy, but also ones of political figures and entertainers.

Just as a single object can have multiple uses, it’s not unusual for different archivists to approach the same item with different eyes and priorities. When the Phillian scrapbook arrived at the Ohio Historical Society more than 30 years ago, an archivist noted that it might be of interest – but only if the scrapbook could somehow be undone. If Mary’s pasted images could be removed, her collages disassembled, it would reveal the original clothing catalog. I’m grateful my predecessors did not achieve this end.

Today, the item of interest is described in our archives catalog and preserved in our stacks. It's still a catalog of wool suits, but it is also a mother’s gift to her child, a work of art, a glimpse into popular culture of the 1910s and probably much more. As an archivist, I look forward to seeing what new uses and interpretations researchers will create for it!

By Svetlana Harlan, Community Engagement Coordinator

The Gay Ohio History Initiative (GOHI) started in 2005 as a collecting initiative to purposefully preserve and share Ohio’s LGBTQ+ stories. However, GOHI has grown in recent years to also include robust community engagement and outreach with queer communities around Ohio! Through educational programming and outreach, we’ve been able to connect with LGBTQ+ Ohioans throughout the state and work with communities to empower them to preserve and share their stories.

Summer 2024 provided some amazing opportunities to do just that! Check out what we’ve been up to as summer officially draws to a close.

Each year, we travel to a handful of Pride festivals throughout Ohio to connect with LGBTQ+ festival-goers. We started right at the beginning of LGBTQ+ Pride Month this year with a visit to the Dayton’s Pride Festival on Saturday, June 1. Despite Pride month just starting, Daytonians were ready to celebrate. They were also ready to learn about Ohio’s queer stories! Folks who stopped by our booth got a chance to spin the wheel and play Ohio LGBTQ+ History Trivia. Can you answer one of our Dayton questions? (all answers are posted at the end of this blog)

Dayton Q: There are currently three Ohio Historical Markers that recognize LGBTQ+ people, places, and stories. The first of these was established in Dayton’s Cooper Park in 2009. What historical figure, event, or place does the marker recognize?

The second Pride festival that GOHI participated in was the biggest one in the state of Ohio. Since GOHI was founded in Columbus in 2005, we’ve aimed to extend our reach to other parts of the state. Thus, we never actually tabled at a Columbus Pride festival prior to this year. Well, this year was something of a homecoming for GOHI, as we tabled at the Festival on Saturday, June 15, and connected with over 1 thousand folks in Ohio’s Capital!

Of course, we brought our spinning wheel and were asking folks Trivia questions. Can you answer one of our Columbus questions? (all answers are posted at the end of this blog)

Columbus Q: The latest LGBTQ+ Ohio Historical Marker was dedicated on June 10, 2023, and recognizes on of Ohio’s longest-running lesbian bars, which operated from 1970 to 2008. What was the name of that bar?

There is no rule that says that all Pride celebrations must take place in the month of June. There simply aren’t enough Saturdays! On Saturday, August 24, we tabled at Akron’s Pride Festival. It was an amazing experience for us, as the parade walked down the same street where festival vendors were set up. Usually, we miss the parade as we prepare our table and booth. However, we got the full experience this time in Akron!

As we were setting up, we realized we had forgotten our Triva spinning wheel. However, we improvised and instead, had folks choose a number between 1 and 10, which corresponded to a trivia question. Folks still got to play Trivia while checking out some of our GOHI education collection (made up of actual historical artifacts and manuscripts from Ohio’s LGBTQ+ communities). Can you answer one of our Akron questions? (all answers are posted at the end of this blog)

Akron Q: In 2014, Akron and Cleveland hosted a sporting event for LGBTQ+ athletes from around the world. What is the name of that competition?

GOHI engages with LGBTQ+ Ohioans both in-person and virtually. Virtual programs and events allow us to reach thousands of queer Ohioans each year to get the word out about our physical and digital resources!

One of the virtual programs we participated in this summer was a panel organized by Columbus Metropolitan Library on Preserving LGBTQ+ Ohio History. Also participating on the panel was Ken Schneck, author of LGBTQ Cleveland, LGBTQ Columbus, and LGBTQ Cincinnati, as well as the Editor of The Buckeye Flame.

Since this was a virtual program, I introduced our digital resources available on the GOHI website, including our Collections & Research page, which provides links to OHC resources and external resources for researching Ohio’s queer past. The digital tour also focused on our Oral Histories page, which includes dozens of original interviews with Ohioans from around the state. These oral histories help preserve Ohio’s LGBTQ+ stories and give additional context to the often sparse recorded evidence of the history.

GOHI’s community engagement usually means coming out to events and programs to connect with Ohioans where they’re at. However, we also enjoy inviting folks into the Ohio History Center, home of the GOHI Archival Collection.

On Tuesday, August 20, we had the privilege of hosting the Stonewall Columbus Trailblazers in the Ohio History Center Reading Room. We shared some background on GOHI, and then invited the Trailblazers to get hands-on with some of the manuscripts in the Collection.

This experience was special for us and for many of the Trailblazers, an affinity group for LGBTQ+ elders. Many of our guests were involved in the initiatives and organizations represented in the Collection, and some could even point themselves out in photos and documents!

The GOHI Collection is available for researchers to utilize by appointment and walk-in at the Ohio History Center Reading Room.

As part of the Marking Diverse Ohio project, GOHI has organized a community of practice (CoP), made up of LGBTQ+ folks from around the state who are interested in preserving and sharing Ohio’s LGBTQ+ history.

GOHI is committed to empowering individuals and communities around the state to preserve and share their stories, and supporting a forum in which folks can gather and learn about historical methods and best practices is one of the ways in which we pursue that goal. A community of practice is a group of people who are committed to a common purpose or passion, and who come together to network, share resources, and build each other’s skills and capacity. The idea of organizing a CoP was informed by the principles of asset-based community development (ABCD), the method our Community Engagement Department at OHC draws on most.

On Friday, September 6, GOHI hosted Dr. Susan Ferentinos at the Ohio History Center to lead a workshop on LGBTQ+ historical research and interpretation. Dr. Ferentinos is a public historian with over twenty-five years of experience. She is author of Interpreting LGBT History at Museums and Historic Sites, and has consulted on several queer pubic history projects, including the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, the House of Furies feminist collective in Washington, D.C., the Philly Queer Spaces Project, and, most recently, Marking Diverse Ohio with GOHI.

The workshop introduced our CoP participants to the best practices and methods in researching and interpreting queer histories, especially at the local level. In the second half of the workshop, the CoP had the opportunity to do their own hands-on preliminary research on local LGBTQ+ stories that interested them. Some of these stories may go on to be recognized with an Ohio Historical Marker!

Empowering Ohioans with the knowledge and tools to preserve and share their stories is what GOHI’s outreach is all about. Dr. Ferentinos’s workshop was a truly momentous occasion for our team. We hope that she enjoyed visiting us at OHC as much as we enjoyed hosting her.

Summer 2024 was full of connection and engagement, and with LGBTQ+ History Month coming up in October, we’ve got more planned.

If you’re interested in connecting with GOHI for an outreach and engagement idea, get in touch with us!

At Leo Petroglyphs & Nature Preserve, you can explore ancient human history as well as geology and natural science, all while enjoying a beautiful hike.

The petroglyphs are a legacy of the American Indian peoples of ancient Ohio. Carved into a sandstone slab, this remarkable rock art includes 37 figurative drawings of humans, birds, footprints, animals and symbols. The most famous image is a human head with deer antlers and bird’s feet (see photo below). The carvings are most likely the work of the Fort Ancient culture and may be as much as 1,000 years old.

You can hike the nature preserve on a 0.7-mile trail through a gorge along unglaciated Mississippian sandstone cliffs that are 20-65 feet high. The trail may be short, but it provides a lot of variety–elevation changes, waterfalls, streams, various rock formations, informative plaques, wildflowers, animal tracks and more. My husband and daughter came along with me, and we all loved this trail.

Address: Leo Petroglyphs & Nature Preserve is located at 400 Park Rd., Ray, OH. I would highly recommend using a GPS to find your way. It can be a little tricky to find some of the turns. My husband, who is an excellent navigator, blew past the first turn off US-35. The site itself is well marked with a large Ohio History Connection sign. There’s a small parking lot right off Park Rd.

How much time: We spent about 15 minutes looking at the petroglyphs, which are located right at the parking lot. The hike through the nature preserve took us about 30 minutes. We spent a lot of time looking at the waterfalls, animal prints, signs and rock formations.

My favorites: Aside from the petroglyphs, which are super interesting, I absolutely loved the hike in the nature preserve. It’s short, but there’s so much to see.

Truda's Tips: There are no restroom facilities at this site, but there is a large rest stop just north of the site on US-35. This site is not handicapped accessible. The shelter around the petroglyphs has a lot of stairs and the hike in the nature preserve is very rocky with lots of elevation changes.

Kid Friendly? Yes, for elementary school aged kids and older: As mentioned above, the trail through the nature preserve is short, but challenging. I think little legs would have trouble managing much of the trail. But kids who are a little older would LOVE scrambling over the rocks, splashing in the stream and looking for wildflowers.

Lunch: There are picnic tables available at the site, both at the end of the parking lot and under the shelter near the petroglyphs, so you can definitely pack a lunch to enjoy during your visit.

We opted to drive about 30 minutes for a little taste of history at Rax Roast Beef at 24586 US 23 in Circleville. I told my daughter she was getting a real taste of what it felt like to live in the 1980s. I’m pretty sure the menu and décor have not changed one bit. We all thoroughly enjoyed our sandwiches, the great service and the clean restrooms. I would definitely go back.

For more information: To learn more about Leo Petroglyphs & Nature Preserve, you can visit our website.

Buckeye Furnace, another Ohio History Connection site, is about 30 minutes away in Wellston. The grounds are open year-round, but the museum and gift shop are open May-October. For more information about Buckeye Furnace, click here.

Want to make a day of it? Discover everything Jackson County has to offer at Tour Jackson Ohio.

Ohio History Connection members get travel information like this every month! For more information and to join today, visit ohiohistory.org/join.

Teaching Hispanic Heritage Month - Part 3

Hispanic and Latinx history is an intricate and expansive tapestry that encompasses a diverse array of experiences, cultures, and contributions that have shaped not only the United States but the entire Western Hemisphere. Far more than a singular narrative, this history spans centuries, continents, and countless stories of resilience, creativity, and influence. It includes the indigenous civilizations of the Americas, such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca, to the waves of immigrants who have enriched American society with their cultures, languages, and traditions, and beyond.

While Hispanic Heritage Month offers a valuable opportunity to highlight Latinx contributions, the richness of Latinx history deserves attention year-round with themes like politics, art, culture, and social justice!

In order to provide students with a richer understanding of the past, ensure that your teaching of Hispanic and Latinx history is inclusive, contextual, and relevant. Consider the following as you start integrating this history into your curriculum.

Diversity of the Latinx Community

The Latinx community is incredibly diverse, encompassing people from various countries, cultures, and backgrounds. This diversity includes differences in language, race, ethnicity, and history. When teaching Latinx history, it’s essential to move beyond a monolithic portrayal and highlight the varied experiences of people from different regions, including in the terms people use to identify themselves.

Interconnectedness with Broader U.S. and World History

Latinx history is deeply intertwined with broader U.S. and global history. Integrate Latinx history into the larger historical context, rather than treating it as a separate or supplementary topic. For example, look at the impact of U.S foreign policy in Latin America, or the role that Latinx people play in key historical events like WWII. This encourages students to understand how Latinx history has shaped and been shaped by global forces.

Contemporary Relevance and Social Justice

Latinx history is not just about the past; it’s also about understanding present-day issues and advocating for social justice. Connect historical events to contemporary topics such as immigration, civil rights, economic inequality, and cultural representation. By exploring the ongoing struggles and successes of the Latinx community, educators can encourage students to think critically about current events and the role they play in shaping the future. This approach also fosters empathy and awareness, empowering students to become informed and active citizens.

Ultimately, teaching Latinx history as an integral part of American history fosters a more inclusive understanding of our shared past.

Lessons to get you started:

National Hispanic Cultural Center- Mundos de Mestizaje Curriculum (K-12): Use the fresco painted by New Mexico artist Frederico Vigil to explore “thousands of years of Hispanic identity, history and culture in a broad sense.”

Smithsonian’s Nuestra América: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States (Middle & High School): A fully illustrated anthology featuring the stories of thirty Latina/o/xs and their contributions to the US’s cultural, social and political history.

Facing History & Ourselves- Latinx History Unit & Lesson Plans (High School): Activities focus on topics ranging from human & civil rights, to culture & identity, to migration and immigration.

For even more resources for teaching Hispanic Heritage Month, be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our Teaching Hispanic Heritage Month blog series.

Blog Image Citation: Frederico Vigil, Mundos de Mestizaje, Buon Fresco, National Hispanic Cultural Center, https://learn.nationalhispaniccenter.org/fresco-lesson-plans/.

The Fort Recovery Museum includes three floors of exhibits.

Be sure to explore the blockhouses, located right outside the museum.

The monument that honors U.S. soldiers killed during the battles in Fort Recovery is just one of the many sites you’ll see on the walking tour of the village.

The famous Maid-Rite sandwich!

The Ohio History Connection is proud to host two great presentations as part of our Archaeology Day Celebration on October 5th!

By Wendy Korwin, Archives Services Manager

By Svetlana Harlan, Community Engagement Coordinator

Dayton Pride (June 1)

Columbus Pride (June 15)

Akron Pride (August 24)

Columbus Metropolitan Library Pride Month Panel (June 18)

Stonewall Columbus Trailblazers Visit (August 20)

GOHI Community of Practice Workshop with Dr. Susan Ferentinos

Ohio LGBTQ+ History Trivia Answers

The petroglyphs are fascinating. Experts don’t know the meaning of the symbols. They are most likely the work of the Fort Ancient culture and may be as much as 1,000 years old.

The sandstone cliffs are gorgeous!

There are lots of elevation changes and rocky areas to climb over. Leo Petroglyphs is a fun, but challenging place to hike.

Treat yourself to a taste of the 1980s at Rax in Circleville!

Teaching Hispanic Heritage Month - Part 3

Teaching Hispanic Heritage Month – Part 3