Tickets are required for the John P. Parker House.
- Open: May through October on Friday & Saturday from 10am – 5pm, and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m.
- Location: (Map It) 300 N. Front Street in Ripley, Ohio
- Phone: 937-392-4188 or email johnparkerhouseohio@gmail.com
- Web: click here
If you stand on the northern shore of the Ohio River in downtown Ripley, you understand why John P. Parker once stood near this very same spot in the mid-1800s and decided to build a home, open his machine shop, and foundry in this bustling rivertown.
Parker was a freed slave who would become a successful businessman and inventor, and from about 1850 until the end of the Civil War, he was one of the most active conductors on the Underground Railroad. At great risk to his own life and freedom, he repeatedly crossed into Kentucky to help enslaved brothers and sisters escape across the river in wooden boats.
The John P. Parker National Historic Landmark features exhibits, a display center showcasing Parker’s products, and guided tours that enlighten visitors about his adventurous, daring life. It is a travel destination for families eager to experience a compelling episode in American history when the Ohio River was the line between bondage and freedom.
