Jefferson: History, Nature and Culture

Explore Jefferson through its historic sites and collections, as well as its lakes, parks and wooded areas. In Jefferson County, cultural attractions sit alongside opportunities for outdoor activities. When planning your trip, you can focus on history or set aside time for trails, water and nature.

Fort History and Art in Steubenville

In Steubenville, Historic Fort Steuben is a reconstructed military fort on the Ohio River. Construction began in 1786 and was completed in 1787 to protect surveyors mapping the Northwest Territory of the United States for settlement. The site includes an herb garden and an archaeological site. The exhibition hall in the Fort Steuben Visitor Center features various exhibits on Ohio history, and self-guided tours are available.

Steubenville’s “City of Murals” offers another glimpse into the region’s history: 24 large-scale artworks on buildings depict regional history. An audio tour of the murals includes descriptions of individual works where available. Overview maps and a descriptive book about the murals are also available at the Steubenville Visitor Center. Downtown, you’ll also find 17 historic churches with stained-glass windows and remarkable architecture.

Museums and Historic Sites

The Jefferson County Historical Museum comprises 19 rooms filled with historical objects, including Steubenville Pottery, Civil War documents and local memorabilia. Admission is free. The Jefferson County Historical Association library offers another way to explore the history of Jefferson County: it contains more than 5,000 books, pamphlets and documents related to the county.

The Jefferson County Historical Association is housed in the three-story Emma Carter Sharpe Zeis Mansion, completed in 1919. In Mount Pleasant, the Quaker Yearly Meeting House was completed in 1814. It was the first Quaker yearly meeting house west of the Allegheny Mountains and is part of the Mount Pleasant Historic District. This National Historic Landmark District is associated with Quaker history, the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad.

Historic outdoor sites can also be part of your trip. Historic Beatty Park has a 1.7-mile loop trail and is connected to Historic Union Cemetery. The cemetery is home to the Old Stone Chapel, built in 1892. There are also 11 Ohio Historical Markers throughout Jefferson County; the number may change.

Lakes, Parks and Outdoor Activities

Friendship Park covers 1,320 acres and is located outside the village of Smithfield. Its 89-acre main lake is home to catfish, bass, sunfish, carp and trout. Boating is allowed in the park, and kayaking and canoeing are recommended. Fishing is permitted from sunrise to sunset. On land, visitors can go bird-watching, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The park also has RV sites and facilities, as well as camping areas.

Other options offer different landscapes and amenities. Jefferson Lake State Park has a 17-acre lake, family and equestrian camping areas, and miles of challenging multi-use trails. Fernwood State Forest covers more than 3,000 acres. Public activities there include fishing, hunting, hiking and camping, and the forest has facilities for target and trap shooting. A driving tour of southern Jefferson County is suggested, with stops at a historic village, a restaurant in a converted farmhouse and a family-run vineyard. Since availability along the route may change, check in advance that your chosen stops are open.

Discover more destinations: Steubenville, Knox County, Sandusky County, Auglaize County, Crawford County, Lorain, Hocking County, Monroe.

For the broader travel overview: Ohio.