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Tuesday 10am - 3pm Wednesday 10am - 3pm Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 3pm

Oberlin Heritage Center

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Oberlin Heritage Center

The Oberlin Heritage Center is an accredited complex of historic sites and a historical society and 1:30 p.m. (last entry at 2:30 p.m.)

The Oberlin Heritage Center is an accredited complex of historic sites, a historical society and historic preservation organization that offers educational programs, tours, kids activities and workshops. Mailing address: PO Box 0455, Oberlin, OH 44074

Guided tours every Thursday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Self-guided tours Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. History Walks in warmer months
Group tours available year-round

09/02/2026

Come for a unique, free experience in celebration of Ohio Open Doors next Saturday!

Guests are welcome to enjoy the Jewett House (73 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH) during our Open House from 4:00-4:45pm and hear about life in the Progressive Era from a costumed interpreter portraying Sarah Frances “Fanny” Gulick Jewett. Learn about the people who lived in the Jewett House, what life in Oberlin was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and how Charles Martin Hall’s aluminum reduction process transformed how the material would be used in industry, technology, and everyday life.

Starting promptly at 5pm, the lights will be turned down for a Magic Lantern Show by Oberlin College Libraries’ Visual Resources Collection Curator, Heath Patten. Magic lanterns were early projectors that delighted audiences with illustrated news, stories, and trips around the world.

No reservations are required for the Open House but ARE REQUIRED for the Magic Lantern Show as seats are limited. Show length will be approximately 20 minutes. Both experiences are free. If we run out of space in the registration module, contact us at [email protected] about waitlist possibilities. Reservation link is in the comments.

09/01/2026

This Month, in line with America 250-Ohio’s statewide theme “Ohio Plays: Sports & Wellness,” OHC will be highlighting some of Oberlin's fascinating figures in sports history. Watch here for updates!

Photo: a 1930 Oberlin College football game from the Locke Collection

08/20/2026

Root Beer and Yesteryear is a free, family-friendly event in Oberlin that occurs in the month of September (9/26 this year!) and is organized by the Oberlin Heritage Center (OHC). This event started around the late 2010s, meaning it is a fairly new event in Oberlin, but still a fun way to honor the past. Root Beer and Yesteryear features live music, fun historical related activities, general entertainment and free root beer floats and popcorn. There are also fun games and tours of the buildings OHC owns, such as the Monroe House and the Little Red Schoolhouse.

Oberlin’s historical commitment to Christian Perfectionism and moral attitudes towards drinking meant that for much of its history it was a dry town where alcohol was outlawed. In a replacement for alcoholic beverages, an Oberlin College chemistry professor who lived in Oberlin named Frank Fanning Jewett brewed up a friendly alternative, which was root beer. The soft drink became a treat that the people of Oberlin enjoyed, and although times have changed now and alcohol is allowed to be consumed in Oberlin today, Oberlinians still enjoy the fun treat of root beer. To keep up this tradition and to maintain Oberlin’s history, root beer is served at this event as a reminder of Oberlin’s dry past. Rain or shine, Root Beer and Yesteryear still happens every September on the grounds of OHC.

Photos: Root Beer & Yesteryear 2025

08/19/2026

Event Volunteers Needed!
Have fun, meet new people! OHC is participating in several community events this fall and we would love to have your help.

September 12 - Art Fair in the Square
OHC will have a table in “Community Resource Alley” at this fun event coordinated by FAVA. We would love to have people volunteer as greeters at our information table. Volunteer slots are 2 hours each, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

September 26 - Root Beer and Yesteryear
If you couldn’t tell from the event description above, there will be a lot of fun activities happening at OHC on Saturday 9/26! Here are some things you can help with: Washing chairs before the event, tent and table set-up, monitoring indoor and/or outdoor activities, table greeter, serving popcorn or rootbeer floats, and take down. Volunteer times vary by activity.

To volunteer for either event, please contact [email protected] or call 440-774-1700

08/18/2026

The Oberlin Sewerfest of 1989 was hosted on the 21st and 22nd of July, 1989, and was organized as a one-time event. It was a 2-day festival established as a way to laugh and make light of the summer long construction on the downtown sewer system. While the construction of the sewers was ongoing, the barricades rerouted traffic and access to the businesses downtown was challenging. This made it difficult for the residents of Oberlin to get around, and many of the people who drove through the construction zones had their cars badly damaged. At Sewerfest, there was a lively parade in which the residents jokingly protested against city hall's plumbing projects. There were other events too, such as a crafts fair, and tours were offered at Oberlin’s historic homes, including the Monroe House and Little Red Schoolhouse. Street dances were hosted in the evenings. Organizers even hosted an essay contest where the theme was to recall participants’ worst experiences with the construction.

Through this trying time, the people of Oberlin found a way to have fun, look back, and laugh at the misery through the establishment of Sewerfest 1989. Instead of sulking, Oberlinians chose to celebrate the finishing of the sewer construction with a fun festival.

08/15/2026

Come for a unique, free experience in celebration of Ohio Open Doors!

Guests are welcome to enjoy the Jewett House (73 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH) during our Open House from 4:00-4:45pm and hear about life in the Progressive Era from a costumed interpreter portraying Sarah Frances “Fanny” Gulick Jewett. Learn about the people who lived in the Jewett House, what life in Oberlin was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and how Charles Martin Hall’s aluminum reduction process transformed how the material would be used in industry, technology, and everyday life.

Starting promptly at 5pm, the lights will be turned down for a Magic Lantern Show by Oberlin College Libraries’ Visual Resources Collection Curator, Heath Patten. Magic lanterns were early projectors that delighted audiences with illustrated news, stories, and trips around the world.

No reservations are required for the Open House but ARE REQUIRED for the Magic Lantern Show as seats are limited. Show length will be approximately 20 minutes. Both experiences are free. If we run out of space in the registration module, contact us at [email protected] about waitlist possibilities. Reservation link is in the comments.

08/13/2026

Oberlin Big Parade has become a beloved yearly spring tradition here in Oberlin. The origins of Big Parade are more recent compared to other similar events occurring here in Oberlin. The parade began in 2002 as a collaborative art event created by Oberlin College alum and artist Zach Moser and it is self-explanatory, an art parade in which artists of all kinds participate. The artists make crafts for the parade, constructing floats and other works of art. This event is meant to bring people of all ages together through the appreciation of creativity, expression, collaboration, and teamwork. It is also meant to let people express themselves and their imagination through the forms of art, and is a way to liven up the town, as people felt that a big parade in Oberlin was needed.

The arts are not limited to just painting or illustrations, but also include music, dancing, costumes, bikes, choreography, and decorated cars. It is really up to the people's creativity and imagination of what can be added to the parade. Everyone of all ages is invited to come and have fun, and although it is a newer tradition, it has become very quickly cherished by the community.

Photos: Big Parade 2023

08/12/2026

Architecture History Walk
This 75-minute walking tour will be offered on Saturday, August 15 at 11am, as well as Saturdays August 22 and 29.

Find out how the landscape, college campus, and town developed over its 180+ years on this 75-minute walking tour of Oberlin. Learn which architectural styles prevailed, which were criticized by the community, and how several renowned architects came to work in Oberlin.

Starting Location: Flagpoles on Tappan Square (near intersection of Main and College Sts.)

For more info and to make reservations: https://oberlinheritagecenter.org/evnt/architecture-history-walk-august-offerings/

08/11/2026

Oberlin has a wide variety of events and festivals, but perhaps none is more colorful than the annual community Chalk Walk. Held typically on the last Saturday in June (weather permitting) on parts of Main and College streets, the Chalk Walk invites Oberlinians of all ages to create and enjoy sidewalk chalk art. Every year, the Allen Memorial Art Museum sponsors artists, and juried artists also participate in the Chalk Walk. Registration is free and may be done on-site. No pre-registration is necessary and materials, such as pastels, are also provided at no cost. Beginning in 2005, it has continued to draw people (no pun intended) for over twenty years.

The Chalk Walk was begun by Oberlinian Barry Richard, who got inspired by chalk art in Italy. In an interview, he said, “I just thought the colors and the look, especially the look, was spectacular…[a]nd I just thought, man this would be great if we could do something like that here in town…I just wanted an art event in Oberlin. It’s a perfect town, I thought, for that type of thing…and in this town, one person can make a difference if you get the right team together.” Richard collaborated with Geof Comings, the head of Oberlin Main Street, Stephanie Wiles, director of the Allen, and Darren McDonough from the public library. Searching for a name for this proposed event, McDonough suggested to call it, “Oberlin Chalk Walk.” Together, their efforts led to the first Chalk Walk in the summer of 2005, with about 175 people attending. The Chalk Walk has been an annual summer event since- with the exception of several years during the pandemic- and has grown in popularity and attendance. Many other organizations, sponsors, volunteers and individuals have helped to make the event what it is today.

Currently, the Chalk Walk is a very popular event, with hundreds of people coming out to create art, look at the creative process, and view the works. The 2026 18th Annual Oberlin Chalk Walk featured Allen-sponsored artists Wendy Mahon, Oliver St. Clair, Debra Sue Solecki, and Robin VanLear. Juried artists included Becca Boardman, Keith McGuckin, Amanda Mitchell, and Beth Wolosz.

Photos: Chalk Walk 2026

08/07/2026

Oberlin Juneteenth
Juneteenth originated from the date June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and upheld the terms of the Emancipation Proclamation. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln two years prior in 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people residing in the Confederacy. With the arrival of Union forces, over 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Texas, and Black communities in Texas began celebrating June 19 annually as the holiday of Juneteenth.

On July 17, 1992, Oberlin began its own celebration to commemorate the efforts of African Americans living in Oberlin. This celebration was called the Heritage Days festival, and it was organized by local downtown merchant and artist Adenike Sharpley. This festival took place in Tappan Square for three years and in 1995 it was combined with a Juneteenth celebration. Ever since then, this event has continued annually, and organizers have come together to form the Juneteenth Oberlin Inc. to coordinate and to celebrate this crucial part of American history.

For more information on Oberlin Juneteenth visit https://www.juneteenthoberlin.org/

Photo: Juneteenth 2026

Address

73 1/2 South Professor Street
Oberlin, OH
44074

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 3pm
Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10am - 3pm
Saturday	10am - 3pm

Website

http://www.oberlinheritagecenter.org/

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