Marietta: Exploring a Heritage

Located approximately 112 miles from Marshall University's campus, Marietta, Ohio, is a quaint town with a rich heritage.

Loaded with interesting history, museums, tours, shopping and fine dining, Marietta offers students an abundance of activities and sightseeing for a weekend escape, said Melissa Smith, administrative assistant for the Marietta, Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"The rich history of Marietta is very important," said Donna McKnight, information specialist for Marietta, Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Marietta was the first organized settlement in the Northwest Territory. Its first settlers were men who worked for  George Washington; Washington paid the workers in land, McKnight said.

Because Marietta is located where the Muskingum River runs into the Ohio River, Marietta became a hub for trade. Shipbuilding also thrived in the 1800s.

"Every piece of Marietta's history is incorporated into tourist activities, shops and dining," Smith said.

There is a tour of the Great Mound built by the Mound Builders, found within the Mound Cemetery located in Marietta. The Mound Cemetery houses one of the largest numbers of Revolutionary War veterans buried at one location, Smith said. Visitors are welcome to tour the cemetery.

"The Ohio River Museum in Marietta features everything one would want to know about riverboats,"  McKnight said.

The museum has three riverboat exhibits portraying the origins and history of riverboats, the history of the steamboat on the Ohio River and displays on boat building, McKnight said.

"The Castle's guided tour is among the best tours in Marietta," said Lisa Williams, Marietta resident. 

The Gothic Revival-style architecture and Victorian flare add to the amazing experience of the Castle's guided tours, Victorian games, hands-on activities and music by Victorian composers, Williams said.

A few tours around Marietta are offered year-round, but the Trolley Tours are worth coming back for in the summer, Williams said. The Trolley Tours go through historic Marietta, giving a crash course in Marietta's prosperous heritage and stops for shopping and dining, Williams said.

The shops downtown feature unique antiques, art, books, hand-made furniture, jewelry, leather and anything turquoise, Smith said. The majority of these distinctive places are specialty shops in historic buildings within walking distance of one another. Many of the stores offer hand-made items by local artisans, Smith said.

Unique restaurants are a staple of Marietta. Hardly any two restaurants offer the same menu items, Smith said.

"The Marietta Brewing Company located on Front Street, offers delicious beer-friendly food, great atmosphere and awesome homemade beers," said Hailey Allen, Marietta resident and senior at Marietta College.

"The Galley is a great place to eat because of the live bands and awesome food," Allen said. 

The Galley serves steaks, pasta, seafood and other regional favorites.

"The Buckley House Restaurant has a beautiful view of the Muskingum River and the Ohio River from the renovated Victorian-style home turned restaurant," Smith said.

Kelly Crouch can be reached at crouch16@marshall.edu.