Heritage Village Museum

Heritage Village Museum

The Heritage Village Museum, a living history museum, depicts late eighteenth and nineteenth century Southwest Ohio from Ohio River flatboat travel to train travel and settlement of towns.

Exhibiting more than a dozen buildings from throughout the region, Heritage Village Museum depicts late eighteenth and nineteenth century Southwest Ohio.

In 1971, a historic building known as the Elk Lick House was slated to be torn down for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir project east of Cincinnati. Local historian and former park naturalist Stephen Smalley argued for saving Elk Lick House based on its distinctive architecture. The Miami Purchase Association acquired the building and brought it to Sharon Woods Park. After this addition, the Heritage Village Museum grew with the addition of other historically significant buildings once destined for demolition.

The village offers many buildings to explore, including houses and barns, a church, a schoolhouse, and a depot. The train depot is particularly interesting, complete with a crossing tender’s booth and a department store clock.

Visitors can explore Heritage Village with a self-guided tour or a tour led by a docent. The docent-led tour is worth the additional expense as it provides access to the interiors of the buildings. For self-guided tours, an audio tour is available at the gift shop.

Notes for Travelers

The museum offers three special events each year: a vintage baseball game, a haunted village around Halloween, and Holly Days in December. Occasionally, there are Civil War weekends as well. The museum’s website can provide details about these special events.

Credits