BY LINDA HUBER

Discover Ohio’s amazing heritage Thursday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 20, as historic buildings and landmarks across the state open their doors for special tours and events during the statewide event – Ohio Open Doors. Explore fascinating places that reflect Ohio’s rich heritage, some opening especially for Ohio Open Doors events or offering behind-the-scenes looks that are not ordinarily available. All Ohio Open Doors events are free. Most are special one-day-only opportunities.

Here in Ottawa County, there are three venues holding special events:

• Saturdays, September 12 & 19 – Heritage Hall Museum, 238 Maple Ave., Lakeside, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Heritage Hall has recently undergone a major restoration and exhibit redesign and had its grand reopening this past June. Come check it out and learn about the history of the historic Lakeside community.
• Sunday, September 13 – Johnson’s Island Civil War Prison Site, 4005 Baycliffs Dr., Lakeside-Marblehead, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Explore the Johnson’s Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site through self-guided exploration and guided tours. Interpretative signage and guided experiences help visitors discover one of the nation’s best-preserved Civil War prisoner-of-war landscapes. Learn how archaeologists and historians have reconstructed the layout of the prison compound, including its 15-foot-high stockade, 12 prisoner barracks, a hospital, and support buildings, which once held thousands of Confederate officers during the Civil War. Visitors can also explore the remains of Fort Johnson and learn how the island’s strategic location in Sandusky Bay made it the site of the Union’s only prison camp built specifically for Confederate officers. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark, Johnson’s Island preserves an extraordinary archaeological record that continues to reveal the daily lives of prisoners and guards alike.
• Wednesday, September 16 – Catawba Island Historical Society at Union Chapel, 5258 E. Porter St., Port Clinton, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Step inside historic Union Chapel, an 1887 Sabbath School building that served for generations as the social and religious heart of Catawba Island and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tour the chapel and follow Catawba Island’s “Time Trail” through the people, industries, and events that shaped the community. Discover how the island evolved from an early center of grape growing and winemaking to one of the nation’s most celebrated peach-producing regions, with more than 200,000 peach trees covering the island by the late 19th century. Learn how fishing, boating, and tourism helped transform Catawba Island into a popular Lake Erie destination while preserving the unique heritage that continues to define the community today. Through exhibits, artifacts, and local stories, visitors will gain a deeper appreciation for the people, traditions, and industries that made Catawba Island what it is today. This free event offers a unique opportunity to explore both a historic building and the history of the island it has served for more than a century.

Ohio History Connection created Ohio Open Doors in 2016 to promote and inspire pride in Ohio’s heritage and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Act has proven instrumental in transforming the face of communities from coast-to-coast by establishing the legal framework and incentives to preserve historic buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites. The Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office administers the National Historic Preservation Act in Ohio.Many of the landmarks featured as part of Ohio Open Doors events are in the National Register of Historic Places.