Nestled along the Ohio River, Marietta is one of Ohio’s hidden gems. This small city has a rich history and it’s the perfect day trip from Columbus.

From incredible food to amazing nature to fascinating history, Marietta may not be on your “must visit” list, but it totally should be. As the oldest city in the state of Ohio, Marietta has a rich history and plenty of fun things to do on a visit.

There’s so much to do and see in Marietta, so let’s get planning.

Ohio River Sternwheel Festival

If you’re visiting in September, you’ve got to plan your visit to include the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. Over 30 sternwheel ships will line the riverbank in Marietta. Festival attendees can enjoy paddle-wheelers, events, and the famous fireworks display. Learn more here.

Marietta Earthworks

The Marietta Earthworks is an archaeological site located at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. Most of this complex earthwork, built by the people of the Hopewell people, is now covered by the modern city of Marietta. Archaeologists have dated the ceremonial site’s construction to approximately 100 BCE to 500 CE.

The complex includes the Sacra Via, three walled enclosures, the Quadranaou, Capitolium, and at least two other additional platform mounds, and the Conus burial mound. The Washington County Library now sits atop the Capitolium and makes for a perfect starting point on your historical adventure.

The sole feature of the complex that remains fully intact is the 30-foot Conus Mound, one of many burial mounds that still remain around the state. The mound is now the centerpiece of a cemetery.

Marietta College

Chartered in 1835, Marietta College served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for enslaved persons who were escaping the horrors of slavery in the South. The city of Marietta and the students at the college held strong beliefs of abolitionism and the area served as an important stop for those fleeing toward freedom in Canada.

You’ll find a plaque dedicating the area outside of the Ohio River Museum, which just so happens to be our next historical stop.

Ohio River Museum

The Ohio River played a crucial part in the birth of modern America. At the Ohio River Museum, you can explore exhibits that focus on the history of the Ohio River and its importance relating to the expansion of the US, the Golden Age of the steamboat, and the river’s natural history.

The Castle

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The…