Wondering if your family has ties to the Warren County, Ohio area? You might be surprised to discover that you could, in fact, have ancestors who settled in or traveled through this part of the country, even if you are not originally from here. Rich with historical significance, Warren County experienced an influx of pioneers from the east as they made their way west in search of manifest destiny. Along the way many pioneers found this region to be an ideal spot and opted to travel no further in favor of settling in the rich river valleys of the Ohio and Miami Rivers, yet many still ventured westward and developed settlements from Ohio to California.   

Today, many organizations including the Warren County Historical Society (WCHS) work to preserve this cultural history of the area as well as educate people on the genealogical significance of the region. People come from throughout the country to visit the WCHS to scan the museum's many documents, manuscripts and other resources for clues and facts about their family's genealogy. Many also enjoy visiting the Caesar's Creek Pioneer Village to witness a few original cabins as they once stood and get a glimpse at the life and times of these pioneers. Be sure to check out the 2012 schedule of events and come visit while reenactors give an even more accurate portrayal of the times. The region will also be a focus of genealogical significance when Cincinnati hosts the National Genealogical Society's 2012 Family History Conference in May, attracting families visiting from all over the U.S.

According to Victoria Van Harlingen of the WCHS, historically there have been patterns on how settlers arrived to this area. In 1787, after the Revolutionary War, Warren County became part of the Northwest Territory, which was governed by an ordinance protecting civil liberties and outlawing slavery. These protections drew great interest from Quakers who were living in Pennsylvania and the Carolinas at the time and they then began to build large settlements in the area. This area is also known to be a key location for slaves seeking freedom along the Underground Railroad as the Quakers who were against slavery helped them to reach safety. Visitors interested in the Underground Railroad can find a wealth of information and history in Warren County and can even relive part of the Journey to Freedom with the Underground Railroad History Package offered by The Wright House Bed and Breakfast, a known safe-house in Springboro.

After the war, settlers arrived from all over, including Loyalists who wanted a fresh start. Entire churches or groups moved here, like the group from Maine that settled in an area of southern Warren County, now known as Maineville. Visitors looking for fun things to do during the summer, will find that the Hamilton Township's Berry Festival offers a great way to experience the history of the area. This year the festival will be held at Testerman Park on June 8-9, 5:00-11:00 pm.

A lot of the land was parceled out, primarily to Revolutionary War veterans in the Virginia Military Reserve, who were given land as payment for their military service. Many of these servicemen moved here to claim their land, often dividing it and selling for profit. If you hang around Warren County long enough, you're sure to hear some certain family names mentioned quite often, such as the Butterworths, Fosters, Corwins (founders of Lebanon), Schencks, Whitakers and Wrights (you might recognize the name Russel Wright, known as the Father of American Household Design, and one of the top industrial designers of the 20th century). Many of these names are now also associated with towns found in Warren County.

Even if you are not searching for one of Warren County's well-known families, you will find information on hundreds of families through the WCHS's vast Surname Listing. The center houses archives and historical files that document church records, marriages, burials, wills, obituaries, military records and family histories, which will assist information-collecting. The museum is also currently working on an archiving project in order to digitize these records.

Need help finding your family history? In order to start, you will need to have some basic information about your family. You can begin the process collecting newspaper clippings, letters, photographs and other information you or your relatives might already have. Visiting the WCHS's Genealogy Library is another great place to start. If you need additional assistance, The WCHS Local History and Genealogy Library offers research assistance for a fee. The museum is open year-round, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

 

More than likely, if you've driven between historic Lebanon and Mason in Warren County, Ohio you've crossed the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (LM&M Railroad) on at least one occasion. Rich in history, this railroad offers scenic train rides throughout Warren County on about 16 miles of track. Today, you can experience glimpses of the past while enjoying new family fun adventures on the LM&M Railroad!

You're sure to find many family fun opportunities on LM&M's 2012 schedule that are sure to please the whole family. The schedule kicks off with a popular attraction, the Easter Bunny Express. On this ride children will have the opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny as well as take part in an Easter Egg Hunt and coloring contest at LM&M Junction. At just under two hours, this trip is the perfect ride for young children.

 The Easter Bunny Express will be held over two spring weekends: March 31-April 1 and April 6-7 and takes passengers on a fun-filled 4.4 mile ride. Departure times are 10:00 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. For ticket information, be sure to contact LM&M Railroad early, because space is limited.

Can't make it on this ride? Not to worry, the LM&M Railroad runs all year long and features regular 1-hour train rides, a popular ride that takes passengers from the Lebanon Station to the Southwest Golf Ranch and back with no layover as well as many special character rides like The Cat in the Hat and Curious George rides in June & July and a Train Ride with Clifford in August. Be sure to check out their website for up-to-date info or to purchase tickets.

Long before the LM&M played host to these whimsical rides for children, it served as a commuter train, transporting workers between Cincinnati and Dayton in the late 1800's. With the construction of Cincinnati Union Terminal in 1931 and later, interstate highways, the LM&M was used less and less for the daily commute. According to Angela Krisanda, Marketing Manager at LM&M Railroad, "Some of the train cars were actual cars used in New Jersey and New York for public transportation at one time." Today, you will see both freight and passenger trains along the LM&M tracks.

Alongside the LM&M tracks, you have the opportunity to take in not only the beautiful Warren County countryside and natural wonders but also many historical landmarks like the old Schoolhouse, built in the 1800's and operated as a school until the 1890's, The Crossing Watchman's Tower and the Lebanon Railroad Station, built as a replica of the original Lebanon Victorian-style passenger station. Warren County is rich with history, and you will experience a taste of that along the LM&M Railroad.


In more recent years, LM&M Railroad achieved notoriety as a backdrop for a famous car chase scene in Milk Money, a 1994 film starring Melanie Griffith and Ed Harris.

LM&M Railroad is the perfect vacation destination to mix historical education and good old-fashioned fun, and it's a Warren County spot you won't want to miss. If you're looking for more great family fun while you're in town check out some of the other world-class attractions you'll find in Ohio's Largest Playground here!

   When you stroll down the streets of Lebanon and drive through the hills of Warren County, you are in good company. Presidential company, that is! Lebanon, Ohio has been graced with a multitude of visits from Presidents dating back to as early as the 1800s. As we honor Presidents' Day this month, we thought it would be interesting to highlight many of Warren County's esteemed Presidential visitors through the years.

   Perhaps one of the most beloved U.S. Presidents to visit Warren County was Abraham Lincoln. In 1862, President-elect Lincoln traveled through Warren County on his way from Springfield, Illinois to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration. Historian John Zimkus wrote, "Being on the Little Miami Railroad, what is now the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail, Lincoln traveled the full length of Warren County." Another Lincoln connection to Warren County: his great uncle, John, lived on 181-acre farm between Lebanon and the community of Red Lion. John and his wife, Mary, are buried in Lebanon's Pioneer Cemetery, located just six blocks from the historic Golden Lamb Restaurant & Inn. Click here for Pioneer Cemetery Tours coming in May.

Click Here to Book a Presidential Room

   Known for main streets rich with antique shops, Lebanon has been host to numerous presidents on the campaign trail or passing through Ohio. Several presidents have also stayed at the Golden Lamb, Ohio's oldest hotel. While campaigning for the presidency in 1840, William Henry Harrison delivered a speech in Lebanon near what is now the Warren County fairgrounds. Two years later after Harrison's visit, Martin Van Buren, who lost his re-election bid to Harrison in 1840, traveled to Lebanon and visited the Golden Lamb on his way to Columbus.

   The Golden Lamb has been a destination of many presidents since that time, and consequently has rooms named after several of these Presidential visitors. More recently, The Golden Lamb has been visited by Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. As governor of California, Reagan visited in 1968 while campaigning for Congressman Buz Lukens. While George H. Bush was campaigning in the area in 1988, his wife, Barbara Bush, held a fundraising event in Lebanon and stayed overnight at The Golden Lamb. Their son, George W. Bush, visited The Golden Lamb in 2004. Of the 12 presidents who have visited The Golden Lamb, he is the only one to come while in office. Other presidents to visit and have rooms named after them include:

• John Quincy Adams: As the 6th U.S. President, Adams was one of only two presidents to visit Lebanon after his term in office. He arrived in Lebanon in 1843 on his way to Cincinnati.
• Ulysses S. Grant: Originally from Ohio, Grant, visited The Golden Lamb in his younger years (most likely in the 1820-30's). He served as the 18th U.S. President.
• Rutherford B. Hayes: When campaigning to be governor of Ohio, Hayes came to Lebanon in 1867. He was elected to be the 19th U.S. President eleven years later.
• James Garfield: Garfield, the 20th U.S. President, visited Lebanon in 1871 to give a political address at Washington Hall, two blocks away from The Golden Lamb.
• William McKinley: The last time McKinley came to Lebanon was in 1893 when running for re-election as governor of Ohio. He was the 25th U.S. President.
• William Howard Taft: In 1898, Taft, the 27th U.S. President, traveled to Lebanon to attend a funeral. He had dinner at The Golden Lamb during his visit.
• Warren G. Harding: Harding, the 29th U.S. President, spoke at the Lebanon Opera House in 1910 and again in 1914, subsequently serving in the U.S. Senate and six years later as president.

   While rich with history, The Golden Lamb has recently undergone renovations, now updated with free wifi and queen size beds with duvet bedding for all rooms. DeDe Bailey, who has worked at The Golden Lamb for 32 years, says the restaurant and inn typically offers specials in honor of Presidents' Day. Check out the new Golden Lamb web site for Presidents' Day specials, restaurant reservation booking, and new online room reservation booking.

Get into the Presidential spirit this month and experience the rich history Warren County offers. You can check out additional opportunities in the area and get museum and historical site details by visiting Journey into the past.

Presidents' Day Shopping Sale: Cincinnati Premium Outlets 

   Historic Downtown Lebanon is home to more than 50 of the best antique and specialty shops in Ohio and sets the perfect stage for the Lebanon Antiques Show. Well-known for its investment-quality antique furniture displayed in room settings, the show has evolved into one of the longest running and most respected antique shows in Ohio.

   The show, being held January 21st and 22nd at Bowman Elementary School in Lebanon, is the first of two 2012 shows. The show features local as well as national and international dealers peddling everything from furniture to jewelry to flatware and golf clubs. "Many of our dealers have been with us more than 30 years," said Victoria Van Harlingen of the Warren County Historical Society, which sponsors the event. Many dealers return year after year, but don't think that means you're going to see the same show as last time.

   New for this January, the show plans to add a special exhibit of 19th century game boards from the collection of Tom Chambers. Chambers, from Missouri, who will be on hand to showcase his antique pieces and answer questions has been intrigued by game boards since early in his career and has even co-authored a book, "The Art of the Game," detailing the intricacies of a variety of game boards. You can learn more about his work, exhibit and book on his website at www.missouriplainfolk.com.

   The history of this event is as unique as the pieces you'll find there. It was first begun in the 1940s to replace the home tours as the primary fundraising activity for the Warren County Historical Society. When reading back through the newsletters of that time, the staff was not so certain about this move and knew they were taking a huge gamble, but "the first show was so successful that they happily continued putting the event together the next year and then every year after that." said Van Harlingen. The Historical society now hosts 2 shows per year, one in January and one in October.

If you go:
   Date: Saturday & Sunday January 21 & 22nd

   Time: Saturday: 10a-5p/Sunday 11a-4p

   Where: Bowman Primary School
                825 Hart Road Lebanon, Ohio

   Admission: $8 (click here for a $2 discount coupon)

   Contact: Warren County Historical Society 513-932-1817

 

 

Can't Wait for the hard hitting jousting action of the Ohio Renaissance Festival to return to Harveysburg in September? Well, the History Channel has heard your calls and plans to premiere "Full Metal Jousting," a new reality competition show that pits jousting knights against one another in February.

The show will be hosted by Shane Adams, otherwise known as Sir Shanton of Falcon's Hill to his brotherhood of knights in the Knights of Valour troupe. Shane, originally from Toronto, Ontario began his endeavor in the jousting business at Medieval Times, and eventually created his own travelling show. He now makes his home at the Ohio Renaissance Festival and can be seen year after year taking on other noble knights in front of throngs of shouting fans.

The show that he and his troupe put together feels like you're really in the 1600's watching knights battle for honor and the eye of the fair maidens. They use real chainmail, real barrel helmets and it only takes one viewing to realize the hits are real as well. It's this reality that viewers of the History Channel's series will see on a weekly basis beginning Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. As one competitor puts it, "This ain't no dinner show."

For a sneak peek of the show from the History Channel click here.
For more info regarding the Ohio Renaissance Festival be sure to visit: www.renfestival.com

Where can you can you find 4,764 apple fritters, 550 gallons of apple cider and of course the freshest apple pies in the state this weekend? The longest running craft festival in the city of Lebanon, Country Applefest, returns for its 29th year and artisans of both crafts and apple confections will gather on Main Street to celebrate the coming of the fall season.

This festival has long maintained its pure small-town feel by not accepting corporate donations. The volunteers who organize Applefest take pride in the fact that this event is limited to arts, crafts and food only, and all must be homemade. You won't find any informational booths with peddling vendors here, just talented craftsmen with meticulously built pieces and master confectioners whose pies you may elsewhere find cooling on a windowsill. 

Don't feel constrained to just walking Main Street while you're in Lebanon for Applefest. Hop aboard the LM&M Railroad which will be running special 1 hour roundtrip train rides that are perfect for childern & adults. Grab a bite at the historic Golden Lamb, the oldest continuously operated business in the state of Ohio and host to notables like Mark Twain and 12 U.S. presidents. And stop by the Civil War Encampment at the Glendower historic house to relive the history of a war that nearly tore our country apart.

So if you're looking to escape the hustle of city life this weekend for a lifestyle that moves a little more slowly then grab your red and white checkered table cloth and your appetite and get to Downtown Lebanon on Saturday September 24th from 10a-7p for Country Applefest and more. 

For more information on this and our other upcoming Fall Festivals please click here.

As the home to Waynesville, "The Most Haunted Village in Ohio," (according to Haunted Ohio,) and Kings Island's famously-creepy Halloween HAUNT, Warren County's mix of scary experiences range from historical-haunts to gruesome and gory.

Here are the top ten haunted events, tours and locations in Ohio's Largest SCAREground:

1) Halloween HAUNT at Kings Island

According to park officials, Halloween HAUNT is the most immersive horror experience in the Midwest. The bloodcurdling horror, mind-bending terror and nightmarish madness of Halloween Haunt features more than 500 ghastly creatures lurking in the shadows searching for souls, 12 highly-intense and chilling haunted attractions and some of the most hair-raising rides on the planet including The Beast and Diamondback.

Location: Kings Island, Kings Island Drive, Mason. Admission to Halloween Haunt is included free with park admission tickets and 2011 season passes. For more information click here.

2) Springboro Haunted Hayride and Black Bog

Evenings Fridays and Saturdays, September 23 - October 29

Providing more than 20 years of jaw-dropping scares, the Springboro Haunted Hayride and Black Bog are both award-winning attractions. The Haunted Hayride is more than one-mile of tractor-drawn, twisting terror and has been voted "Best Hayride" by Ohio Valley Haunts.

Location: 6070 Springboro Rd., Lebanon. Tickets are $12 for the Hayride, $10 for the Black Bog and $18 for a combo ticket. For more information click here.

3) HOWL-O-FEST at Kings Island

HOWL-O-FEST includes non-scary activities such as a Costume Contest, Twisted Tales Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Gigantic Hay Bale Maze, Dance Party, Foam Pit, Tractor Town, Mask Painting, Games, Food and much more.

Location: Kings Island, Kings Island Drive, Mason. This family-friendly event is included FREE with park admission tickets and 2011 season passes. For more information click here.

4) Morgan's HAUNTED RIVER

7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays beginning October 7

Hike through the "Forest of Lost Souls" then embark on a guided raft trip down the "Haunted Little Miami River." Recommended for children 10 and up (under 17 must be accompanied by an adult).

Location: Morgan's Riverside Campground, 6262 Gilmour Road, Morrow. $15 for adults, $10 children 12 and under. Reservations highly recommended. Call 1-800-932-2663 or visit www.morganscanoe.com for more information.

5) Ghostly Walking Tours of Waynesville, "The Most Haunted Village in Ohio"

7:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from October 12 - October 30

Experience Ohio's most haunted village first-hand as you tour historic buildings along Main Street and throughout the Quaker Hill area of Waynesville while learning of ghostly encounters past and present. You begin at the Museum at the Friends Home, a restored boarding home which appears very much as it did when retired Quakers and single school teachers lived there around the turn of the 20th Century.

Location: Museum at the Friends Home, 115 South Fourth Street, Waynesville. Tickets are $10 for ages 12 and up. Space is limited. Reservations: 513-897-1607 or www.friendshomemuseum.org.

6) Ghosts and Goblets Dinner and Ghostly Walking Tour Package

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in October

Waynesville's most haunted establishment, the Hammel House Inn sets the stage for an evening of apparitions and fine dining. Guests enjoy tales and testimonials of hauntings at the Hammel House and dinner followed by a guided walking tour of Waynesville, Ohio's most haunted village. Extend your experience by staying overnight at the Hammel House Inn.

Location: Hammel House Inn, 121 S. Main Street, Waynesville. Dinner is $34.95 per person. Lodging starts at $100 per night plus tax. 20% discount on dinner and lodging available select dates (Oct. 1 - 8). 20% discount on lodging only Wednesday's in October. Call 513-897-3779 for reservations or visit www.thehammelhouseinn.com

7) "Gruesome But Truesome 19th Century Practices" Lunch and Learn

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19

Guest speaker, Warren County Historian John Zimkus, will discuss many of the terrifyingly-true medical practices of 19th century in use in this area.

Location: Harmon Hall at the Warren County History Center, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon. Tickets are $18 per person and include a box lunch and lecture. Reservation required, call 513-932-1817.

8) Ghosts in the Museums Tour

Ghoulish Glendower - 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 on October 21
Haunted Harmon Hall - 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. on October 28

Guided tours of two of Lebanon's historic and haunted landmarks, Harmon Hall and Glendower Historic Mansion.

Locations: Harmon Hall at the Warren County History Center, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon. Glendower Mansion, 105 Cincinnati Avenue, Lebanon. Tickets are $20 per person and participants must be 12 or older. Reservations: 513-932-1817 or www.wchsmuseum.org.

9) Paranormal Ghost Hunt

Ghoulish Glendower - 9:00 p.m. - midnight on October 30
Haunted Harmon Hall - 9:00 - midnight on October 31

Guests will work with the same equipment used by the Spiritual H.O.P.E. Society staff to conduct a real life paranormal investigation while the museum staff provides history and insight into past haunted experiences. The investigation/tour is limited to 12 guests.

Locations: Harmon Hall at the Warren County History Center, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon. Glendower Mansion, 105 Cincinnati Avenue, Lebanon. Tickets are $45 per person and participants must be 12 or older. Reservations: 513-932-1817 or www.wchsmuseum.org.

10) Dinner with The Golden Lamb's Distinguished Guests

Dinner offered nightly

Dine with The Golden Lamb's guests both past and present. Ohio's oldest Inn and continuously operating business, The Golden Lamb began as a stagecoach stop for travelers between Cincinnati and Columbus and through the years has hosted 12 U.S. Presidents and some of the most prominent literary and political figures of the 19th century. On the 4th floor of The Golden Lamb Inn there is a special room called "Sarah's Room" where many guests have encountered the presence of Sarah Stubbs, a child who lived in the hotel in the 1800´s. Charles R. Sherman, an Ohio Supreme Court Justice, who died at the Inn in 1829, also is among the reported ghosts in the building.

Location: 27 S. Broadway, Lebanon. Reservations: 513- 932-5065 or www.goldenlamb.com.

Each one of these experiences offer unique chills and thrills that will send shivers down your spine and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Hear Ye, Hear ye, with the Ohio Renaissance Festival (Sept. 3-Oct. 16th) set to begin this weekend we've put together a list of 16th century terms that you'll want to add to your vocabulary before the games begin.

1) "Good Morrow" : "Hello" -- E.g. "Good Morrow neighbor, might you be in a merry mood this E'en?"

2) "The Blood of John Barleycorn" : "Ale" or "Beer" -- E.g. "Fetch me a pint of the blood of John Barleycorn."

3) "Privy" : "Bathroom" -- E.g. "Beg your pardon, kind sir, but I have had too much of the blood of John Barleycorn and need to find the privy post-haste."

4) "Yonder" : "Over there" -- E.g. "The privy is located yonder."

5) "Grammercy" : "Thank You" -- E.g. "Grammercy, fair maiden, for the dance, thou art verily light on your feet."

6) "Aye" or "Yay" : "Yes" AND  "Nay" or "Indeed Not" : "No" -- E.g. "Yay, I am having a merry good time at the Ohio Renaissance Festival and nay, I do not wish to leave"

7) "Prithee" : "Please" -- E.g. "Mother, may I prithee have an oversized turkey leg for dinner this e'en?"

8) "Hawker" : "A salesperson yelling to get you to come to their booth" -- E.g. "That hawker is proclaiming he has the finest gold jewelry in town."

9) "Carouse" : "To Party" -- E.g. "After the jousting championship, the winning knight shall carouse with all the nobility to rejoice in his victory."

10) "Fie" : "A Curse" -- E.g. "If you do not attend the 2011 Ohio Renaissance Festival, then from this moment on, I fie on you."

Keep these terms in mind as you make your way out to the Ohio Renaissance Festival this fall. There will be plenty of games, rides and entertainment for both young and old.

To get your tickets be sure to visit: www.renfestival.com
Or book your Ren Fest Vacation Package here: Ohio Vacation Packages

On March 10, 2011, in an official announcement, the museum at Fort Ancient was granted accreditation by the American Associations of Museums, one of the most prestigious recognitions granted to a museum.

This high honor places Fort Ancient in esteemed company. Notable museums that have earned the AAM accreditation include the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Chicago's Field Museum.

The accreditation process, which is too lengthy to explain in a blog post, takes more than two year s to complete and involves thorough inspection of the museum and examination of its exhibits. Only about 5% of the museums in the United States have been granted the accreditation after completing this process.

The accreditation isn't the only honor bestowed upon the historic Native American site. Fort Ancient was granted National Historic Landmark status in 1964.

And in recent years, Fort Ancient has been placed on the shortlist for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Receiving this designation would place Fort Ancient on a global scale alongside famous sites such as Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef and more.

Many new rides, shows and events will make their debut in 2011. Here is a rundown of all the exciting details so you can mark your calendar and plan your getaway to Ohio's Largest Playground!

WindSeeker at Kings Island debuts April 30th

Kings Island will delight thrill seekers in 2011 with WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall tower that will spin riders 30 stories above the park at speeds up to 30 mph.

Seated in two-person swings that will allow your feet to dangle, you will slowly begin rotating in a circular motion as the swings ascend the tower. When you reach the top, the swings will reach speeds up to 30 mph, flaring out 45 degrees from the tower! WindSeeker will make its debut when Kings Island opens for the 2011 season in the spring.

Smithsonian Exhibit at the Warren County History Center

The Warren County History Center will host a traveling Smithsonian Exhibit "Beyond Baseball, The Life of Roberto Clemente," August 27 - October 12. In this exhibit, you will learn how in his 38 years, Roberto Clemente became a baseball legend in the United States, but in his homeland and throughout Latin America he became a national and cultural icon.

Western & Southern Open now a combined event

For the first time the best men's and women's tennis players in the world will play throughout the same week at the Western & Southern Open (August 13-21).

In one trip to the Lindner Family Tennis Center you see stars from both the WTA and the ATP tours playing on courts right next to each other. Imagine seeing a day of highly energized, competitive matches featuring Andy Roddick, Rafeal Nadal and Venus Williams in the afternoon then watching Roger Federer and Serena Williams that night!

Night Hunters exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo

Night Hunters, a new exhibit about nocturnal predators and prey at the Cincinnati Zoo merges the best of the Zoo's Nocturnal House and Cat House (opening May 2011). The new indoor interactive experience will feature many diverse species such as a bearcat, aardvark, fishing cat, clouded leopard and much more! But don't worry, all your favorite big cats - lions, tigers and cheetahs - will still be roaming about in their outdoor homes.

Warren County Civil War Trail

In conjunction with the 150 year anniversary of the start of the Civil War, you can now explore Warren County's "Civil War Trail" by visiting the Warren County Genealogical Society and the county's other museums and historical societies.

Along the trail, you will discover how Ohio played an important role in the winning of the American Civil War. Learn about daring Confederate raids performed by Morgan's Raiders, how Ohio produced the generals (Grant and Sherman) who helped win the war for the Union and much more!