Discover 5 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Franklin (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Franklin First United Methodist Church, Franklin Post Office, and Charles Butler House. Also, be sure to include Eden Thirkfield Home in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Franklin (Ohio).
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Franklin First United Methodist Church
The Franklin First United Methodist Church is a historic church in downtown Franklin, Ohio, USA. A Methodist affiliated church since its founding, it is the oldest church in the city and one of the oldest churches in Warren County. The church is a member congregation of the United Methodist Church.[1]
Address: 303 S Main St, 45005-2227 Franklin
Franklin Post Office
The Old Log Post Office, also known as the Franklin Post Office is an historic building located in Franklin, Ohio. Built in 1802, the two-story log cabin is the oldest surviving post office in the state and the oldest building in Franklin.
On April 1, 1805, President Thomas Jefferson appointed the first postmaster, John N. C. Schenck. The post office was his home. It was originally at 310 River Street but was moved to its present site near the corner of 5th and River streets in 1974. A portion of the Great Miami River Recreation Trail, a bicycle trail, now passes by the post office.
On March 17, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[2]
Charles Butler House
The Charles Butler House is a historic octagon house in the city of Franklin, Ohio, United States. Constructed during the middle of the nineteenth century, it was originally home to one of the city's most prominent men, and it has been named a historic site due to its unusual design.
In its earliest years, the city of Franklin was heavily influenced by the Schenck family, who sponsored much of its early development. A member of a later generation of the family, John N. Schenck, arranged for the construction of the present house in 1860. At the time, Orson Squire Fowler's ideal of the octagon house was at the height of its popularity, and Schenck's use of the style demonstrates his wealth at the time. Rather than living in it, Schenck gave it to his daughter and son-in-law, Charles Butler, who occupied a leading place in Franklin's governmental and commercial circles.
Built of brick, the Butler House is covered with a metal roof. The architecture includes numerous distinctive details, including the four-over-four windows placed in pairs, the wooden cornice with brackets, and the molding around the lintels. Because the house sits atop a small hill, a person inside is able to view a panorama of the city as well as the Great Miami River.
In 1982, the Butler House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying because of its distinctive architecture; it is one of four National Register-listed locations in the city, along with the prehistoric Hill-Kinder Mound, the Mackinaw Historic District, and the Old Log Post Office. Significant to its designation was its rarity; it is one of two octagon houses in Franklin, but only one other such house remains anywhere else in southwestern Ohio, although the Goldsmith Coffeen House in Lebanon is built as a hexagon.[3]
Eden Thirkfield Home
Mansion. The Eden Thirkfield Home is a historic Greek Revival mansion in downtown Franklin, Ohio. It was said to have been built in 1848 for a riverboat captain, Henry C. Storms. He sold the house to Eden B. Thirkfield, a prominent merchant in the town, who willed it to his two children. Eden's son, Wilbur P. Thirkield, lived in the home following his father's death.[4]
Mackinaw Historic District
The Mackinaw Historic District is a historic residential area located on the western side of the Great Miami River in Franklin, Ohio. The historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The area features homes built between 1825 and 1925 spanning numerous architectural styles, including Queen Anne and other Victorian styles. The most notable building is the Harding House, a Colonial Revival mansion in the heart of the district.[5]