Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, The Hallauer House Bed and Breakfast in Oberlin is filled with Civil War history. The 1830s Greek Revival home, located a short drive from Oberlin College, is decorated with artifacts from the war era. The three guestrooms include the Union Room, the Confederate Room and the Mason-Dixon room, and each is decorated in period style with touches such as Civil War uniforms. The home also has a secret cut-out section of floor covering an alcove that presumably once protected slaves escaping the South. Guests who opt for the inn's History Buff Package can hear stories of the war and Underground Railroad from innkeeper Joe Woodward, as well as receiving a book, tickets to the Oberlin Heritage Center, and a handmade Civil War penny rug.
Located just half a block from Ulysses S. Grant's boyhood home, the 1830s Bailey's House, is an historic gem. The home is one of the oldest in Georgetown and appears nearly the same as it did in 1832, save for an addition from the 1870s. The Bailey family were close friends of the Grant's, and the future president visited the house often as a young man. The three guest rooms are decorated with antiques, adding to the historic ambiance. The home is close to quilt barns, covered bridges, historic sites, and even wineries.
Still Standing: Springboro's Oldest Home
The Wright House Bed and Breakfast of 1815 is the oldest home in Springboro, Ohio as well as being a documented Underground Railroad site. Feel at home in the past with the inn's collection of antiques that includes a pump organ, victrola and player piano. Each stay includes a gourmet breakfast and high tea at 4:00 P.M.
Back to the Future
Not only is the Golden Lamb one of the most historic inns in the country, built in 1803, it also has had one of the most impressive guest lists. A dozen presidents, including John Quincy Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, and Ronald Reagan have stayed at the inn. Charles Dickens and Mark Twain were among some the other notable guests. Rooms, each named for famous guest, are decorated in period style and filled with antiques. The inn's full-service restaurant is located in the original portion of the building.
A Trip Back in Time
Rider's 1812 Inn was built along the stagecoach route from Buffalo, New York to Cleveland, Ohio, and hosted everyone from runaway slaves to returning Civil War veterans, but was also home to a speakeasy that was added in 1922. Guests can still enjoy authentic meals prepared from nineteenth-century recipes in Mistress Suzanne's Dining Room. Ohio Innkeepers are always ready to lend their knowledge on where to find museums, take a carriage ride, or find treasures in one of the Buckeye State's many antique malls. (They might also warn visitors not to actually eat a Buckeye. It looks like a chestnut, but it's poisonous to anyone but a squirrel. Try the state's popular peanut butter and chocolate replica instead.)
