Marietta: History, Museums, and River Trails

During a stay in Marietta, historic sites and outdoor trails offer different points of interest. The Campus Martius Museum explores early settlement history, while The Castle is a house museum dating to the 19th century. There are also trails along the rivers, a nature preserve to visit, and a network of trails with challenging terrain.

History at the Campus Martius Site

The Campus Martius Museum is located at the site of the original Campus Martius fortification. Inside the museum is the Rufus Putnam House, the only surviving residence from the fortification. The exhibits explore Ohio’s early settlement and the later movement of Ohio’s rural population to cities and industrial centers. The topics trace the shift from early settlement to later changes in where people lived and worked.

Tours and Historic Sites

The Castle offers tours in Marietta of a Gothic Revival house museum built in 1855. If you’re interested in architecture, the house makes for a distinct sightseeing stop. Tours are listed as available from April through December; check the dates before your trip. Gothic Revival refers to a later architectural style that draws on Gothic forms.

At Mound Cemetery stands the Conus Mound, a 30-foot-high ceremonial structure. Cemetery tours cover a 2,000-year-old Adena mound and Marietta residents who changed the course of the nation’s history. A tour lets you explore both a historic structure and notable figures from Marietta’s past.

Trails with Different Characteristics

The River Trail is a 3.5-mile, fully accessible, paved multi-use trail on mostly flat terrain. It runs along the Ohio River and the Muskingum River around Marietta’s historic district. Its endpoints are the Lafayette Shopping Center, Indian Acres Park, and the Marietta Aquatic Center.

The Marietta Trail Network includes more than 18 miles of trails with challenging terrain for hiking and mountain biking; it is near Marietta High School. When comparing these two options, the main differences are the stated surface and terrain: the River Trail is paved and mostly flat, while the network’s terrain is challenging. If you’re looking for a trail destination in a nature preserve, the Kroger Wetlands Trail leads there in Marietta.

Festival on the Ohio River

The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival takes place at the Ohio River Levee in Marietta and recalls the era when sternwheel boats transported goods on the Ohio River. A 2025 event description called it a 49-year tradition. If the festival matters to your trip, check the event dates for your travel period.

For the broader travel overview: Washington.