Visit Newport Shelby Ohio and the surrounding area to see the top sights. New experiences in Newport (Ohio): Discover the "Findley State Park" where you can swim in summer and skate in winter. Near the city you will find the "John Glenn Astronomy Park" for an exciting star night view.
Honestly, if you think Newport is just another sleepy little town in the heart of Ohio, then you missed the first part of his story – founded in 1815, the village was originally located on a small river, which today is hardly more than a plundering companion for the road. The whole thing is in Cynthian Township, Shelby County, and that's not important for no reason: The Township Administration has been trying to keep the village alive since the 1800s, and this is still felt today when you drive by car over the old state route 4 and strip the fields to the edge of the place.
I don't quite understand the hype around the “small cities with charm”, but here there are a few Newport sights that are actually worth a look. For example, the old town hall, which today serves as a café – this is no joke, the cups there have more history than some museums. When you arrive by train, just get to Amtrak in Dayton and take the bus to Shelby; from there it is a short jump by bike or car, and you are in the middle of the happening.
A walk through the historic core leads you past old wooden houses that were passed from generation to generation. I made a picnic there once, while a tractor passed and the air smelled to fresh hay – that is the real Ohio, not a tourist cliché. And if you ask yourself where to eat in the evening, just look for the little diner on the main road; the burgers are really great, and the staff knows you by name because they treat every visitor like a neighbor.
I have to admit right at the beginning that I have Lock and Dam at the Ohio River in Newport, actually, just because I like to see a bunch of concrete and steel taming the water – a bit like a huge, slow dragon, just waiting for someone to offer him a piece of cheese. The view from the small viewing platform is not exactly spectacular, but the noise of the river has something calming that I find otherwise only in my favorite playlist. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the Riverfest starts and everyone wants a place on the shore.
A short walk further Newport Riverfront Park along leads to a narrow promenade that has more charm than an Instagram filter. I once made a picnic with my buddy, while an old fisherman swung loudly over the “good old times” – no joke, he actually unpacked an old net from the 70s and used it again. The park is free, the benches are a bit shaky, but this is part of the experience, right? And if you're lucky, you'll see the light play of the lock lights at dawn, which almost looks like a mini-disco club for ducks.
If you ask yourself where you can sneak a little culture in Newport, look at this Newport Historical Society Museum on. This is not a huge museum, rather a tiny cellar room full of old photos, a yellowed newspaper from 1912 and an original glass bottle opener my grandpa used once. I don't quite understand the hype about small history museums, but here you suddenly feel part of a story that otherwise disappears in the fog of the Ohio-Plains. Admission is free, and the staff is so friendly that they even offer you a piece of homemade bread from the kitchen – that was the first time I had eaten in a museum.
Another secret tip I mention again and again is that Newport Community Center. The building is a bit like a Swiss pocket knife: It houses a gym, a small indoor swimming pool area and even a space for local artisans markets. I took part in a yoga course where the teacher told more about the history of the place when she talked about the Asanas – that was kind of refreshing. The center has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually empty as long as you don't come to the main event on Friday night.
Of course you can Main Street from Newport, which is actually just a short section of State Route 7, but here there is the only diner in the city, the “River’s Edge Diner”, where the pancakes are so big that you could almost use them as a map. I once ordered a coffee there and by chance listened to the conversation of a group of pensioners about the old railway line – they told me that the rails are still in the woods and they are sometimes found at walks. The diner has a small outdoor area where you can enjoy your meal under the stars in the summer, and parking is right outside the door as long as you are not with the locals at lunchtime.
A bit away from the center lies Cynthian Township Park, a small but fine green area with a playground, a basketball basket and a small lake that is populated by ducks in autumn. I once spent a few hours reading a book that I couldn't finish for months – the noise of the water actually distracted me, but that was okay because I took a spontaneous bath in the lake afterwards (I swear the water wasn't cold, but rather refreshing). The parking lot is a simple gravel path, which becomes somewhat muddy in rain, but this is part of the rural charm.
And because I don't want to neglect everything, here is a short hint to the Newport Attractionsthat you should not miss: the annual river festival in July, the Newport Cemetery with its old tombstones that tell more stories than some museums, and the small, but fine Newport Public Library, which offers not only books, but also local events such as readings and handicraft courses. I took part in a Poetry-Slam where a 12-year-old boy raids over life in a small town – that was really great and showed me that Newport had more to offer than one would suspect at first sight.
The first stop of my little Odyssey was Shelby County Historical Society Museum in Sidney – a tiny building that radiates more dust than shine, but that makes the charm. I found an old farmer's handbook there that looked like someone from the 1800s kitchen had saved it, and suddenly I felt like I was running over the field my ancestors were plucking. Parking? Mostly a Klacks, as long as you don't come to the fair on Saturday afternoon, the car park becomes a battlefield.
A short detour to Shelby County Fairgrounds brought me back to the time when I got sugar cane and carousel as a child for a few dollars. Today, the site is a collection of tractors, cattle shows and occasional rock-concerts that swirl more dust than the actual animals. I don't understand the hype around the annual County Fair – the whole getaway around a few prices for the biggest pumpkin weight is almost cheesy – but the atmosphere is real, and the popcorn is damn good.
The next stop was less a place than a way: Miami and Erie Canal Towpath. I dressed my running shoes and walked along the old waterway, which stretches through fields and small villages. The path is well preserved, and the noise of the channel reminds of a long past era where ships formed the backbone of trade. There are no official opening hours, so simply take off – the only obstacle is an occasional tractor that blocks the route.
A bit further north, almost like a small side shift to history, this is Wapakoneta Museum of Thomas Edison. The house where the inventor was born is now a museum that tells more about his childhood than about his famous inventions. I heard an old gramophone there that hardly works, and had to laugh because I thought Edison had invented the thing – no, that was a later successor. The museum is small, but the personal note is strong, and parking is right outside the door, which is rarely a problem.
If you were with Edison, why not make a detour to Dayton and that National Museum of the United States Air Force visit? This is a bit further (about 45 miles), but the collection of aircraft and the history of the air force are impressive. I saw a MiG‐21 there that looked like it just turned a movie, and the museum offers enough space to run – so bring a little patience if you don't want to get to the exit immediately.
Back to Sidney there is the imposing Shelby County Courthouse, a building of red brick, which looks as if it had chosen a film director from the 1930s. I visited the interiors because I thought it was a must and was surprised how well the original wood panels were preserved. The rumour that the courthouse is supposed to be a local joke, but the acoustics in the courtroom almost makes you believe that each voice is an echo of history.
A short walk leads to Sidney Opera House, a small but fine theatre that has been hosting performances for over a century. I accidentally caught a local jazz concert there – no joke, the audience was smaller than a classroom, but the musicians played with a passion that you rarely find in the big concert halls. The building itself has a beautiful façade design that works almost like a film set at night with the lights.
If you're wondering what Newport's sights really are, be sure: it's the mix of dusty museums, lively events and small historical pearls that make the surrounding area a surprisingly varied destination. Each of these places has its own character, and I can only recommend taking the car, having a little time and enjoying the peculiarities – this is not a crowded tourist destination, but a piece of real Ohio life.
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