What makes Cridersville sights so special is the unique mix of historical simplicity and the quiet pride of a community that has barely liberated itself from its railway forge since the 1850s. I remember driving for the first time by train from Wapakoneta to Auglaize and the small sign “Cridersville – Pop. 1 200” saw – a short stop that instantly made the feeling of going back to a time when every shop owner knew the name of his cow. The city is located in the heart of Duchouquet Township, an area that was formerly traversed by French missionaries, and today is known mainly for its vast fields of maize and the unwavering common sense.
When you arrive here, you can best use the State Route 67, which moves like a red thread through the rural Ohio; a short detour to County Road 33 leads directly to the center where the old town hall still carries the echo of past election meetings. I don’t always understand the hype about the “small cities with charm”, but here there is a café serving the best apple cake in the region – and that’s not a joke. While I was sitting there, I heard the murmuring of the locals over the upcoming village festival, which turns the street into a patch carpet of light chains every year. So, if you travel to Ohio the next time, let yourself be guided by the Cridersville sights; they may not be spectacular, but they are honest, undefeated and – quite honestly – a refreshing counter to the overrun tourist destinations.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Cridersville, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, just half an hour drive from Cridersville. I have seen more than just a few old room suits there – the real highlight is the original Apollo command capsule, which almost looks like a dusty family heritage. Parking is almost always a children's game at the museum's forecourt, except when the annual astronaut festival starts and suddenly everyone shows up with a T‐shirt and a flag. I understand the hype around the moon landing, but the museum manages to season the pride of the small town with a pinch of dry, almost cynical self-iron – a bit like a local pub-Quiz evening, where the questions are too heavy, but the drinks are cheap.
A short trip to St. Marys leads to St. Marys River Walk, a stretch that swells along the river and offers more than just a few benches. I made a picnic with an old friend there, while a fisherman in the background crawled loudly over the “good old times” of the river. The road is well signposted, and parking at the end of the main road is usually free until you are there on Saturday night and suddenly a tractor with a trailer blocks the only free space. The river itself is not exactly a spectacular natural wonder, but the plundering and the occasional quaken of a duck give the whole a certain charm that one does not find in any shopping mall.
A little further south lies Auglaize River State Park, a place I like to call the “hidden jewel” of the region, because it is rarely overrun by tourists. Here you can go kayaking, fishing or just sit on a wooden bench and let the view graze over the calm water. I remember a rainy afternoon that I slept in the tent and heard the soft drum of the rain on the tent roof – an experience that you don't get in any amusement park. The park entrance gate is open around the clock, and parking is free as long as you don't try to park your camper in the middle of the forest (the Rangers don't like to look there).
For those who want a little culture and history, this is Wapakoneta Heritage Center A must. The museum is a collection of old school benches, dusty maps and an impressive collection of agricultural equipment that reminds you that Ohio is not just a high-tech industry. I made a tour there with a former teacher who knew more about local history than any Wikipedia entry. Parking is right in front of the building, but be warned: on Saturdays there is a flea market, and then parking becomes a small adventure.
A short trip to Celina leads to Canal Park, where an old irrigation channel system from 19. century converted into a leisure paradise. I spent a few hours watching the old sluices that still work – a bit like a living museum that moves water. Parking is easy to find at the main parking lot by the lake, but if you come too late, you may need to park a few blocks further and walk the way. The lake itself is not huge, but the water is clear enough to see your reflection while you think about life.
Last but not least a detour to St. Marys River Bridge, an old iron bridge, which today serves as a pedestrian and cycling path. I took some pictures there while I thought about how many generations have crossed this bridge. Access is free, and parking is at the end of the road, where a small parking space is available for visitors – as long as you are not at the same time as the local group there that uses the bridge for their weekly training.
Whether you are a fan of space, river landscapes, historical museums or silent bridges, the surroundings of Cridersville offer a colourful mix of experiences that you should not overlook. And if you're looking for a reason why you should come here at all: Cridersville Sights in the vicinity are proof that even the most inconspicuous places in Ohio have to tell their own stories.
The story of Cridersville begins long before the first highway sign I've ever overlooked, and I feel that every stone here has a little more to tell than you would suspect at first sight. I remember my first weekend there when I drove by car over the dusty road and suddenly the old, cracking gate of the Cridersville Community Parks a place that is more for locals than just a piece of lawn. The park is small, but it has a baseball-diamond, a playground construct that looks like a child from an IKEA kit had assembled, and a narrow hiking trail that winds around the small lake. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, when the local high school team manages their game there and suddenly more cars than people are in the park.
A short walk further Cridersville Public Library, an inconspicuous brick box, which, however, is a true treasure box for bookworms. I once found an old yearbook from the 1930s, which documented the foundation of the village – a real find for everyone who wants to Cridersville Sights interested. The library has cozy reading chairs, and the staff knows every visitor by name; I even had a conversation about the best fishing spots on the nearby Auglaize River, which betrayed more about the village than any city tour.
When you get down the road to Cridersville United Methodist Church strolling, you immediately feel the mixture of history and silent resignation, which is so typical of small communities. The church ship from red brick dates back to 1905, and the wooden benches still stick when you sit on it. I was once at a Sunday worship service when an elderly gentleman suddenly began to talk about the “good old time” – a moment that reminded me that every generation is spinning their own myths.
A little off the center, almost hidden behind a series of corn fields, stands this Cridersville Volunteer Fire Department. The building is not only a working fire department store, but also houses a small museum that exhibits old helmets, hose reels and a crunching, rusty fire truck from the 1950s. I met a former firefighter there who told me how he extinguished the camp fire at the lake at night, because a drunk tourist had the barbecue on the rust too long – a real crime that makes the heart of every adrenaline junkie beat faster.
Another highlight I cannot overlook is the old Grain elevator at County Road 25. It is not a museum, but a functioning landmark that watches over the fields like a silent giant. I visited a photography course there, because the silver scaffold is simply photogenic in the sunset. The ascent is not for everyone, but the view over the vast land is definitely – a perfect place to think about life while listening to the wind whistling through the grain necks.
At the end of my little tour through Cridersville, I have to Cridersville Community Center mentioning that used to be the old primary school. Today there are flea markets, karaoke evenings and occasionally a local jam. I once joined a karaoke competition and sung a crooked “Sweet Caroline” that made the audience laugh – a proof that every attempt to be something special is taken up with an eye-catcher.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
