Saint Henry Mercer Ohio - Top Sights 

• Saint Henry Attractions – a stroll through Granville Township, Mercer County
• Saint Henry Sights & Attractions
• - St. Henry Catholic Church
• - St. Henry Public Library
• - St. Henry Community Park
• - St. Henry Water Tower
• - St. Henry Village Hall
• - St. Henry Historical Society Museum
• - Saint Henry Attractions
• Other special sights in the vicinity of Saint Henry, Ohio
• Conclusion
• - Saint Henry Attractions

Saint Henry Attractions – a stroll through Granville Township, Mercer County

Saint Henry's sights are for me less a marketing term than an honest indication that history and everyday life sometimes crawl into the same dusty alley – honestly, that's exactly what I love in small places. Saint Henry was founded in 1835, named after the Irish missionary, and has survived more than a few old barns since then; the village is located in the heart of Granville Township, Mercer County, and has the charm of a long forgotten era that is still not completely overwhelmed by the modern highway. I came by car over the state route 49, because I don't have a bump on endless bus schedules, and that was the first little adventure: the noise of the fields, the occasional muhen of a cow, and the feeling that you haven't been overtaken by time.

A short detour to the old town hall, which today serves as a community centre, is a must for me – not because it is spectacular, but because the walls tell stories of election campaigns from the 60s to the annual harvest festivals. And while I was standing there, the idea came to me that I don't understand the hype about hip neighborhoods, but the honest hospitality here is really great. If you're still going to Granville to explore the historic village centre, you'll realize that the “sights” here are more of a feeling you take when you put the car back on the road and...

Saint Henry Sights & Attractions

I have to admit that my favorite place in Saint Henry is not some hip-café, but the St. Henry Catholic Church – a stone relic from 19. Century that has more character than some modern skyscrapers. If you see the massive bell tower profile, you might think it's just another church building, but the interior with the original stained glass windows is a real eye-catcher. I tried a Sunday service microphone there once – the echo is so strong that I almost thought I was in an opera. Parking is usually easy, except when the parish begins, then the small car park becomes the battlefield.

A short walk further St. Henry Public Library, a tiny but surprisingly cozy place where I spent more time browsing local history books than I want to admit. The librarians know every regular guest in the name – no joke, they even recommended me a book about the history of the water mill in the neighborhood that I would never read if I had not come by by chance. Wi-Fi is faster than what you get in some city cafés, and this is a little comfort when you're looking for a long day in the park for a place to charge.

Now to my personal favorite place for a little fresh air: the St. Henry Community Park. There is a baseball field, a playground and a small lake, populated in the summer by ducks who stare at you with a look as if they knew that you are not just a picnic here. I started an improvised Frisbee tournament with a few locals there – the result was a bunch of laughing children and a slightly cramped T-shirt. The car park is practically an open field, so don't worry, you always find a place as long as you're not there with the whole village on Saturday night.

There is a little more “local pride” St. Henry Water Tower, a rusty, but charming landmark that stretches over the street like a forgotten guard. I once wondered why no one builds a café here – the panorama over the village would be a real eye-catcher. The tourist infos rarely give tips, but if you look at the tower from below, you immediately realize why the locals are a bit proud here. A short trip to the nearby car park at the town hall solves the problem if you don't want to push your car on foot.

If you have a flaw for history, that is St. Henry Village Hall A must. The red brick building houses the town hall and a small museum operated by the local Historical Society. I discovered an old photograph of the first parade in 1885 and wondered why people had so much fun at the time, without smartphones. The staff is friendly but not exaggerated enthusiastic about tourists, so be ready to entertain yourself.

A little off the center, but definitely a highlight for those who are looking for the unusual is that St. Henry Historical Society Museum. There are old tools, a few dusty maps and an original piece from the time when the village was still dependent on horse carriages. I found an old typewriter that still works – I've tapped a few lines and the sound was almost therapeutic. The museum has no big numbers of visitors, so you can walk through the exhibitions while you ask why you weren't here earlier.

Finally, a little hint that might help you through the Saint Henry Attractions click: Most places are within walking distance, and the village is so small that you can never really run – unless you follow the path of the village bakery that has always closed on Sundays. So, grab your car (or your bike), get ready for a little rustic charm and don't forget to shoot a few photos – you'll need them later to prove to your friends that you didn't just sit in the living room.

Other special sights in the vicinity of Saint Henry, Ohio

The first stop I put to every visitor is the Grand Lake St. Marys State Park – a huge, flat lake that seems to wear more boats than people in the summer. I once tried to round the whole coast with a kayaking kayaking, just to see that the wind blows here lead a life of their own. Parking is usually a children's game as long as you don't arrive on Saturday night after the annual Anglerfest, then the field becomes a battlefield. The beach is not to compare with fine sand from the tropics, but the clear water makes you almost forget that you are in the middle of the middle west.

A short detour to Celina leads you to the imposing Mercer County Courthouse, a real example of the neo-Gothic style remedy that was found everywhere in Ohio in the 1900s. I missed a court appointment there, because I was too busy admiring the artistic stonework – a real case of “art over duty”. The building is located directly at the main square, so you can find a parking space nearby without much effort; The only Manko is the occasional construction site chaos that can provide access to the historical windows.

If you have enough of court buildings, the next destination will take you to Wapakoneta, where the Armstrong Air & Space Museum is waiting for you. Here you can see the original suits of Neil Armstrong and even touch a small model of the Apollo capsule – yes, that is allowed because the museum wants this. I remember standing there as a child and thought I could be catapulted into space any moment; reality was rather a dusty room full of posters, but the enthusiasm was real. The museum is located on the main road, so no problem to park the car next to the café, famous for its “Moon pancakes”.

A little further south, beyond the agricultural fields, lies the heart of Ohio Amish Country in Holmes County. I spent a day there to taste the handmade furniture and the famous Amish cakes – all without the usual tourist gimmick. The roads are narrow, the parking is usually possible on the small areas provided by the residents, and the whole area radiates a tranquility which is sought in vain in the lively cities. A little hint: cell phone signals are a myth here, so leave the smartphone at home if you want to feel the real country life.

Back near Saint Henry, but not in the village itself, is the Wapakoneta Rocket Center, part of the NASA Glenn Research Center. Here you can see real rocket components and even take part in a short lecture on the future of space – this is the highlight for me, because I rarely have the opportunity to see something that is not exhibited in a museum but actually still in operation. The Center has a small visitor centre with free Wi-Fi, which is paradoxical enough because the actual missile display has no socket. Parking is best at the large parking lot behind the building where you do not risk being overrolled by a van.

And because every good adventure needs a bit of folk festival, Mercer County Fairgrounds must not be missing. The annual County Fair is a colorful mess of rumble, cattle shows and local food stands that offer everything from roasted corn flasks to frozen chocolate cakes. I once won a pig that I never saw again – a classic example that you never know what you get when you take part in a lot. The terrain is huge, so plan enough time to find a parking space; most visitors park along the pathways, which can lead to a small mud pit in rain.

Conclusion

Whether you're exploring the vast waters of Grand Lake St. Marys, admire the historic splendour of Mercer County Courthouse, experience the space heritage at Armstrong Air & Space Museum or lively driving on Mercer County Fairgrounds – the environment of Saint Henry offers more than enough material for a varied trip. And if you count all this together, you'll get a pretty good picture of what Saint Henry Attractions really.