Auglaize County: Canal History, Nature, and Museums

In Auglaize County, canal history, nature, and museums offer a variety of travel experiences. Along the Miami Erie Canal Towpath Trail, you’ll find trail sections and historic locks; museums cover subjects including space exploration and bicycle history. Seasonal events also offer a reason to plan your travel dates around your interests.

Canal Trails and Nature

The Miami Erie Canal Towpath Trail has flat terrain and gravel or grass surfaces. The Heritage Trails Park District section can be accessed from 40 Acre Pond, Lock 14 Park, the Bloody Bridge Trail Head, and Deep Cut Historical Park. Parking is available at all four locations. At Lock 14 Park, you can see a restored concrete canal lock; the park offers direct access to the Towpath Trail. Deep Cut Historical Park is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is located at the site of the largest canal excavation.

The Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve includes 15.8 acres of original woodland and 1.4 miles of hiking trails. Highlights include a pawpaw grove, a seasonal spring pond, and spring and summer flowers. Held annually in October, Walk With Nature is a 3.5-mile walk along the towpath of the Miami and Erie Canal. These two trail options provide different ways to plan your visit: the trails in the preserve and the scheduled fall walk. Check the current date of Walk With Nature before your trip. Fishing is available year-round at Grand Lake St. Marys.

Museums and Historic Sites

The Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta displays the Gemini VIII spacecraft. On March 16, 1966, Neil Armstrong and David Scott used it to carry out the first docking of two spacecraft in space. The Bicycle Museum of America displays more than 200 bicycles; its collection includes 600 bicycles in total. A guided or self-guided visit explores the history and design of the bicycle.

Historic buildings and sites offer further insights. The Historical Museum in New Bremen is housed in one of the city’s oldest surviving homes. Dating from the 1830s, the house served as both a residence and a business. The Daniel F. Mooney Museum was the Auglaize County Historical Society’s first museum. It is housed in a home built in 1876 and opened in 1981. The Bowstring Bridge is Ohio’s oldest bowstring truss bridge.

The Belle of St. Marys also connects a visit with canal history: the boat is a full-size replica of a canal boat that visitors can board. The St. Marys Art Center supports artists, promotes art education, and presents a variety of exhibitions. At the Lockkeepers House, visitors can walk along the canal trail. The house is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; check the opening hours before your trip.

Festivals and Event Dates

Founded in 1852, the Auglaize County Fair celebrates agriculture, livestock, and community. It is a week-long event. Activities include livestock shows, 4-H and FFA programs, grandstand entertainment, and harness racing; program details may vary from year to year. Check the dates before you travel. Bremenfest takes place every year on the third weekend in August and features food, bands, a 5K run or walk, and a parade. The New Bremen Firemen's Picnic is an annual summer tradition and is considered the longest-running picnic in its community. For these events, too, it’s a good idea to check the current schedule before your trip.

Choose from a range of interests when planning your trip: canal trails and historic sites, museum visits, or nature and seasonal events. If you’re looking for a hotel in Auglaize County, you can first consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip, then coordinate your stay with the dates of your preferred event.

Discover more destinations: Wapakoneta, Saint Marys, Wyandot County, Morrow County, Tuscarawas, Columbiana County, Clark, Highland County.

For the main travel overview: Ohio.