campus martius museum

If you are a history and museum wonk like me, you will find Campus Martius to be a great addition to your list of places visited. The information and artifacts are professionally displayed and interpreted, and the staff friendly. What to me is most compelling about Campus Martius is the broad range of topics and resources covered. While the general theme is the early history of the Northwest Territory (a subject that is a personal favorite, I'll admit), the displays and materials cover a broad range in topic and material including the region's Native American prehistory, pre-territory events, the settlement of the territory and progress to the creation of multiple states -- there is even an entire house enclosed in the museum, and element of the 1790s fortified settlement, located on its original foundation! There is plenty here to spend several hours if you so choose. Another great thing about this museum and the Marietta location in general is that there are several other museums and historical attractions very close by, including the Ohio River Museum just a short walk down the street. I reside in Marietta, and I know many of our out-of-town visitors spend a day or two just taking in the multitude of museums and historic locations. This summer some friends from Columbus came to Marietta for a summer vacation and spent most of a week here, finding plenty to do sightseeing, trying a variety of restaurants and trolling the antique shops (they made some great finds). Campus Martius is in many ways the "cornerstone" institution in this town with so many historic and outdoor attractions.

Learn much about early Ohio life in the first settlement. Visit an original do-it-yourself kit house from the 1700's

While covering multiple significant periods of Ohio history (e.g., Civil War, 20th Century, etc.), the most uniquely interesting material was from the mid-18th Century when the French first claimed the Ohio River Valley through the settlement of migrating Revolutionary War veterans from New England prior to Ohio's statehood in 1803. Detail and artifacts from the period are remarkably memorable, including information and items from the Ohio Indian Wars of the 1790s. George Washington's personal recommendations to potential settlers and the transplanted New England ocean-going shipbuilding business are among the interesting takeaways. Not counting the guided tour of the preserved Rufus Putnam house, we spent a couple of hours in the museum and didn't even have time to see the Civil War material. As others have pointed out, young children (and some adults) might get restless, but I'm looking forward to going back next time I visit the area.

Campus Martius is a gorgeous museum. It is a beautiful building and it is very large. The Putnam House is the best part of the tour - part of the museum was actually built around the house. Our tour guide for this part of the trip did an excellent job. We also felt that we got our money's worth because we purchased a ticket that would get us into the Riverboat Museum as well.

I visited on a slow September day when, in this large three story museum, it seemed I had the entire place by myself. Being alone, one of the docents gave me a personal tour of the Rufus Putnam house which is an original log cabin that stands basically on its original location, but is encased by the museum to preserve the structure. She and I shared information about the various items contained within the house as well as the original tombstone for General Putnam. In the basement was an inter-active exhibit on migration of people from the farm, to towns, to metropolitan areas from Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. I was fascinated by the photographs and items on display in the exhibit. The first floor had interesting displays on life in the early "northwestern territory" discussing the native Americans, the fur traders, the early explorers and the establishment of Marietta. The mezzanine had an excellent exhibit on Ohioans involved in the American Civil War. Although this exhibition was smaller than other 150th Civil War exhibits that I've seen such as those at Gettysburg, Pittsburgh and Richmond, it was well organized and touched on the key elements of the soldiers and civilians that participated in the war. My only complaint was that there was no catalog for this well executed exhibit. I easily spent three hours roaming the halls of the Campus Martius Museum. It is an ideal place to take middle school and high school students to spark their interest in various time periods of American history. Adults can satisfy their interests in numerous fields (guns, arrowheads, period furniture, artwork, stuffed animals, fine silver, local history, Native American culture, etc.) by visiting the museum over a period of time. Little children will get restless.

I had not been there since I was about 10 years old but I did remember the log cabin that was inside the museum where Rufus Putnam and his family loved. We enjoyed the second floor Civil War exhibit and the basement had interesting facts about mining in Ohio, etc. We spent about 4 hours in there and it was an enjoyable day.

Visited this museum which also houses the remains of Rufus Putnam's original home. Rich in history and artifacts from the founding of Marietta, early frontier life, the civil war, etc. Really enjoyed our visit and I highly recommend you stop by if you are in Marietta.

This museum contains a great deal of history from the history of the river, to the Civil War, to migration up to the 1970s. Within the actual building, the original Putnam House is preserved and you can walk through it and catch a glimpse into what life was like hundreds of years ago.The museum is a member of the Ohio History Connection. If you become a member of the annual program, you and a guest can get into this museum for free.

This museum is part of the Ohio History Connection (formerly Ohio Historical Society) which also includes the Ohio River Museum (walking distance to this museum). Admission is free to OHC members but you can also get tickets for the 2 attractions for discount.Museum is divided into these 3 categories: history of Marietta as the first organized settlement after the original 13 colonies; migration into Ohio and involvement in the Civil War. The museum also has preserved 2 historical structures on-site: Rufus Putnam's house (part of the original fort) and Ohio Company Land Office.You do not have to be "into history" to enjoy this museum, just be curious. The exhibits and information are well done into manageable pieces. The Putnam house gives you glimpse of household in the past. Museum makes history come alive. Worth a visit.

Basement had modernized exhibits; Main floor had civil war artifacts, and old house sealed inside building was unique.

when I worked at the YMCA we took our class and the children did ok but if was more for older children. I would go again and take the time to learn about the town of Marietta the first settlement in Ohio. it was a very nice museum and a must see if you have the time.

If you (or your wife) are not into history, then keep walking, but if you enjoy seeing and learning about items from 10,000 BC through the present, this is pretty cool. It's a small place, granted, but there is a reconstructed house (actual house, actual place, put back together), lots of historic items, and all in all, a good, local, educational Saturday afternoon with the kids. Not the wife.

This museum is very old, but well kept. You will see things from when the first explorers settled here. Indian artifacts, clothing, soap making, old buildings. They have a small gift shop. Tour guides are very knowledgeable.

The museum is loaded with pioneer and Indian artifacts. With lots of history displayed with the items it is both fun and educational. Well worth visiting.

We often take visitors to the Campus Martius Museum in Marietta, Ohio. We live twenty minutes down river from Marietta in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The museum is among several in Marietta. It is located near the W.P.Snyder Paddle-Wheeler that is moored on the Muskingum River, downstream from the Campus Martius Museum. The River Boat Museum is located beside the W.P.Snyder and is an excellent museum as well. Marietta is a wonderful town to walk and shop in. Last month the W.P. Snyder was towed down the Muskingum River to the Ohio River to the Kanawha River to a town near Charleston, WV to be restored. It will return by spring of 2014.There are many parks, old mansions, quaint shops, ancient mounds and historical cemeteries. Marietta College's lovely campus is also centrally located in the town.Large stern-wheel boats such as the Mississippi Queen and The American Queen have moored at Marietta's Levy beside the historic Lafayette Hotel.