Category Archives: Ohio

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #10)

Posted on by
Reply

For the final Saturday of each month, a different and unique feature will be published.  Today’s narrative takes a look at one of the gems of the metro park system of central Ohio.  Saturday’s regular feature, “Trivia’s Facts and More,” will return next week. 

Central Ohio is blessed with an extensive metro park system in the surrounding area of Columbus and Franklin County.  One of the most remarkable parks to discover is Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.

Located about five miles from the city of Canal Winchester, the park contains the first significant ridge of the Ohio foothills of the larger range of Appalachian Mountains.  This particular ridge spans nearly 4,500 feet and rises to a height of just over 1,100 feet above sea level. 

Chestnut Ridge features a variety of trees with the upper ridge containing black oak, shagbark hickory, and northern red oak.  The lower slopes are filled with sugar maples and American beech.  The park’s size measures about 486 acres, and hidden in its depths are outcroppings of black sandstone. 

The park features a totally natural setting with fallen logs and splintered tree trunks.  Notice the moss growing around the hollowed out tree trunk.

With natural trails covered with light gravel, the terrain rates as moderate to difficult for anyone who desires to walk the park.  Poplar Creek meanders through the meadows and trees below the ridge.

Chestnut Ridge features three different trails, and they connect to form a nearly 2.5 mile route.  Nearby wetlands and a fishing pond are located on the lower level of the park, as well as picnic shelters and a small natural amphitheater.

The Meadows Trail covers one mile in distance, and it outlines the lower region of the park.  This route is more moderate than the two remaining trails. 

The other trails offer a more challenging and  difficult terrain.  The Ridge Trail climbs up from each end of the Meadows Trail.  The one-mile distance takes any ambitious hiker up to the highest point of the park. 

The path on the left is typical of the Meadows Trail.  The beginning of the climb up the Ridge Trail is featured on the right.

Between the Meadows Trail and the Ridge Trail sits the Homesite Trail.  The nearly half-mile trail climbs up through the interior section of the park.  Hikers will find the foundation of a former home from the 1930s as well as a garden area around it.  The generous size of the shaded location may allow a fortunate photographer to quietly capture a hungry deer feeding on the tender, green grass.

at the top of the homesite trail one will find the remnants of a former home.  standing in the quiet shadows of the surrounding trees, a deer is photographed, seemingly unaware of any human presence.

The park was named for the American chestnut tree, and many grew up on the crown of the ridge until the early 1900s.  They dominated forests in the eastern United States as well as the Ohio Valley.  These giants topped out at a height of 100-150 feet, and a few featured trunk diameters of nearly ten feet.

In 1904, an Asian fungus arrived in the United States, and it began to slowly and methodically kill the mighty chestnut tree.  By the end of World War I, most of America’s chestnut trees were reduced to sprouts rising from infected stumps.  They resembled pale and sickly dwarf bushes rather than the magnificent chestnut tree.

a final collage of photos:  fall foliage, a carved out hole in a tree trunk along the ridge trail, quiet fishing pond on the lower level of the park, a self-portrait of richard (your tour guide), and a look from the midpoint of the homesite trail (not far from the FOUNDATION of a former house).

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #9)

Posted on by
Reply

For the final Saturday of each month, a different and unique feature will be published.  Today’s narrative takes a look at an impressive  achievement from the Buckeye state of Ohio.  Saturday’s regular feature, “Trivia’s Facts and More,” will return next week. 

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Edward Vernon (Eddie) Rickenbacker lived a dynamic life in ways that few can imagine.  His times filled up with feats of remarkable courage, dedication, and hard work.

Born to parents who were Swiss immigrants, Rickenbacker was born on October 8, 1890.  Along with his six siblings, the family struggled to stay above water with their finances. 

In 1904 at the age of 13, his father was killed in a construction accident.  Realizing that his mother needed money, he dropped out of school to become the family’s breadwinner.  This marked the beginning of Rickenbacker’s resolute attitude to make a difference.  Others witnessed his unwavering, positive outlook over and over again throughout his life.

Rickenbacker loved working on machines and engines.  This led to work as a mechanic, and later into automobile racing.  He exhibited a fearless attitude as a driver, and he survived numerous close calls and accidents.  In 1911, he competed in the inaugural Indianapolis 500, and he finished in 13th place.

left:  prepared to race in the 1915 indy 500.  right:  restored rickenbacker family home in columbus, ohio.  (images courtesy of pinterest)

As America entered World War I in 1917, Rickenbacker’s future destiny waited to be fulfilled.  He joined the army and arrived in Europe where his first role was to serve as mechanic and driver for General John J. Pershing, commander of all American forces in Europe.  What Sgt. Rickenbacker wanted most was to serve in the U.S. Army Air Service.

With encouragement from Colonel Billy Mitchell, a leading American advocate for tactical air power, he finished flight training in just 17 days.  Lt. Rickenbacker was now prepared to serve his country as a fighter pilot.  He was assigned to the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron.

Just as he had proven to be a fearless race car driver, Rickenbacker accepted the challenges of air combat with the same “can do” attitude.  He became a daring, yet gifted pilot.  His prowess in aerial combat earned “Captain Eddie” the Medal of Honor in recognition of his 134 combat missions and 26 air victories, the highest of all American pilots.  Nicknamed the “Ace of Aces,” he was recognized as the most celebrated American fighter pilot of the war.

Upon being promoted to Captain of the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, Rickenbacker impressed upon his pilots that an experienced fighting pilot did not have to take unnecessary risk.  It was a pilot’s business to shoot down enemy planes, not to get shot down.

left:  closeup of lt. rickenbacker.  right:  sitting in the cockpit of his fighter.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Following the war, Rickenbacker turned his attention to a variety of pursuits.  He briefly owned a car manufacturing company before financial troubles closed its operations.  He purchased the Indianapolis Speedway in 1927, and he owned it until 1945. 

In 1938, he bought Eastern Air Lines, and turned it into one of the most profitable airlines during the 1940s and 1950s.  He remained in a leadership position until he retired in 1963. 

Two significant events further sealed the legend of Eddie Rickenbacker.  While traveling on a civilian plane on February 26, 1941, he along with a few other passengers survived a crash.  Both pilots and 11 passengers were killed.  Rickenbacker sustained serious injuries:  shattered pelvis, broken ribs, broken leg, and a torn eyelid.  After several days in the hospital, he made a total and miraculous recovery.

During World War II, Rickenbacker became an eager volunteer and supporter of American troops.  He toured numerous Army Air Corps bases to boost morale and inspect methods of training.  One more brush with death waited for him in the South Pacific. 

Aboard a B-17 flying fortress in October, 1942, Rickenbacker was enroute to New Guinea to deliver a message to American General Douglas MacArthur.  Unfortunately, the plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean a few hundred miles off course.  Rickenbacker and seven other men attempted to survive while floating in rubber rafts.  Forgotten for 24 days, they lived on rainwater and fish.  With Rickenbacker’s leadership and encouragement, only one of the men would perish.  A leading American newspaper, The Boston Globe, described him as “The Great Indestructible.”

left:  standing next to his world war I fighter.  right:  President of eastern air lines.  (Images courtesy of Pinterest)

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #8)

Posted on by
Reply

For the final Saturday of each month, a different and unique feature will be published.  Today’s narrative takes a look at an impressive  achievement from the Buckeye state of Ohio.  Saturday’s regular feature, “Trivia’s Facts and More,” will return next week. 

The state of Ohio has proudly displayed one of its favorite nicknames on vehicle license plates, “Birthplace of Aviation.”  This recognition has traced history back to the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, and their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio.  Here they planned and successfully designed America’s first aircraft.

Fast forwarding from these early days of aviation as the 20th century unfolded, an Ohio woman sought to make aviation history in 1964.  Geraldine (Jerrie) Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the world.

As a mother of three, this Newark native described herself as “the flying housewife.”  After earning her pilot license at age 32, Jerrie joined her pilot husband, Russ, for frequent small aircraft flights.

Growing up, Jerrie seemed destined for a more adventurous life.  She recalled these memorable words, “I knew one thing.  I wanted to see the world.  I did not conform to what girls did.  What the girls did was boring.”

As her plans advanced toward reality, many assisted her journey financially.  Cessna, Javelin Aviation, and the Columbus Dispatch (newspaper) provided timely help.

Jerrie’s plane was a single-engine Cessna 180.  The plane’s call sign was N1538C, but it was shortened to Three-Eight Charlie.  Her plane was nicknamed the “Spirit of Columbus.”

Jerrie mock enjoyed dressing like a lady when she flew around the world.  pictured next to her faithful cessna, one can see that she certainly added style to her adventure.  (courtesy of pinterest)

The Cessna aircraft was outfitted with several upgrades:

  • dual directional finders
  • short-range radios
  • long-range high-frequency radio
  • autopilot
  • three extra-large fuel tanks (increased the plane’s range to 3,500 miles)

Jerrie’s adventure took-off from the Port Columbus Airport on March 19, and she successfully returned on April 17.  Her around-the-world trek endured radio and brake problems as well as bad weather.

One of the flight’s biggest challenges was when Jerrie landed by mistake on an Egyptian military base.  Another occurred when she noticed a burning wire while surrounded by extra tanks of fuel.  Fortunately, these two potentially flight-ending mishaps were taken care of quickly and without any further issues.

The flight exceeded 23,000 miles (actually 23,103) with an elapsed time of 29 days, 11 hours, and 59 minutes.

Jerrie’s route went east from Columbus toward the Atlantic Ocean with further miles flown over the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and Pacific Ocean.  Some of her stops included the Azores, Casablanca, Cairo, Karachi, Calcutta, Bangkok, and Honolulu.

American President Lyndon Johnson awarded Jerrie the Federal Aviation Administration’s Gold Medal for Exceptional Service.  Her faithful partner, the Cessna aircraft, was exhibited at the National Air and Space Museum at Washington, DC.

top:  map outlining Jerrie’s route from columbus, Ohio eastward as she traveled around the world.  bottom:  “The spirit of columbus” hanging as an exhibit at the national air and space museum in washington, dc.  (courtesy of pinterest)

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #7)

Posted on by
Reply

Opened in 1927, the LeVeque Tower was the tallest skyscraper between New York City and Chicago.  Located in Columbus, Ohio, this impressive Art Deco building still highlights the skyline of the city.

At a height of 555 feet (intentionally designed to be five inches taller than the Washington Monument), the tower contains 47 stories.  At the time of its completion, it was the fifth tallest building in the United States.  Built upon a series of underground caissons, the foundation of the building is secured in the bedrock far below the city streets.

The LeVeque Tower has been called many names over the years.  Its original name was the American Insurance Union Citadel.  However, during the Great Depression years, the company went bankrupt.  In the 1930s, the tower was nicknamed the “IOU Tower” because of the financial challenges it faced. 

The Leveque Tower shows its classical Art Deco design. (courtesy of Pinterest)

In 1946, the tower acquired a new name of Lincoln-LeVeque Tower, which reflected its new owners, Leslie LeVeque and John Lincoln.  In 1977, the building’s name was shortened to LeVeque Tower.

The tower remained the tallest building in Columbus until 1974 when the Rhodes State Office Tower (624 feet tall) was completed.  The tower still stands as the second tallest building in the city.

In 1989, floodlights were added to illuminate the upper floors of the tower.  The lights are used 6-8 times per year for special events such as:  pink for Susan G. Komen For the Cure; red, white, and blue for Independence Day; and red and green for the Christmas season.

Today, the LeVeque Tower is a mixed-use building.  It contains a hotel, condominiums, offices, and restaurant.  The adjacent Palace Theater’s marquee and lobby are part of the tower.

Colorful floodlights illuminate the tower, and the grandeur of the Palace Theater’s grand staircase shines. (courtesy of Pinterest)

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #6)

Posted on by
Reply
Panoramic view of the grounds at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. (courtesy of Pinterest)

Ohio has used one of the most unique flags found in America’s 50 states.  Few state flags have experienced such a journey in its making.

Admitted to the Union in 1803, Ohio would not have an official state flag until 1902.  Its inventor, John Eisenmann, was given the task of creating a flag for Ohio’s exhibit building at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.

Trained as an architect, Eisenmann realized that a flag was necessary to recognize Ohio at this exposition.  He wanted something unique in its design to fly over the building which he was designing.

The shape was called a swallow tail burgee.  Burgees were associated with boating and yachting.  It has remained the only state flag in the United States to not be a rectangle.

Colors and shapes symbolized a variety of meanings about the Buckeye State.

Official state flag of Ohio. (courtesy of Pinterest)

The colors of red, white, and blue resembled those of the American flag as well as the U.K. Union Jack.  Ohio was an extension of the original thirteen English colonies with roots in the territories of Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. 

Thirteen stars, which were grouped in a circle, represented the original thirteen American states.  Four lone stars signified that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the Union.

A large, white circle with a red center signified an “O” for Ohio.    The blue triangle symbolized Ohio’s hills and valleys while the five white and red stripes refer to its roads and waterways.  “Five” was a significant number because it referred to the original states from the Northwest Territory:  Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Buckeye Snapshots take a look at Ohio’s places, events, and people.  Previously published posts are linked below.  In case you may have missed one, enjoy a visit.

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #5)

Posted on by
Reply
A recent scene from a Buckeyes’ game at the “Shoe.”

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, Ohio Stadium is hallowed ground for The Ohio State University football team.  The Buckeyes have played here since 1922.

Nicknamed the “Horseshoe,” the venerable stadium graces the west side of campus near the Olentangy River.  The journey to build this magnificent home goes back to the World War I era.

The Buckeyes playing field back in the 1910s is Ohio Field.  The unassuming name cannot hide the fact that this football home is less than adequate.  Seating is limited to 14,000, but some games find more fans viewing from the perimeter of the field as a standing-room only (sometimes in excess of 20,000).

Left: From 1916, the Buckeyes in action at Ohio Field. Right: Three-time All-American Charles “Chic” Harley. (courtesy of Pinterest)

The catalyst behind the need for a much larger stadium for the Buckeyes is traced to the success of the team in 1916, 1917, and 1919.  Ohio State’s first three-time All-American, Charles “Chic” Harley leads the team to numerous victories and conference championships.  Playing in the period before college football’s Heisman Trophy, Harley would have been a cinch to win this prestigious award as college football’s most outstanding player.  One might say that Ohio Stadium is the field Chic built.

Left: The original Ohio Stadium. Right: Recent aerial view. (courtesy of Pinterest)

Needing a much bigger stadium, Ohio Stadium is constructed with its unique horseshoe design.  Ohio Wesleyen becomes the first opponent to play here on October 7, 1922.  The original stadium’s seating capacity is 66,000, but it is far exceeded later in the 1922 season when the Buckeyes host the Michigan Wolverines before 71,138 spectators.

Field-level view during a youth flag football event. My grandson was participating.

Here are some quick facts about the “Horseshoe.”

  • Current seating capacity:  102,780
  • Fourth largest on-campus facility in the United States
  • Largest crowd:  110,045 for the 2016 Michigan game
  • Over 36 million fans have entered the stadium since 1922
Ohio State has captured many national football championships as evidenced by these banners. An additional one has been added for 2014.

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #4)

Posted on by
Reply

Every couple of months or so different snapshots about the Buckeye State of Ohio will be featured.

Just like the place where you live, Ohio is loaded with facts which very people may actually know.  Being relatively new to Ohio (arriving here about 13 years ago), I am still searching and discovering more.

Ohio is sometimes referred to as the “Buckeye” state.  But, how many people really know what a Buckeye is?  The Buckeye tree is found throughout the state, and its nut is also called a Buckeye.  While the trees are found in other Midwestern locations, only Ohio has adopted it. 

A collection of Buckeye nuts. Just remember that these are not edible and can be toxic.

Besides being a nickname for the state, Buckeyes is also used as the name for The Ohio State University’s athletic teams.  To be honest, it seems a bit strange to use the name of a “worthless nut” for a college sports team name.

Ohio was granted statehood in 1803 while Thomas Jefferson was President.  However, does anyone know the rest of the story?  When the American Congress approved statehood for Ohio, they forgot one significant step.  Ohio’s state constitution was not ratified by the federal government.  This error was overlooked until 1953 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation approved by Congress to rectify this oversight. 

The unique style of the Ohio state flag with its swallow-tail design. A member of The Ohio State University marching band is waving the flag at a home football game.

Ohio is home to eight of America’s Presidents.  Any Americans who can name them all should be applying for a spot on the game show “Jeopardy.”  With the exception of William Henry Harrison, all were born in Ohio.  Harrison was born in Virginia, but lived in Ohio when he was elected President. 

The remaining Presidents include:  Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding.  There has not been a President from Ohio since Harding (elected in 1920).  Seeing that Harding has been ranked as one of the most inefficient Presidents in history, one might understand why Ohio has been on the Presidential sidelines ever since.

Presidents William Henry Harrison and Warren G. Harding represent the first and the last of Ohio’s American Presidents.

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #3)

Posted on by
Reply

This is the third post of a relatively new feature here at Big Sky Buckeye.  Every couple of months or so different snapshots about the Buckeye State of Ohio will be featured.

Ohio uses a number of nicknames.  Many people have heard of the “Buckeye” state, but fewer know some of its other nicknames.

Declared by the U.S. Congress in 2003, Ohio is also known as the “Birthplace of Aviation.”  Four noteworthy Ohioans have stood out for their individual contributions to American aviation.

Many people know of the inventive brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright (1867-1912 and 1871-1948).  Growing up in Dayton, this tandem worked hard to earn a living from their bicycle business, but they were dreaming of more.  Their ambitions credited them with inventing and flying the first aircraft in 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  In winning a coin toss, Orville took the controls of the plane on this historic flight.

Few people may know of the top fighter ace from World War I, Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973).  Born in Columbus, this daring aviator earned 26 aerial victories during the Great War.  Being nicknamed “Fast Eddie,” this man seemed destined for greatness.  For his war exploits, he was awarded the American military’s Medal of Honor.  Later in life, he experienced more success as a race car driver, automotive designer, and airline executive. 

On the left:  the Wright brothers.  On the right:  Captain Eddie Rickenbacker.  (Photos courtesy of Pinterest)

One of the most recognized of the early American astronauts was John Glenn (1921-2016).  Hailing from New Concord, he flew as a U.S. Marines fighter pilot in World War II (57 combat missions) and the Korean War (63 combat missions).  Following his military service in Korea, Glenn served as a fighter test pilot.  Little did he know that this step in his aviation career would open a door to outer space.  Selected as one of NASA’s original seven astronauts, he orbited the earth three times in 1962 aboard the Friendship 7 space flight in a Mercury capsule.

Any discussion about Ohio’s aviation pioneers would not be complete without including Neil Armstrong (1930-2012).  From his hometown of Wapakoneta, Armstrong would bring a well-rounded resume to his training in NASA’s second group of astronauts.  The Korean War veteran served as a naval aviator and test pilot.  Following Armstrong’s successful Gemini 8 mission, he was groomed to make the historic moon landing on July 20, 1969 with Buzz Aldrin.  As he stepped onto the moon’s surface, his words still resonate even today:  “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

On the left:  John Glenn.  On the right:  Neil Armstrong.  (Photos courtesy of Pinterest)

Each of these Americans played an important role in the development of aviation in the United States, taking us from the first flight to landing man on the moon.  Outside of Dayton stands the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which is also home to the world’s oldest and largest military aviation museum—National Museum of the United States Air Force. 

The sheer number of exhibits is overwhelming, but here is a very brief sample.  Follow this link to the museum website.

  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (the infamous Memphis Belle)
  • Boeing B-29 Superfortress (this bomber dropped the second and final atomic bomb over Japan to end World War II)
  • Boeing 707 (recognized by call sign “Air Force One” for Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon)
  • Apollo 15 Command Module Endeavour (later the name “Endeavour” is used for one of NASA’s space shuttles)

Buckeye Snapshots (Issue #2)

Posted on by
Reply

This is the second post of a relatively new feature here at Big Sky Buckeye.  Every couple of months or so different snapshots about the Buckeye State of Ohio will be featured.

The month of October brings images of bountiful harvests and the pumpkin patch as found in the memorable comic strip “Peanuts.”  In central Ohio, the month also means the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show is approaching.

The Pride of Pickaway County is billed as the “Greatest Free Show on Earth.”  Sadly, this year’s celebration has been cancelled because of Covid-19, but let’s still check out this festive event.

“The Pumpkin Show” was first held in October, 1903.  From its humble beginnings, it started out primarily with displays of corn fodder as well as pumpkins cut out as Jack-o-Lanterns.  Now the show has grown into the sixth largest festival in the United States.

This outdoor mural, which celebrates the founding of the Pumpkin Show, is located in downtown Circleville on the side of an office building.

Yearly features include traditional favorites:

  • Parades (a total of seven)
  • Miss Pumpkin Show
  • Little Miss Pumpkin Show
  • Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest
  • Local and Regional Entertainment

Over four days and nights, nearly 400,000 people attend, with free admission.  Circleville, with a population of about 14,000, really pulls together to make this event the success which it has become.  The annual celebration has been continuously held every year except for three years during World War II.

Remaining photographs courtesy of Pinterest.

Numerous contests are organized every year around a harvest theme as well as the star of the show . . . pumpkins!

  • Art Show
  • Baked Goods
  • Flower Show
  • Canned Goods
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Home Arts and Crafts

The show begins on the third Wednesday of October and runs through Sunday.  Local community groups and charities provide food vendors as a way to raise funds for their causes.  If a person wants something uniquely made with pumpkin, he or she has come to the right place.

Buckeye Snapshots

Posted on by
Reply
Remnants of the towpath of the Ohio and Erie Canal near the community of Groveport. Along the right side of the path, the canal channel is overgrown with trees. Ironically, an active railroad track runs to the left of the path.

This is the inaugural post of a new feature here at Big Sky Buckeye.  Every couple of months or so different snapshots about the Buckeye State of Ohio will be presented.

This famous song has been sung by young school children in America since the early 1900s.  Perhaps a few readers remember singing these familiar lyrics:

I’ve got a mule and her name is Sal

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

She’s a good old worker and a good old pal

Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

The “Erie Canal Song” serves as an introduction to the Ohio and Erie Canal, which connected Lake Erie (along Ohio’s northern border) with the Ohio River (along its southern flank). 

The canal was constructed years before railroads would arrive so it provided an effective and cheaper way to ship business products and agricultural goods over longer distances.

Leaving Lake Erie near Cleveland, the canal ran through a series of valleys which dot much of the eastern and central part of the state.  Covering a total of 308 miles, the canal proceeded through the river valleys of Cuyahoga, Muskingum, Licking, and Scioto.  Once it reached the Scioto River south of present-day Columbus, barge traffic used the Scioto River on its way to Portsmouth on the Ohio River.

The canal was constructed between 1825 and 1832 (the Erie Canal was finished in 1825).  Construction costs ran about $10,000 per mile.

By the 1850s, railroads arrived upon the scene, and their efficiency and lower costs brought about the eventual demise and decline of the canal systems in Ohio and other regions of the nation.

There is significant evidence of the canal today across many areas of Ohio.  A curious traveler should be on the lookout for:

CANAL ROUTE

The route of the Ohio and Erie Canal can be traced from northeastern Ohio (at Lake Erie) through central Ohio southward toward the Ohio River.

LOCKS

In the village park at Lockville are a series of locks. Pictured is Lock #13, which is in the best shape. Locks were used to raise or lower the boat as needed due to changes in elevation along the canal route.
This well-preserved lock is found near the Groveport Recreational Center. Lock #22 is easy to find along Groveport Road.

There are numerous websites with additional information.  If one searches for “Ohio and Erie Canal,” much more information is available as well as interesting destinations along the former route of the canal.  There are numerous locations with additional locks, towpaths, and former canal channels.  Many places offer parks, walking and hiking trails, and canoeing.