Historic Roscoe Village: America’s Canal Town
If you are looking for a place to slow down and step back in time, Historic Roscoe Village in Coshocton, OH, is the stop to make. This once-bustling Ohio and Erie Canal town will allow you to relax and enjoy a full day of activities and adventures. In Roscoe, you can tour buildings of the past, ride the Monticello III Horse-Drawn Canal Boat (Beginning with limited availability on April 20 & 21, 2023, and a full season from May 26 – Oct 22), visit the Accredited Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, dine in local restaurants, and stop at the unique locally owned shops! Historic Roscoe Village is a one-stop destination for every traveler’s needs and desires.
As you make your way through the village, witness the past become present with a life-size digital kiosk located at several stops of the tour buildings. The simple push of a button will transport viewers back in time with a front-row seat to the inner workings of a weaver, broom squire, doctor’s visit, and many other stops along the tour. Make sure you try your hand at candle-dipping, leather-punching, top-painting, or other hands-on crafts for the perfect take-home keepsake! Enjoy the self-guided Living History Tour and hands-on crafts daily from 10 am-4 pm.
Visit Coshocton Lake Park, where you can meet the huge Percheron draft horse team that pulls the Monticello III Canal boat along a restored section of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Travelers will experience a 45-minute canal boat ride and will be entertained by the Canal Boat Captain as he explains 1800s canal life sharing tall tales and history. This trip will make you feel like you’ve glided right into the 1830s. Plan your trip for Memorial Day opening weekend!
Now is a great time to visit the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, where they showcase exhibits of Historic Ohio, Euro-American decorative arts, American Indian, and Asian artifacts, and the controversial Newark Holy Stone unearthed in the 1860s in the Newark Ohio Earthworks. This Spring, visit the museum’s special exhibit of local artist, “Vivian Williams: A Lifetime of Art.” This exhibit will showcase her many paintings that won numerous awards, which are displayed in galleries from New York to Los Angeles and have become part of Clark Atlanta University’s permanent collection.
The shops and restaurants in Historic Roscoe Village certainly keep things exciting within this historic village. These locally owned shops cannot be missed with treasures and gifts such as handmade leather goods, fine jewelry, baked goods, coffee, locally made flags, homemade dog and cat treats, Ohio-made items, village-made arts, old-fashioned candy, and hand-made woven rugs. Visit the three restaurants in the village for a wide range of foods, from gourmet hot dogs to the best prime rib and some of the best Texas-style BBQ. This village has it all!
Glary Gardens is just around the corner from Roscoe Village. This public garden includes 20 acres of rolling hills, spring-fed ponds, sandstone outcroppings, and a ravine. Over the past years, many native and exotic perennials, trees, and shrubs. They also have trails in the woodlands that let visitors meander through sandstones. This is the perfect place for families to get out and enjoy nature. The gardens are open daily, and admission is free.
Plan for the many events and festivals for the 2023 calendar year, from Spring Homeschool Days (April 20-21) to the Christmas Candlelighting Ceremony (December 2nd and 9th). For the first time, the village will host a Family Fun Day and a Food Truck Festival on August 19, 2023, from 11 am-7 pm, where there will be a variety of family activities, music, and the best food around! From there, mark your calendars for the Roscoe Village Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival for the 52nd year! This popular festival will be held October 20-22, 2023. The Apple Butter Stirrin’ is one of the largest festivals that offers homemade apple butter, live music, 100-plus crafts, and the best food vendors! Admission for this event includes the living history tour, free crafts for kids, and so much more! To purchase tickets for these events or to see other events happening at Roscoe, visit the website at www.roscoevillage.com. For more information on events in the area, visit www.visitcoshocton.com. Come and experience all that is Historic Roscoe Village and more today!
