Granville: Nature Trails, Museums and History

Explore Granville through its nature trails, museums and historic sites. When choosing a hotel, you can first plan your stay around your preferred focus: time outdoors, collections and exhibitions, or historic buildings and trails.

Parks and outdoor activities

Fanchion Lewis Park has nature trails and a fishing pond. It is open from sunrise to sunset. Sugarloaf Park has marked nature trails and picnic tables. The two parks therefore differ in their specific amenities: one combines a fishing pond with nature trails, while the other has picnic tables alongside its marked trails.

The Founders Monument can also be reached via the nature trails at Sugarloaf Park. It was dedicated in 1905 during Granville’s centennial celebration. A walk on the trails can therefore also lead to a historic site whose dedication year is linked to an important anniversary for the town. The TJ Evans Trail is popular with cyclists, runners and walkers, and offers another way to enjoy the outdoors.

Polo is played on Bryn Du’s Great Lawn on Sunday afternoons during the summer months. If this seasonal activity is important to your travel plans, check for suitable dates in advance.

Historic sites and events

Bryn Du Mansion has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. The Bryn Du estate is used for community activities, special and private events, and sporting and athletic competitions. Polo is also held on the Great Lawn during the summer as a seasonal activity. Alligator Mound is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Granville preserves broad, tree-lined streets and many of its early homes. If you’d like to explore historic buildings in the town center, you can plan a Broadway Walking Tour. It runs from Main Street to the Granville Inn, passing significant buildings in Granville’s central business and historic district. The mobile version offers text, audio and videos at each stop.

Museums and visit planning

The Granville Historical Society Museum is housed in a building constructed in 1816 that formerly housed the Bank of the Alexandrian Society. Historical objects from the region on display include a mastodon tooth and a bassoon used in the War of 1812. The museum has seasonal opening hours on Saturdays and Sundays; tours are available by prior arrangement. Check the seasonal opening hours before your trip and arrange a tour in advance.

The Granville Historical Society Research Center and Archives is open on Thursdays; no appointment is required. Check the published opening hours before your visit.

The Denison Museum has a teaching collection of more than 9,000 objects of cultural, historical, scientific and artistic significance. Its exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. For planning purposes, it’s worth checking the current program and access details before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Heath, Hebron, Buckeye Lake, Pataskala.

For the broader travel overview: Licking.