Visit Antwerp Paulding Ohio and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Antwerp, Ohio: Experience the Little Miami Scenic Trail, a 78-mile cycle path through the beautiful nature of the state. Don't forget to walk around the ancient city centre!
Honestly, if you think Ohio is just corn fields and endless highways, then you haven't experienced Antwerp yet. Founded in 1851, the little town has its name from the Dutch ancestors who hoped to plant a piece of Europe – and the result is a mix of historical barn and modern landlust. The Township of Carryall, which surrounds the whole, is practically the backbone of the Paulding County: here there are more field paths than pedestrian zones, and that is exactly what I love about this spot.
I don't understand the hype about the old barns completely, but the crumbling wood of the 1880s building houses has some charm, especially when you drive by bike over the County Roads – this is the fastest way to get here without standing in traffic. And yes, you can take the bus from Paulding to Antwerp if you want to feel like a real Austrian who comes to work too late.
A short detour to the old cemetery, where the gravestones tell more stories than some city tours, is a must. And if you ask where you get the real “Antwerp Sights” feeling, then just look out the window of your rental car while you slide through the wide field – this is the real highlight here.
I have to confess to you: what I do Antwerp most dear, the old brick building is the St. Mary's Catholic Church. The towers are a bit diligent about the flat landscape, and if you're standing there in a sunny afternoon, you'll get the feeling that someone frozen the time in a tiny museum. I once experienced a small concert from a local children's choir group – not a joke, the voices echoed through the benches, and I thought that's exactly what a real small-town charm is. Parking is usually easy, except on the first Sunday of a month, when the municipality organizes the “Circhenfest” and suddenly every place is occupied by a colorful stand with self-made apple cake.
Directly next to the church, Antwerp Public Library, a place I like to sign as “the secret oasis for schnarchnases”. The shelves are full of local history books, and the staff knows every visitor by name – that's almost scary if you don't want your favorite reader place to steal someone else. I once borrowed a book about the Maumee River History, just to find out that the real highlight is the small reading corner with the antique wooden chairs that seem to tell more stories than the books themselves.
If you have enough of dusty sides, look at this Antwerp Community Park on. The park is not just a huge national park, but it has a small lake, a playground stand that looks like it had built an 80-year-old carpenter, and a barbecue area where the locals exchange their “secret” BBQ recipes on Sundays. I remember a summer when I accidentally slipped into the wrong group of seniors who just played a round of bingo – that was a real culture shock, but the prices (a self-made apple strudel) were worth it.
A short walk down the Maume River leads you to old grain silo on the river bank. The thing is a relic from the 1950s, which today serves more as a photo motif. I once made a picnic with my friend while a fisherman nearby tried to overwhelm a huge carp – that was the only time I saw someone really catching “big fish” and I must admit that the picture has burned into my collection of “Antwerp Sights”.
A bit further east, almost on the edge of the village, this is Antwerp Town Hall. The building is a classic example of the sober architecture of the 1800s, but what makes it special is the weekly city hall meeting where citizens discuss everything from garbage collection to the latest conspiracy theories about the disappearance of the local cow's herd. I once visited a meeting just to see how a 70-year-old with a preference for loud ties dominated the discussion about the new street lighting project – a real spectacle I will never forget.
For those who want to sniff a little nostalgia, there is Old Schoolhouse Museum. The old classroom from 1889 is still equipped with wooden benches and a table that still carries the chalk smells of past generations. I got a lead there where the curator told me that the school once taught up to 30 children at the same time – that's almost as much as I told bad jokes in my whole life. And yes, the museum has a small souvenir shop where you can buy a miniature schoolbook that you can then use at home as a door stop.
Last but not least, if you want to breathe the real “Antwerp-Feeling”, visit the annual Antwerp Summer Festival. It's not exactly a huge music festival, but there are local bands, a flea market, and enough pommes that you'll ask yourself why you don't want to live here all year round. I was there last year, discovered some old vinyl records and then spent a round of “Hau den Lukas” with the kids from the neighborhood – that was the only time I really felt my knees since I rolled down a hill last time.
The first stop I couldn't miss was that Paulding County Historical Museum on the edge of Carryall – a dusty construction that tells more stories than most guides ever dare. I found an old wooden chair there that was allegedly used by one of the founders of the city; the thing crawled when I sat down, and I swear I heard the whisper of a long past debate on grain prices. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the weekly antiquities-fair market event will begin.
A short descent towards the south leads to Maumee River State Trail, a 16-mile runway, which stretches through fields and small forests. I packed my running shoes there, just to see that the track was occupied by a group of ducks that seem to hold a weekly meeting. No joke, the ducks almost locked my way, but that was the highlight – a bit of nature, a bit of chaos, and a perfect reason to test your own limits.
A bit further west, almost on the edge of the known St. Mary’s River State Park, lies a hidden jewel: the old Fort Defiance. I don't understand the hype about military ruins, but here you have the feeling that history is still cracking in the walls. I discovered an old cannon tube there, which was more rust than metal, and I wondered if it is still considered a “historical artifact”. The park is well signposted and parking is not a problem thanks to the generous lottery places – at least until the summer holidays begin.
If you have enough of history, it is worth a trip to Grand Lake St. Marysthat is a bit further, but the effort is worth it. I rented a small boat there and enjoyed the sun over the water, while a fisherman, beside me, crawled loudly over the “good old times”. The water is clear enough to see the underwater plants, and the shore offers enough shaded places to organize a picnic – provided you have the luck not being overrun by a horde ducks that have the same goal.
Another highlight is the Paulding County Fairgrounds, which is a collection pool for local events all year round. I was there during the annual “Corn Festival” where I had eaten more corn flasks than I would have ever thought possible. The atmosphere is a mix of rural cosiness and light chaos that can only be found in small American communities. Parking is a children's game here because the terrain is huge, but the toilets could carry an upgrade – that was my personal low point of the evening.
Last but not least a short trip to Paulding County Courthouse, an imposing brick building that is more than a symbol of law and order. I made a guided tour there with a very enthusiastic historian who told me that the building once served as a “central place for village festivals”. I wondered if this was really a reason to get the building, but the story has its own charm, and the building offers a great view over the city when you climb the stairs.
Whether you are a history fan, nature lover or just looking for authentic experiences – the surroundings of Antwerp, Township of Carryall, Paulding, Ohio has more to offer than you would suspect at first glance. The mix of historical sites, nature trails and local events makes the area an underestimated treasure for travellers who want to experience the real Ohio. And that's exactly what makes Antwerp sights to a worthwhile goal for anyone looking for the special.
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