Marietta combines cultural history with trails along two rivers. The Campus Martius Museum stands on the site of the original fortification; historic visits range from a house museum to tours of Mound Cemetery. When choosing activities, it makes a difference whether you prefer exhibitions, guided visits, or outdoor routes. The trails also vary: alongside a paved, mostly level route, there is a longer trail network with challenging terrain.
History at the Museum and Historic Sites
The Campus Martius Museum is located on the site of the original Campus Martius fortification. The Rufus Putnam House at the museum is the only surviving residence of the fortification. The exhibitions cover Ohio’s early settlement and the later migration of rural residents to cities and industrial centers. This contrast between settlement and later migration thus addresses both the beginnings and a subsequent shift in Ohio’s population history.
The Castle, an 1855 Gothic Revival house museum in Marietta, offers another historical perspective. The Castle offers tours from April through December; check the specific dates before your visit. The focus here is a single house and its architecture, while the Campus Martius Museum covers the fortification and the history of Ohio.
Mound Cemetery offers tours of its 2,000-year-old Adena mound and of Marietta citizens who changed the course of the nation. The cemetery is home to Conus Mound, a 30-foot-tall ceremonial structure. Cemetery tours therefore complement museum and house visits with additional historical topics.
Trails with Different Profiles
The River Trail is 3.5 miles long, paved, and fully accessible; the terrain is mostly level. It runs along the Ohio River and the Muskingum River around Marietta’s historic district and leads from the Lafayette Shopping Center to Indian Acres Park and the Marietta Aquatic Center. Its length, surface, and terrain description give you concrete points to consider when choosing a route.
The Marietta Trail Network includes more than 18 miles of trails with challenging terrain for hiking and mountain biking; it is located near Marietta High School. Compared with the River Trail, this offers a choice of different trail profiles: a 3.5-mile paved route over mostly level terrain or a trail network spanning more than 18 miles with challenging terrain. Length and terrain can help you compare the two options based on the kind of route you want.
The Kroger Wetlands Trail leads to a nature preserve in Marietta. If you would like to include such a destination in your plans, this trail takes you there and adds another option alongside the riverside trails and those described as more physically demanding.
River History in Marietta
The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival at the Ohio River Levee in Marietta recalls the time when sternwheel boats transported goods on the Ohio River. This cultural feature focuses on the river’s former use for freight transport and complements the history of museums and houses with another topic in the city’s history.
For the broader travel overview: Washington.
