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Things to See & Do in Marion, Ohio

Marion County boasts dozens of wonderful historic and other interesting attractions. Marion’s sights make it a great place to visit!

Entertainment  –  Monuments  –  Museums, Culture, and History  –  Outdoors

 
Entertainment

Disc Golf At Sawyer Ludwig Park,1313 White Oaks Rd, 740-815-5899
Part of the Mid Ohio Organized Disc Golf. Try your and at 18 holes of disc golf. Some wide open spaces and some you have to go between the trees. Loads of fun for the family. Leagues forming.
Lincoln Park Family Aquatic Center 879 North Prospect St., 740-387-2118
The City of Marion’s Lincoln Park Family Aquatic Center is open throughout the summer. Located in Lincoln Park, the center offers daily admissions, season passes, classes, and special events.
Marion Coliseum & Fairgrounds 220 E Fairground St., 740-382-2558
The Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Marion County Fairgrounds hosts many events throughout the year, including concerts, motocross races, rodeos and antique shows. The Marion County Fair and Christmas by Candlelight are annual events at the fairgrounds.
Marion Popcorn Festival, PO Box 1101
This large, family festival is always the first weekend after Labor Day and celebrates Marion’s claim to fame as the “Popcorn Capital of the World.” All entertainment is FREE.
Palace Theatre 276 W. Center St., 740-383-2101
The splendid Palace Theatre opened in 1928 as a vaudeville movie palace designed by the foremost theatre designer of that era, John Eberson. A tour might include an organ concert on a 1926 “Mighty” Wurlitzer organ. Open Monday-Friday. Tours by appointment.

 
Monuments
By Marion About Marion Mural The downtown mural on the Merrill Lynch building at 206 S. Prospect St.
was created by local artists age 14 to 80 and designed by Dorian Traynham. It depicts Marion’s history from Jacob’s Well to the present. Open year round.
Fireman’s Memorial This memorial was dedicated in October of 2007. This date was chosen because it was Fire Prevention Week. This beautiful memorial has the Fireman’s Prayer and Honor Roll of the 11 firefighters who have lost their lives.
Harding Memorial Corner of Delaware Ave. & Vernon Heights Blvd.
The final resting place of President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding is the largest and most beautiful presidential memorials outside of Washington D.C. Built in 1925, it contains 46 columns of timeless white Georgian marble. Open year round.
Law Enforcement Memorial Inside the main gates. A tribute to local law enforcement officers. Open daily till dusk. For more information phone 740-387-2525.
Marion’s Downtown Mural Visit the mural in downtown Marion at Busby Park (right at the corner of Center and Prospect Streets) to see the wall that has come to life at the hands of Eric Grohe. The life-like mural depicts Marion through the eyes of the artist. The detail of the brick and the architectural dimension gives the wall canvas an appearance of being curved. “Marion-Heart of Ohio” is the name of the mural.
Mysterious Revolving Ball 740-387-7050
Marion Cemetery, 620 Delaware Ave.
For more than 100 years, a 5,200 pound ball of polished black granite has been slowly rotating on a pedestal in the Marion Cemetery. This mystery was featured in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not’ in 1929. Open year round.
Veterans Memorial Park Corner of Delaware Ave. & Vernon Heights Blvd.
There is no other area like this in the United States. The park has separate monuments dedicated to each war the United States has fought through the Global War on Terrorism, including a special memorial to honor women. Open year round.
World War II Memorial 740-387-7050
Marion Cemetery, 620 Delaware Ave.
A tribute to local veterans, the ornate World War II monument was dedicated in 2001 and is the largest memorial of its kind outside Washington D.C.
Museums, Culture, & History
Harding Home and Museum 740-387-9630
380 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Visit the home of the 29th President of the United States, Warren G. Harding, and his wife, Florence. This was the site of his famous campaign speeches that launched his quest for the presidency in 1920. Open Wed. thru Sun. 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm with the last tour at 4:00 pm. Available for group appointment.
Heritage Hall 169 E. Church St., 740-387-4255
Heritage Hall, once the city’s main post office, is three museums in one. It is the home to the famous Wyandot Popcorn Museum and also features Warren G. Harding memorabilia and thousands of historical relics collected by the Marion County Historical Society. Closed January and February, other wise Winter hours: 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Summer Hours: 1-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Or by appointment.
Huber Museum 740-387-9233
220 E. Fairground St.
The Edward Huber Machinery Museum, located on the Marion County Fairgrounds, contains examples of the finest steam and gasoline tractors, threshers and road-building equipment. Open 1-4 p.m. Saturday or by appointment.
Linn School House 740-387-4255
Heritage Hall at 169 E. Church St.
The Linn School, newly renovated to the working condition when the Hamilton brothers attended, is presently under the umbrella of Heritage Hall. This is a great place to take a tour group or a class room of children to see the original workings of a one-room school house.We are only open by appointment through Heritage Hall at this time.
Marion Union Station 740-383-3768
532 W. Center St.
More than 100 trains pass by Union Station every day. It showcases an impressive collection of memorabilia and the AC Tower, which was once the main switching facility for the Erie Railroad, Marion Division. The unusual nature of the station is that it is located between two diamond cross-overs. Open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays.
Palace Theatre 740-383-2101
276 W. Center St.
The splendid Palace Theatre opened in 1928 as a vaudeville movie palace designed by the foremost theatre designer of that era, John Eberson. A tour might include an organ concert on a 1926 “Mighty” Wurlitzer organ. Open Monday-Friday. Tours by appointment.
Stengel True Home 504 S. State St.
Located in a brick mansion built during the Civil War, this museum features artifacts beginning with the Colonial days. This fascinating museum features primitive lighting, weapons, Indian relics, cast iron toys, clothing and fine glassware plus a Hickory Dickory Dock clock.
Open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon & 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment.
The Buckeye Telephone Museum 419-947-8676 or the CVB at 800-371-6688
581 Bellefontaine Avenue inside the CWA Union Hall.
Now in its new home, the Buckeye Telephone Museum offers great history of the progression of the telephone industry with memorabilia dating back to the 1800s. Open by appointment.
True Home 740-382-2826
149 E. Church St.
Home of one of Marion’s early settlers, the True Home contains volumes of U.S. and Ohio history, including furniture and glassware. Small groups may tour by appointment only.
Wyandot Popcorn Museum 740-389-2948
169 E. Church St.
Located under a colorful circus tent in Heritage Hall, the Wyandot Popcorn Museum is the largest, most impressive collection of popcorn wagons in the United States. These priceless wagons date back as far as the turn of the century and have been restored to their original conditions. Closed January & February. Winter hours: 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Summer Hours: May through October 1-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Or by appointment.
Outdoors
Big Island Wildlife Area Ohio 95 West
Five miles west of Marion on Ohio 95, the Big Island Wildlife Area is a bird watchers paradise. Locate rare birds and prairie owls at this wetland area. Open year round.
OSU Marion Prairie Areas 1465 Marion Mt. Gilead Rd.
In 1987, the Ohio State University at Marion renewed efforts to develop scientific and educational programs for its reconstructed prairie. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources designated the campus a national landmark in 1988.For more information about the prairie or programs associated with it call 740-389-6786 ext. 6319

387-9233