The Atlas Obscura Guide To Ohio

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

Updated December 4, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

American Sign Museum

Where beautiful signs live on forever.

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Crystal Cave

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

The statue appears to weep.

Cleveland, Ohio

The Haserot Angel

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

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 Wiccan artifacts and occult paraphernalia started by the leader of the Long Island Coven.

Aerial view of the The Great Serpent Mound, one of the most important prehistoric effigy mound od Adema Culture.

Peebles, Ohio

The Great Serpent Mound

The largest earthwork effigy in the world.

Ash Cave.

Logan, Ohio

The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park

Rare recess caves fill this unbelievably beautiful Ohio park.

Loveland Castle

Loveland, Ohio

Harry Andrews' Chateau Laroche

A castle built by an eccentric medieval enthusiast in rural Ohio.

The Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

Cincinnati, Ohio

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

An art deco ice cream shop covered in vintage train station tiles.

See All 219 Things To Do in Ohio

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Ohio

The Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

Cincinnati, Ohio

Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor

An art deco ice cream shop covered in vintage train station tiles.

Cornhenge

Dublin, Ohio

Cornhenge

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

West Side Market

Cleveland, Ohio

West Side Market

This spectacular public market has got meat, fish, vegetables, baked goods, and enough kielbasa for a lifetime.

Fairfield, Ohio

Jungle Jim's International Market

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

See all 9 Places to Eat in Ohio

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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 And Collections 27

History 23

Monuments 17

Memorials 14

Art 13

Abandoned 12

Parks 12

Sculptures 12

Ruins 11

Statues 10

Collections 10

Cemeteries 10

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Stories About Ohio

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

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

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, Big Think

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.

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

Podcast: Looking for Pawpaws

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

by The Podcast Team

November 25, 2021

Be sure to use fresh, ripe peaches for this magical dessert.

This Puzzling Dessert Calls for Peaches and Physics

There's a magic trick baked into Peach Puzzle.

Harking back to ancient America, the Newark Earthworks formed a ceremonial center and a sacred site.

Podcast: Newark Earthworks

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

by The Podcast Team

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