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If you are interested in Ohio history then this Daytrip to Darke County is a surefire bullseye, and not just because it’s the birthplace of Annie Oakley. In the 1700’s this part of Ohio was the Western frontier for European settlers. The Native Americans did not take kindly to this invasion of their hunting grounds and took action.
The first troops sent by President George Washington to quell this uprising were defeated but established Fort Jefferson, the first settlement in Darke County. Fort Jefferson is about 10 miles south of present day Greenville. President Washington then sent General “Mad” Anthony Wayne to the Ohio Territory where he established the settlement of Greene Ville in 1793. Wayne achieved greater success on this mission and in 1795 the Treaty of Greene Ville was signed in the fort.
While the fort has been lost to the winds of time, you’ll find an amazing display of this history in the Treaty Room at the Garst Museum and the Anthony Wayne Peace Council House (just across the street from the Garst Museum). The Garst Museum has several wings dedicated to early history, the lives of Annie Oakley and world-renowned broadcaster Lowell Thomas, and an extensive collection of military history dating back to the War of 1812. In all of our travels to the tri-state rural counties, we’ve never seen a more comprehensive display of history and heritage. The Garst Museum is within easy walking distance from the Visitors Bureau, as well as many quaint shops and great restaurants. Greenville is also the place where KitchenAid stand mixers are made (We’ve got one!) and there is a KitchenAid store right downtown with everything for the cook in the family.
For the outdoorsy Daytripper Greenville offers several beautiful parks and nature preserves, perfect for getting out in the woods for a little bit of nature’s wonders. For the gearheads out there, you definitely must go to a dirt track race at Eldora Speedway. Eldora is owned by NASCAR driver and Columbus, Indiana native Tony Stewart, and is located a few miles north of Greenville. Enjoy the Drive! |
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Want to experience scenic Darke County for yourself?
Download the full driving itinerary.
(Adobe Acrobat Required) |
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What's to see? Check out these photos in our
Darke County - Arts, Antiques & History |
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