Oberlin College Family Weekend Tours

Oberlin College Family Weekend Tours Friday, Nov. 6 – Sunday, Nov. 8 Tours are open to anyone attending the college’s events as well as the general public. Guided tours and history walks require advance registration. Register Here Friday, November 6 10:00am-5:00pm: Self-Guided “Oberlin Origins” Tour Location: Monroe House (73 1/2 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074) Move at your own pace through the Monroe House (1866), exploring stories that outline Oberlin’s founding, the college’s promise of co-education, the community’s commitment to abolition, and more. Tour information is provided via a tablet. Cost: $3/adult; free for students and children. No reservations required. Last entry at 4:30pm. 3:00-4:15pm: Scholars & Settlers History Walk Location: Flagpoles on Tappan Square, corner of Main & College Streets Learn about the earliest residents of Oberlin and hear fascinating stories of the triumphs, debates, and scandals linked to the landmarks around Tappan Square on this walking tour. Compare the buildings of today to the buildings of yesteryear using historic photographs and walk away with a lively appreciation of Oberlin’s unique heritage. Whether you’ve lived in Oberlin forever or are new to the area, you’ll find much to enjoy. Cost: $10/adult; $5/students; free for children. Advance registration is required as space is limited. Saturday, November 7 10:00am-5:00pm: Self-Guided “Oberlin Origins” Tour Location: Monroe House (73 1/2 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074) Move at your own pace through the Monroe House (1866), exploring stories that outline Oberlin’s founding, the college’s promise of co-education, the community’s commitment to abolition, and more. Tour information is provided via a tablet. Cost: $3/adult; free for students and children. No reservations required. Last entry at 4:30pm. 10:00-11:30am: Freedom’s Friends: Abolition & the Underground Railroad History Walk Location: Front Steps of the First Church in Oberlin (106 N. Main Street, Oberlin, OH 44074) Prior to the Civil War, as many as 3,000 African Americans passed through or lived in Oberlin after escaping from slavery. The town was said to be second only to Canada as an asylum for freedom seekers. Guests on this guided history walk offered by the Oberlin Heritage Center will hear about the historic decisions that shaped Oberlin’s growth as a station on the Underground Railroad and stories of the individuals and events that marked Oberlin as one of the most active abolitionist communities in Ohio. Cost: $10/adult; $5/students; free for children. Advance registration is required as space is limited. 1:30pm-2:30pm: Guided Tour of the Jewett House Location: Jewett House (73 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074) Learn about Frank Fanning Jewett, Sarah Frances Gulick Jewett, Charles Martin Hall, the Aluminum Reduction Process and life in Oberlin during the Progressive Era on this guided tour of the Oberlin Heritage Center’s 1884 Jewett House. Additional topics include architecture, interior design, social reform, and student boarders who stayed with the family during their time at Oberlin College. Cost: $6/adult; $3/student; free for children and OHC members. Advance registration is required as space is limited. 3:30-5:00pm: Civil War to Civil Rights History Walk Location: Front Steps of the First Church in Oberlin (106 N. Main Street, Oberlin, OH 44074) This walking tour highlights historic events that reveal both Oberlin’s progress and setbacks in race relations dating from early Oberlin all the way up to the 21st Century. Learn how Oberlin was a leader in abolition, participating heavily in events such as the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue, the Raid on Harpers Ferry, and the American Civil War, but also struggled with its own issues of equality and racism during these early years and later through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, and today. Cost: $10/adult; $5/students; free for children. Advance registration is required as space is limited. Sunday, October 11 10:00am-12:00pm: Self-Guided “Oberlin Origins” Tour Location: Monroe House (73 1/2 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074) Move at your own pace through the Monroe House (1866), exploring stories that outline Oberlin’s founding, the college’s promise of co-education, the community’s commitment to abolition, and more. Tour information is provided via a tablet. Cost: $3/adult; free for students and children. No reservations required. Last entry at 11:30am. 10:00-11:15am: Architecture History Walk Location: Flagpoles on Tappan Square, corner of Main & College Streets Enjoy a leisurely stroll on this walking tour offered by the Oberlin Heritage Center which explores Oberlin’s architecture and the people who shaped the area around Tappan Square. This walk provides an opportunity to view an array of historic buildings that feature various styles including Gothic Modernist, Neo-Classical Revival, Romanesque, Late Victorian, and Queen Anne Revival. Cost: $10/adult; $5/students; free for children. Advance registration is required as space is limited.