The Atlas Obscura Guide To Ohio

264 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Ohio

Updated October 15, 2026

Email

Cities

VISITED THIS STATE

Top Cities

All Cities

Unusual Attractions in Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

American Sign Museum

Where beautiful signs live on forever.

The crystal ball of Sybil Leek, a British witch and astrologer who crossed over into more mainstream culture during the 1960s and 70s.

Cleveland, Ohio

Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick

A collection of witchcraft artifacts and occult paraphernalia started by the leader of the Long Island Coven.

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Crystal Cave

Take a drunken tour inside the world's largest known geode.

“The Angel of Death Victorious” also known as the “Haserot Angel” in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, 10/15/2021

Cleveland, Ohio

The Haserot Angel

The angel of death appears to weep black tears at this grave marker.

Ash Cave.

Logan, Ohio

The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park

Rare recess caves fill this unbelievably beautiful Ohio park.

An aerial view of Serpent Mound in the fall.

Peebles, Ohio

The Great Serpent Mound

The largest earthwork effigy in the world.

The Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

Cincinnati, Ohio

Rookwood Tea Room

An art deco ice cream shop covered in vintage tiles.

See All 264 Things To Do in Ohio

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Ohio

The Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

Cincinnati, Ohio

Rookwood Tea Room

An art deco ice cream shop covered in vintage tiles.

Cornhenge

Dublin, Ohio

Cornhenge

The inventor of a number of hybrid corn species is immortalized with a field of giant corn.

Fairfield, Ohio

Jungle Jim's International Market

An unusual, super-sized grocery adventure awaits in an Ohio suburb.

See all 10 Places to Eat in Ohio

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Atlas Obscura has a tradition of exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

Explore Ohio

Museums 25

History 25

Architecture 25

Monuments 17

Parks 14

Memorials 14

Cemeteries 13

Presidents 13

Abandoned 13

Sculptures 13

Art 13

Collections 13

Ruins 12

Graves 12

Statues 11

Architectural Oddities 11

History & Culture 11

Sacred Spaces 10

Infrastructure 10

Outsider Art 9

Ohio Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Ohio Activity

kabaldesch profile photo

kabaldesch

wants to go to Ohio State Reformatory
arigurl21 profile photo

arigurl21

wants to go to The Cincinnati Mushroom House
arigurl21 profile photo

arigurl21

wants to go to Cincinnati Observatory
arigurl21 profile photo

arigurl21

wants to go to Cincinnati Mercantile Library
dymico profile photo

dymico

has been to The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park

Stories About Ohio

The walls of the Octagon Earthworks in Heath, Ohio, form an enclosure large enough to fit four Roman Colosseums.

These 2,000-Year-Old Mounds Trace the Path of the Moon

After spending the last century as a golf course, the Octagon Earthworks are now protected—and celebrated—for their ancient Native American origins.

by Olivia Young, Atlas Obscura

A 1912 postcard depicts a Lake Erie at night.

Toward a Unifying Theory of Lake Monsters

From Champ to Bessie to lake sturgeon, these cryptids represent what lies beneath the surface of the familiar.

by Colin Dickey, Atlas Obscura

January 17, 2024

Nativity Scenes Celebrate Diverse Christmas Culture Around the World

Featuring devils, yurts, and Yule Lads, traditional crèche sets can tell unique stories about their communities.

by Kayla Harris and Neomi De Anda, Atlas Obscura

December 4, 2023

The Serpent Mound in Ohio, as beautiful as it is impressive, has endured centuries of misuse and misinterpretation.

In Ohio, Ancient Mounds and Earthworks Gain Recognition—But Remain Imperiled

Built by Native Americans, Serpent Mound and other spectacular ancient monuments have endured centuries of abuse and neglect. That's finally changing.

by Stephen Warren, Atlas Obscura

November 13, 2023

Red means higher than average anomalies, and blue means lower than average ones.

Uneven Gravity Makes You Weigh More in Illinois Than in Indiana

A number of factors cause you to be lighter or heavier in different parts of the world.

by Frank Jacobs, Atlas Obscura

September 22, 2023

The Grady sisters, from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, played by Lisa and Louise Burns, are among the most iconic pop culture twins.

The Psychology Behind Why Identical Twins Inspire Fascination—and Fear

A history of othering, experimentation, and mystery.

by Sarah Durn, Atlas Obscura

November 22, 2022

Podcast: House the Giants Built

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

Podcast: Looking for Pawpaws

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

November 25, 2021