Athens, Ohio

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Our daughter began study for her Master of Fine Arts degree program at Ohio University (OU) in fall 2019. In November, we made a trip out to Athens to visit. We drove from Northern Virginia to Athens in a single day on Friday. On this trip, we stayed at the Hampton Inn Athens, We would learn that we were very fortunate to get a reservation there. Athens, despite being a university town, does not have a great number of hotel rooms. They book up quickly with conference and sports game day traffic.

Saturday morning we drove around town, visited an antique store and did a bit of exploring on foot on our own. After meeting up with Julia and Frank in the afternoon, we walked the central campus, known as Campus Green, and the main street of town, Court Street. Ohio University (not to be confused with Ohio State University) was founded in 1804, a year after Ohio statehood. Cutler Hall in the center of Campus Green dates from 1819 and is the oldest academic building in the Old Northwest Territory. Across from Campus Green on Court Street is the College Book Store. We stopped in to buy OU themed souvenirs and Bobcat spirit wear. Lunch was at Brenen's Coffee Cafe. The center of town is the Victorian Athens County Courthouse. Changing colored lights shine on its clock town at night. Julia next took us behind the scenes at Kantner Hall, the university's theatre. We hope to see productions there. We finished with a coffee break at Donkey. Definitely a local hangout.

In the evening, we all had dinner at Texas Roadhouse. The hotel and the restaurant are in an extended section of Athens along State Street, where shopping centers, big box stores and the like are located.

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Photos

Class Gateway, Ohio University
The Campus Gateway. Ohio University Campus Green Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 79001783. DSC_0046p1

Cutler Hall, Ohio University
National Historic Landmark. National Register of Historic Places 66000604. DSC_0064p1

Graduate Building, Ohio University
Graduate Building, formerly known as Wilson Hall (1836). Ohio University Campus Green Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 79001783. IMG_1710

Galbraith Chapel, Ohio University
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Soldier's Monument
The Soldier's Monument. Athens' Civil War Memorial. Installed in 1893. Ohio University Campus Green Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 79001783. DSC_0048

Base of the Soldier's Monument
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Ohio University Historical Marker
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Alumni Gateway, Ohio University
The Alumni Gateway was a gift of the Class of 1915 to mark the 100th anniversary of the first graduating class of Ohio University. DSC_0058p1

Athens County Courthouse
Athens County Courthouse. Built in 1877-1880. Renovated in 1935 and 2004. Athens Governmental Buildings. National Register of Historic Places 79001782. IMG_1701

Lady Justice (Iustitia)
Athens County Courthouse. On the north side is another pediment with the figure of Lady Justice (Iustitia). DSC_0053p1

First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church. Romanesque Revival, built in 1902. Athens Downtown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 82003541.
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Athena Theater
Athena Theater, opened in 1917. Athens Downtown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 82003541. DSC_0055

Moore-Russel Building
Moore-Russel Building. Italianate Commercial Block built in 1887. Athens Downtown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 82003541.
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Silas Bingham House
Also known as the old log courthouse, the log house was built in 1804. Athens Governmental Buildings. National Register of Historic Places 79001782.
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Baltimore & Ohio Station
Baltimore & Ohio station, Athens, Ohio. Wooden depot built by the Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore in 1889, later the Baltimore & Ohio . The station was used by Amtrak's Shenandoah from 1976 to 1981. It was located on the Baltimore & Ohio Parkersburg to Cincinnati main line, abandoned by CSX in the 1980s. Athens B&O Train Depot. National Register of Historic Places 83001944.
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Hampton Inn Athens
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Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Athens
I grew up in Dayton and we often went to the state park in Athens.

[AndrewHL]

Hocking Hills
That was probably Hocking Hills State Park. Did you hike to Old Man's Cave?