Hardin County: Football History, Heritage and Nature

Wilson Sporting Goods has been making leather footballs in Ada since 1955. Visitors to the Wilson Football Factory can watch the manufacturing process, visit the retail store and tour the on-site museum. Manufacturing, retail and the museum give the visit a clear focus on sports and industrial history.

Historic Places and Their Stories

At the Hardin County Heritage Center, you can explore the Beech Grove Schoolhouse, an International Car Company caboose and the Agricultural Learning Hub. A visit also includes the historic Staadt Log Home and a historic general store in the former Dunkirk Jail. The various buildings and exhibit sites offer different points of interest, from education and agriculture to railroads and everyday life in earlier times.

The Black and White Schoolhouse was built in 1886 by direct descendants of enslaved people and served as a place of education for local young people until 1928. Another architectural glimpse into the county’s history is the Hardin County Courthouse: the building was designed by Richards, McCarty & Bulford and built in 1915.

The site of Chief Roundhead’s Village was home to a Wyandot village in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Visitors can access it as part of the County Marker Tour. Another historic connection is marked along County Road 265: the road follows an old Indigenous trail that linked the Wyandot villages near Upper Sandusky with the Shawnee settlements of Mac-o-chee to the southwest.

Murals, Market and Drive-In

The Hardin County Mural Trail features a curated collection of 16 murals in Ada, Kenton, Mt. Victory and Forest. The murals offer a distinct introduction to public art.

Market on Main is a seasonal open-air market in downtown Kenton, featuring local vendors, artisans and producers. Also in Kenton is the Hi-Road Drive-in, a two-screen drive-in theater. It opened in 1949 and has been in continuous operation ever since. Seasonal schedules may vary; check current showtimes in advance.

Marsh, Forest and Wildlife Watching

Scioto Marsh is the largest of three extensive marsh areas in western Hardin County. It formed in shallow basins left behind by the retreat of the last glacier 10,000 years ago. The site thus connects a landscape feature with its geological origins.

The Andreoff Wildlife Area lies on the border between Hardin County and Wyandot County, about 10 miles northeast of Kenton. It includes more than 700 acres of publicly accessible land for hunting, trapping and wildlife watching. Posted rules may apply to boundaries and permitted uses. About 86 breeding bird species occur there, and nearly 175 bird species are observed each year. These observation figures may vary by survey year.

The Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve includes more than 1,000 preserved acres and is one of the region’s largest known old-growth forests. Its address is 13278 County Road 190, Kenton, Ohio 43326. Conditions and access to the preserve may vary seasonally; check current access rules before your visit.

Experience Rural Culture

You can experience Old Order Amish culture in Hardin County on a bike ride or drive through the countryside. Before setting out, learn about local etiquette and access conditions.

Discover more destinations: Kenton, Knox County, Allen, Morrow County, Defiance, Cuyahoga County, Butler, Seneca County

For the main travel overview: Ohio.