Travelers choosing Perry for a trip can plan around different interests: the city’s history and technological heritage, or recreational opportunities at Perry Lake. Courthouse Square, several historic buildings, and museums offer insights into different chapters of the city’s history. At the lake, activities on the water and camping take center stage. This makes it possible to first decide which themes are most important for your stay.
Courthouse Square and City History
The Perry Courthouse Square Historic District has historically been, and remains, the heart of commercial development in Perry and Noble County. The district covers about thirteen city blocks around Courthouse Square—the historic area therefore extends beyond the square itself. Perry’s historic downtown is one of the few true town squares still preserved in America.
Individual buildings and sites also reflect different periods. The Perry Carnegie Library building has been in continuous use since 1909. Perry Wrestling Monument Park opened on May 14, 2016. These dates mark different chapters in the area’s history, from the long-standing use of a library building to the opening of a park in the 21st century.
Museums of Daily Life and Technology
The Cherokee Strip Museum complex spans five acres. It includes exhibits, a blacksmith shop, a large building for agricultural equipment, and a one-room schoolhouse dating to 1895. Together, these areas offer insights into different subjects: craftwork, agricultural equipment, and learning in a one-room schoolhouse. The schoolhouse date provides a specific point of reference within the museum complex.
The complex is located about a quarter-mile east of I-35; from Exit 186, follow the route toward Perry. This information refers to the Cherokee Strip Museum. It provides a specific reference to the interstate and exit for your drive.
The Heritage Center & The Ditch Witch Museum is located in downtown Perry and presents the history of Ditch Witch equipment, from its invention to the present day. The building that houses the museum was constructed shortly after the 1893 Land Run. The years mark two different points of reference: 1893 dates the Land Run, after which the building was constructed; 1895 is the date of the Cherokee Strip Museum schoolhouse.
September Celebration
The Cherokee Strip Celebration has been held in Perry every September since 1893 to commemorate the community’s founding. The festival includes live entertainment, food vendors, and exhibitors. In this way, the event combines its connection to Perry’s founding with a festival program. If you’re planning a trip around the Celebration, check the dates for that year’s event.
Perry Lake: Activities and Camping
Perry Lake is a reservoir in the Upper Black Bear Creek system. Visitors can go boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing there. Camping options include primitive camping and RV sites with full electric, water, and sewer hookups. This means there are different types of camping: basic options and RV sites with the hookups listed above.
When looking for a hotel in Perry, you can start by deciding which themes will shape your trip.
Discover more destinations: Morrison.
Return to the main travel overview: Noble County.
