Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The America-250 initiative will present a series of trails statewide to showcase Ohio’s contributions to the nation, which celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026.
Two trails – Air & Space and Creativity – will get the movement started, and they will both feature an Ottawa County site.
Others in the series will include: Lake Erie & Ohio Rivers & Canals; Changemakers & Leaders; Ohio Moves & Transportation; and Innovators & Innovations.
Ohio Air & Space Trail explores historic sites and museums highlighting contributions to aviation and aerospace. Statewide, there are 33 locations to tour.
The Ottawa County site is the Liberty Aviation Museum located at 3515 East State St. in Port Clinton. The museum exhibits vintage and WWII-era aircrafts, including the Ford Tri-Motor Tin Goose, the world's first mass-produced commercial aircraft.
The museum also commemorates the life of Harold Brown, a World War II Tuskegee Airman who retired in Port Clinton. The museum features the Tin Goose Diner, a working classic diner.
The recommended tour time is one to three hours.
For more information on upcoming 2025 events and the Ford Tri-Motor flight schedule, visit the website at libertyaviationmuseum.org.
Ohio Creativity Trail celebrates a vibrant creative community with over 100 sites across the state.
From historic influences to modern artistry, this adventure will share the stories and spaces of the state's creative talents.
The Ottawa County site is Kimberly's Carousel, located at 160 Delaware Ave. on Put-in-Bay.
The hand-crafted carousel was made by Allen Herschell in 1917 in North Tonawanda, N.Y. All the horses are original. Families can experience this historical ride that is located next door to the Carriage House, which was established in 1922 and is one of Put-in-Bay's oldest and largest souvenir shops.
More information on Kimberly's Carousel is available at https://www.carriagehousepib.com/carousel/.
For additional information on America 250-Ohio and Ottawa County-America 250, please visit:
America 250-Ohio: www.america250-ohio.org.
For info on Ottawa County-America 250, visit: www.ottawacountyhistory.org/america250/
For Shores & Islands info, visit: www.shoresandislands.com/america-250/
