Discover Wood’s culture, history and nature

When looking for hotels in Wood, your travel interests can help guide your choice: Would you like to focus on county history, agriculture, or cycling and water trails? The region offers a range of themes, each with its own historical or active focus.

History at the Museum and on the Farm

The Wood County Museum offers a self-guided tour of the original Wood County Poor Farm. The site includes the Paupers’ Cemetery, the Lunatic Asylum, the Pestilence House, and the Ice House. The museum grounds are a public park open daily from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset. Facilities and interpretation may change, so check the latest visitor information before your visit.

The Carter Historic Farm offers a different historical perspective: it is a living history museum from the 1930s and an active farm. Visitors can experience agriculture, household traditions, and rural life during the Depression. The site includes a historic farmhouse, heritage gardens, demonstration fields, and a one-room schoolhouse. Farm animals, trails, a wooded area, and a restored wetland broaden the themes of the farm museum. Alongside agriculture, the focus includes household life and rural history.

County History by Road and Trail

Historical and cultural organizations in Wood County have jointly created the 32-stop Wood County Driving Tour. It invites visitors on a scenic drive through the county’s past and present. Another historical connection is the area now known as Harrison Park: during the War of 1812, it served as a military encampment for General William Henry Harrison’s army.

For cycling, the Slippery Elm Trail is a practical point of reference. The paved trail is 13 miles long and runs between Bowling Green and North Baltimore. Black Swamp Preserve provides a paved access point to the trail.

Water Trails and Plants

Two water trails also pass through Wood County. The 107-mile Maumee River Water Trail includes Mary Jane Thurston State Park. The 36-mile Portage River Water Trail has several access points for paddling. The two water trails differ considerably in length; the designated access points on the Portage River are an additional planning consideration.

The J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve offers another connection to nature: it is home to the Wood County Park District’s Native Plant Nursery and Greenhouse. The range of themes thus extends from historic sites and farming traditions to a nursery and greenhouse for native plants.

Discover more destinations: Rossford, Perrysburg, Bowling Green, Northwood, Walbridge, Coshocton County, Noble County, Lucas County.

For the broader travel overview: Ohio.