Historical Places
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1 mile west of Cann's Dairy Bar in Chilo on US Hwy. 52 Diana, daughter of Lemuel and Sarali Whitney, is the only person known to be buried in Ohio who died on a wagon rain traveling west. A tree carved into a cross was originally a sapling placed here to mark the burial site of the 16 year old girl. She is believed to have died suddenly of cholera In a later summer a tablet was placed on Diana's grave to remind those who pause to read of a humble sacrifice woven into our country's greatness. |
The inscription on the roadside marker reads:  Diana, daughter of Lemuel and Sarali Whitney - died July 23, 1823 aged 16 years. |
In Diana's memory There rests here in the quiet beauty of the valley of the Ohio the dust of a young girl. On July 23, 1823 a wagon train creaking toward the west came to a halt close by. When the train moved forward, one of its party had been left along the trail as a hostage against time . Diana Whitney, sleeping where the morning sun paints with strange scarlets and magic golds the surface of the River, was 16 on that summer day long ago |
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Ripley - 8 miles east of Higginsport  Rev. John Rankin was one of the best-known organizers of on the Underground Railroad. The small Rankin home sits on a high hill overlooking the river and Kentucky. The Stairway to Freedom, the path up from the river used by the fugitives provides a challenge to visitors today. The Rankin House is open for tours Memorial Day-Labor Day Wednesday-Sunday 12-5 September through October Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m Sunday, Noon - 5 p.m. Adult admission is $2.00, and $0.75 for ages 6-12
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219 N Second St., (Hwy 52), Ripley 937-392-4660 Open Mid April - Mid December Sat 10-4; Sun 12-5 Adults $1.00, ages 6-16 $0.50  The Ripley Museum offers a step back in time with a collection of over 500 historical items on display. The museum building is an 1837 frame Federal style structure and was once the home of Eliese Bambach Stivers, Ripley historian, and her husband, bank president A. J. Stivers. The home was donated to Ripley Heritage, Inc. and was officially dedicated in 1976 as part of Ripley's bi-centennial celebration.
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S. Second St. (Hwy 52), Ripley 937-392-4832  Hours: Sat 10-4; Sun 1-4 Open April-December only Group tours available midweek by Appt. Tobacco farming has long been the mainstay of the area's predominately rural economy. Famed "White Burley" chewing tobacco was discovered by Joseph Fore on the Higginsport farm of Civil War officer Capt. Fred Kautz in 1864. The 2001 Tobacco Festival will be held in Ripley on August 23-26. The Tobacco Museum documents the history and methods of tobacco farming in the Ohio River Valley
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8 miles north of Higginsport  Ulysses S. Grant's family moved from Point Pleasant (scroll down for Grant birthplace information) to Georgetown in 1823, where Grant spent his boyhood with his family in the large two-story home in Georgetown, Ohio. |
219 Grant Ave., Georgetown  Tours of Grant's boyhood home and school are free. Tours are available by appointment only Mon-Sat 9-1, and 2-4. For a tour of home or school, call 937-378-4222 or go to the Thompson House Galleries at 203 E 3rd St. in Georgetown during tour hours. |
3 miles from Higginsport via Ferry  Augusta, one of the oldest settlements on the Ohio River is reminiscent of the 18th and 19th century with grand homes and row-houses lining the riverfront. Augusta has several small antique and specialty shops. Augusta's Beehive Tavern is considered one of the finest restaurants in northern Kentucky.
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 Harriet Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Center - Old Washington Hours - Saturday 12:00 - 4:00 Monday thru Friday: Guided Tours Available by visiting the Washington Visitor Center at 2215 Old Main Street, Washington 606-759-7411
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8 miles East of Higginsport  300 Front Street John Parker was a former slave, and a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Parker's home, believed to be the only remaining site in Ohio that was owned by a former slave who became a crusader against slavery, has been designated as a National Historical Site. The Parker home is currently undergoing renovation, and is not open for tours at this time.
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15 miles East of Higginsport  215 Sutton Street 606-564-5865 Library & Museum hours: Apr-Dec Mon-Sat 10-4 Feb-Mar Tue-Sat 10-4 Admission Fees: Museum Only - $2.50 Library only - $3.50 Museum & Library - $5.00 Students - $0.50 The Museum, housed in the 1881 Maysville Library, displays featuring an extensive collection of artifacts helps recreate the area's history. |
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 Grant's Birthplace is open for tours Wed-Sat 9:30 to Noon, and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Sun. 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM (closed Mon. & Tue.) Admission: Adults $1.00, Seniors $0.75, Children 6-12 $0.50, Children under 6 are free |
Next to Grant's Birthplace  This church is built on the foundation of the tannery where Grant's father, Jessee was once foreman. A town park and roadside rest stop are also located in Point Pleasant. |
Levanna - 6 miles east of Higginsport  The Pisgah Ridge Church was built in 1871 and is listed on the National Historic Register. 90 war veterans are buried in its cemetery; veterans who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam. |
The Underground Railroad
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and Black American History. The following web sites will provide more information for those of you with an active interest in these subjects, and are sure to kindle an interest in others who take the time to gain familiarity with this troubled time in our country's complex history |
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The following sites provide a wealth of information on the Underground Railroad
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