Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Delaware (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: St. Mary's Catholic Church, Richard Ross Museum of Art, and Strand Theatre. Also, be sure to include Perkins Observatory in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Delaware (Ohio).
Table of Contents
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Parish church. St. Mary's Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish church in the city of Delaware, Ohio, United States. Constructed in the 1880s, this grand building is home to a congregation established in the middle of the nineteenth century. Its grand style has long made it a community landmark, and it was named a historic landmark in 1980.[1]
Address: 82 E William St, 43015 Delaware
Richard Ross Museum of Art
Art museum in Delaware, Ohio. The Richard M. Ross Museum of Art is located on Sandusky Street on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, United States.[2]
Address: 60 S Sandusky St, 43015-2362 Delaware
Strand Theatre
Movie theater in Delaware, Ohio. The Strand Theatre, is a movie theater located at 28 East Winter Street in downtown Delaware, Ohio, near the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University. Opened on April 10, 1916, The Strand is the tenth longest operating movie theater in the United States.[3]
Address: 28 E Winter St, 43015-1924 Delaware
Perkins Observatory
Observatory in Delaware, Ohio. Perkins Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Delaware, Ohio. It is owned and operated by Ohio Wesleyan University.
In 1931 it had the third largest telescope in the World; the 69 inch aperture Perkins telescope came online at this observatory. The mirror was the largest cast in the United States up to that time, and it was made by the United States National Bureau of Standards.
In the 1930s this observatory also started periodic document release called The Telescope, featuring results from the telescope but grew to include other astronomical information.
The University partnered with Ohio State University in 1935, to help run the big telescope and the agreement lasted for almost seven decades. In the 1960s the telescope was moved to Arizona, USA for better viewing conditions, and fitted with new larger mirror. Nevertheless, the Observatory continued to be a hub of astronomical activity in the region and for the University.
In the 21st century the Observatory supports various public and academic astronomical activities and is a source for information such as NEO flybys in the community.[4]
Address: 3199 Columbus Pike, 43015-3213 Delaware
Ohio Wesleyan University
Liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university in Delaware, Ohio. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five – a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges. Ohio Wesleyan has always admitted students irrespective of religion or race and maintained that the university "is forever to be conducted on the most liberal principles."
The 200-acre (81 ha) site is 27 miles (44 km) north of Columbus, Ohio. It includes the main academic and residential campus, the Perkins Observatory, and the Kraus Wilderness Preserve.
In 2010, Ohio Wesleyan had the eleventh highest percentage of international students among liberal arts colleges for the seventeenth straight year. In its 2015 edition of U.S. college rankings, Niche ranked Ohio Wesleyan the 56th (out of 880 colleges) most politically liberal college in the U.S. U.S. News & World Report ranked Ohio Wesleyan tied for 93rd among U.S. liberal arts colleges in its 2021 edition.[5]
Address: 61 S Sandusky St, Delaware
Delaware County Courthouse
Courthouse. The Delaware County Courthouse is located at 117 N Union St, Delaware, OH 43015 in Delaware, Ohio. The courthouse was placed on the National Register.[6]
Address: 101 N Sandusky St, Delaware
Delaware Public Library
The Delaware Public Library is a former public library in Delaware, Ohio. The building was funded by Andrew Carnegie and built in the neoclassical style. It opened to the public in 1906. The library's collection of books and volumes rapidly expanded during its operational history. By the 1970s, the Delaware Public Library started to run out of space. In 1984, a new public library was constructed, and Delaware County, Ohio started using the Delaware Public Library for office space. The building was tripled in size during a construction and restoration project that lasted from 1999 to 2001. The Delaware Public Library is currently used to house a number of Delaware County agencies, including the Delaware County Board of Commissioners.
The Delaware Public Library was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 because of the building's architectural significance.[7]
Austin Hall
Building in Delaware, Ohio. Austin Hall, also called Austin Manor, is a historic building in Delaware, Ohio. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 1985. Originally built in 1923 on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University, it was sold by the university in 2018.[8]
Ohio Wesleyan University Library
Public library system. The Ohio Wesleyan University Library is the library system of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. It comprises five individual libraries and is the second largest academic library in Ohio among liberal arts colleges, ranked by number of volumes held. Organized into 3 major divisions, in 2005 it held 600,000 printed volumes in open stacks, 800,000 microfilms and microfiches, and a total of 140,000 maps, motion pictures, DVDs, sound recordings, and computer files in its collections, in addition to extensive digital resources and the University Archives.[9]
Activism at Ohio Wesleyan University
Activism has played an important role in the history of Ohio Wesleyan University; The founders of Ohio Wesleyan University expressed a hope that the university "is forever to be conducted on the most liberal principles." OWU has espoused activism in its academic philosophy. Alumni of the school have prominently engaged in controversial issues of their times on three central issues—the scope of justice; distributive justice based on race, gender, and income; and institutions related to preserving social structures.[10]
Schimmel-Conrades Science Center
Building in Delaware, Ohio. The Schimmel-Conrades Science Center is a science building at Ohio Wesleyan University.
The Science Center involved the renovation of 100,000 square feet (9,290 m²) of indoor space, including physically connecting the two old science facilities, constructing 52,000 square feet (4,830 m²) of additional space, and creating an expanded and integrated science library, amphitheatre, and three-story atrium.
The Science Center includes a cafe and vending machines. The floorspace is used for events ranging from the annual President's Ball to regular poster sessions.[11]