Honestly, if you ask yourself why Anna in Ohio has a name at all, then you have to travel back to the 1830s, when pioneers from Pennsylvania colonized the country in Franklin Township and named the place after my great-grandd Anna – yes, that was really her first name, not some romantic myth. The railway came in 1850, which was the actual boom moment, and since then the town has hardly changed, apart from a few modern super markets that are now pushing the old cereal camp.
I don't always understand the hype about small middle-west towns, but here there are a few “Anna Sights” that I would put to every friend looking for something off the highway. The old cemetery on the outskirts of the city is a silent witness of history – here are the founders, and the tombstones tell more about the hard life than any museum. When you arrive by car, take the US route 30, which leads you directly to the heart of the township; a short detour to the County Road 7 brings you to a small café that is supposed to serve the best apple cake throughout the county – no joke that is part of my personal top list.
A walk along the old railroad tracks, which today serve as a hiking trail, lets you experience the landscape of Shelby County in its rough but charming form. And if you happen to be in town on a Saturday, look at the weekly peasant market meeting – this is the true heart of Anna, where locals and visitors are chatting about the weather, the new tractor model and the next barbecue event.
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The first stop of my little Odyssey leads me over the dusty road to Sidney, where Shelby County Historical Museum in a renovated brick building thrones – a place I always underestimate because I thought history was just dusty panels. But between the old agricultural machinery and the photos of horse-drawn cars from the 1900s, you can literally feel the heartbeat tempo of the region, and parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you do not come to the County Fair on Saturday night, the field becomes a battlefield for cars.
A short detour to Wapakoneta makes me Neil Armstrong Museum entering, which I could never fully understand why there is so much hype around the Mondmann – until I saw the original Apollo helmets and realized that this is not a cheesy theme park, but an honest monument. The way there leads through the State Route 29, and I learned that the small café at the entrance serves the best espresso shop in the area when you get early enough before the school classes flood the museum.
Just a few miles further, almost hidden between corn fields, this is Museum of History. I found an old map that shows that today's Anna was once a hub for cattle drive – a detail that makes me sneak every time I think of modern highway traffic. The entrance is free, and parking is an open field that mutates in summer to an improvised picnic area.
Back to the south, a short way to Piqua, and I stand before Miami Valley Railway Museum. There are no shiny roller coasters here, but old steam locomotives that still have a little torment in the air. I remember how I managed a mini train as a child in the museum and suddenly felt to dominate the whole world – a nostalgic kick that still works today when you hear the squeaking brakes. The museum has a small parking lot behind the building; on weekends it can be narrow, however, because the local railway company offers its special trips.
A few kilometers further, this is Piqua Historical Museumthat I almost missed because I thought it was just another mini museum. Instead, you will find an impressive collection of artifacts from the early industry of the region, including an original 19-pound screw key, which is still in the workshop of a local carpenter. The museum is housed in an old bank building that already breathes history, and parking is right outside the door where an old wooden chair is still waiting for the next visitor.
If I still have energy after a long day, I'll make a detour Buckeye Trailthat winds in a gentle gorge near Anna. The path is not spectacular, but it offers a quiet retreat where I can sort my thoughts while I look over the fields that are immersed in a fireworks of gold and red in autumn. The trail is freely accessible, and a small parking lot at the beginning of the path is usually enough – unless a local running club has its training right now.
At the end of my small tour, Shelby County Fairgrounds in Sidney, where the annual County Festival takes place. I have eaten more than once the best corn flasks in the world and watched how the locals talk about the city of Anna with a mixture of pride and light spot – a lovely spectacle that shows how closely the community is engaged here. The terrain has several parking areas, but on the main days parking is a small adventure, because the cars like ants crowd around the entrances.
Whether you explore the dusty halls of the Shelby County Historical Museum, enjoy the space glamour at the Neil Armstrong Museum or just follow the Buckeye Trail – the surroundings of Anna, Franklin Township, Shelby, Ohio have more to offer than you would suspect at first sight. And that's exactly what makes Anna sights to an underestimated treasure for those who want to experience the real heart of the Middle West.
I must confess that my favorite place in Anna, Franklin Township, not what the tourist brochure stands out with bold letters, but the inconspicuous Anna Heritage Center. The building looks like an old school house that has secretly turned into a museum – and that's exactly my thing, because I've learned more about the real history of the area than in any boring history book. Parking is usually a Klack, except when the annual harvesting festival takes place in the middle of the city and suddenly everyone is looking for a free place. I found an old camera there that was supposedly used by one of the founders; no joke, the part of the exhibition was and immediately reminded me of my grandparents, who also stumbled through the fields with such boxes.
A short walk further (approximately five minutes if you don't stop to take photos) leads you to Anna Public Library. I don't quite understand the hype about hip co-working spaces, but here there is a corner with an old wooden writing table that scares you to feel almost guilty when you think loud about what you're writing. The librarian, Ms. H., knows every villager by name and once recommended me a book about local legends that I could not put out of hand until today. Parking is a bit more tricky here, because the small plot quickly becomes full when the school classes come after class.
Now comes a place I look over almost every time because I am too busy with the next goal: Anna Railroad Depot. The old railway station is a relic from the time when trains still formed the backbone of trade. I met an old locomotive leader there who told me that the tracks are still being driven by hobbyists – not a joke, that's a real secret tip for everyone who loves the crack of raw steel. The depot does not have its own parking space, so you have to park a few blocks further and sneak through the quiet residential street – a small price for the authentic flair.
If you are looking for a place to relax your feet while watching the local life, then the Anna Community Park That's right. I made a picnic with my neighbor there on a hot summer day, telling me that he celebrates the first full moon with a campfire every year – this is not official, but the villagers like to let it happen. The playground is small, but the swimming pool next to the park is surprisingly clean, and parking is almost always free as long as you don't come on Saturday night when the local football team has a game.
Another highlight I have to put to everyone is the Anna Farmers Market. There are not only fresh vegetables, but also handmade jams, which you would otherwise only find in the shelves of supermarkets. I once tried a raspberry jam that was so good that I almost bought the whole glass – until I realized I didn't have a refrigerator at home. The market is on Fridays from 7 am to 1 pm, and parking is practically right next to the stands, so no stress when you arrive by car.
A bit away from the usual tourist trails lies the Anna Town Hall, a building that has more stories to tell than most people are ready to hear. I took part in a meeting where an elderly gentleman from the 60s complained that the city now has too much "hipster" – a short but amusing insight into the local mentality. The town hall has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually empty as long as you are not there at the time of choice.
And because I don't just want to list sights, but I don't want to give you a real picture of Anna, I don't want to mention the annual Strawberry Festival forgotten – an event that immerses the whole city in a red sea of strawberries. I visited the festival in 2022 and was surprised how seriously the locals take the "earth beer-wetting"; I volunteered and almost half of my clothes lost because I was too enthusiastic. The festival grounds are located on the edge of the park, so you can park your car there and rush right into the gutter.
If you now think that this is too much, let me tell you: Anna sights are not only points on a map, they are small chapters of a story that you can write yourself – with a bit of irony, a pinch of cynicism and a lot of local warmth. And if you're wondering where you're staying best, just look for a Bed-and-Breakfast near the Heritage Center; the owners are so friendly that they will give you almost the breakfast when you tell them you saw the old camera in the museum. So, that's it from me – I hope you have enough stuff to plan your next trip to Anna, and maybe, just maybe, you'll find a few stories that you can tell yourself later.
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