From extraordinary murals to historic sites, the town where Dino Paul Crocetti (the world knows him as superstar Dean Martin) was born has become a premier travel destination. There are also unique shops waiting to be explored and restaurants that satisfy every palate.
By Linda Feagler
Beatty Park, all photos taken by Casey Rearick, unless otherwise noted.
Picture Perfect
Learn why Steubenville is known as “The City of Murals.” Artists from around the country have created an outdoor museum comprised of 25 larger-than-life murals they’ve painted on iconic buildings. Subjects range from “River Reflections,” celebrating the steamboat era to “The Civil War Telegraph Office,” with images of President Abraham Lincoln and Steubenville natives Edwin Stanton, who served as Lincoln’s secretary of war, and telegrapher David Homer Bates. Other murals honor the heroic Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, including two brothers from Steubenville who served in that prestigious group; Mount Pleasant native Fleetwood Walker, the first Black American to play professional baseball and Steubenville pianist Dorothy Sloop, who served as the inspiration for The Ohio State University rock anthem “Hang on Sloopy.”
Tuskegee Airmen of World War II
“The Civil War Telegraph Office,” Historic Fort Steuben
Safe and Sound
See how the first surveyors of the land that was to become the Northwest Territory protected themselves from danger at Historic Fort Steuben. Originally erected in 1786 by the First American Regiment, the fully reconstructed stronghold overlooking the Ohio River contains the officers’ quarters, guardhouse, hospital and commissary that offer glimpses of the daily life that the men who opened up this land for settlement endured. Be sure to visit the First Federal Land Office west of the Alleghenies, which is located next to the fort. The 1801 log structure contains a variety of antiques, as well as documents that played a pivotal role in early Ohio history. The Fort offers a scavenger hunt that acquaints kids with some of the artifacts of the 18th century.
The Fort Visitor Center is also part of the 4,900-mile-long Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Administered by the National Park Service and connecting 16 states, the route commemorates the U.S. Army and civilian expedition commanded by Capt. Meriwether Lewis and 2nd Lt. William Clark between 1803 and 1806, which crossed the Continental Divide of the Americas to the Pacific Coast. The Visitor Center houses a permanent exhibit chronicling the expedition that was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and participates in the National Park Service’s Passport Program. Visitors can purchase a passport at the gift shop, have it stamped and collect other stamps at participating sites around the country. Fort Steuben Park also offers a pleasant site for picnic dining by the Veterans Memorial Fountain.
Historic Fort Steuben
To Honor and Remember
Embrace nature’s magnificence while honoring final resting places at Union Cemetery-Beatty Park. Established in 1854 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s lauded as one of the most beautiful in the country. Focal points include the Old Stone Chapel, which dates back to 1892; and the Old Stone Bridge, constructed in the 1880s. Walking and hiking trails dot the 99-acre park, which embraces seasonal beauty and affords bird-watching opportunities year-round. Amenities include a picnic pavilion, basketball court and disc golf course. A variety of special events, including nature hikes, historic walking tours and concerts, take place throughout the year.
Palate Pleasers
Whet your appetite at Steubenville’s celebrated eateries which are also steeped in history. Since opening in 1923, the iconic Naples Spaghetti House, now managed by the fourth generation of the Delatore family, has been a favorite gathering place to partake in generous helpings of pasta and poultry entrees. Housed in a former Ohio Power Building constructed in 1936, Froehlich’s Classic Corner Restaurant owners Greg and Deb Froehlich have lovingly preserved much of the structure’s Art Deco design —right down to the lightning bolt emblem on the staircase and the polished aluminum electric symbols on the bar that once graced the company’s reception area. The eclectic menu features salads, seafood, chops and pasta. Any way you slice it, the Original DiCarlo’s Pizza has been the place to go for everyone’s favorite pie since 1945.
Beatty Park
Naples Spaghetti House
Shopping Spree
Don’t be surprised if you start humming Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” while stepping inside Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe on Fourth Street. Along with nutcracker ornaments, coloring books and — of course — nutcrackers, the emporium sponsors holiday hikes, hayrides and an annual Nutcracker Story Walk. Other Steubenville shops include Something Special by Sheila, which lives up to its promise with a boutiqueful of baby clothes, bath products, jewelry and seasonal décor. The three-story Antique Warehouse features over 40,000 square feet and 100 dealers ready to help you discover one-of-a-kind finds, ranging from housewares to furniture and toys.
Spiritual Space
Embrace the splendor of architectural wonders that are present in 17 churches dotting the town. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was established in 1792, and the current building dates from 1870. Its Low Gothic architecture includes four vibrant and iridescent Tiffany windows. First Christian Church, one of the oldest churches in Ohio belonging to Disciples of Christ, was built in 1898, and mirrors the architectural styles of pseudo-Romanesque and Gothic design popular in the late 19th century. The pipe organ was installed in 1914 with financial support from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Other magnificent houses of worship abound, including Westminster Presbyterian Church, constructed in 1914, which features a bronze plaque bearing the names of more than 300 parishioners who served in World Wars I and II, and a baptismal font that was dedicated in 1914. Tours of these churches are available by appointment.
Lunch at the Historic Fort Steuben fountain, Historic Fort Steuben
Down the Road …
Walk in the footsteps of abolitionists in historic Mount Pleasant. Founded in 1803 by an anti-slavery Quaker, the town played a pivotal role in the success of the Underground Railroad in Ohio. Now a National Historic Landmark, it retains much of its antebellum architectural charm. The town features 40 historic buildings constructed before 1865, six of which are museums operated by The Historical Society of Mt. Pleasant. Focal points include the Quaker Ohio Yearly Meeting House, which was built in 1814, and was the first meeting house of its kind built this side of the Allegheny Mountains. Also see the Benjamin Lundy House where Lundy organized the first anti-slavery society in Ohio, and the Free Labor Store, which only sold items that were not raised or made by slave labor. Tours of the meeting house and other museums, as well as an historical walking tour, are available by reservation. The town’s annual Open House and Garden Tour is scheduled for the first weekend in August.
Savor home-cooked delights — including prime rib, fettuccine and pan-seared salmon — at The Farm Restaurant and Pub in Adena that’s housed in a charming white farmhouse constructed in 1856. Sit back and relax at Black Sheep Vineyard, also in Adena. Proprietors John and Rebecca Black opened the winery — named after the sheep farm it once was — in the rolling hills of Ohio in 2008. They’re known for their handcrafted reds, whites and rosés accompanied by charcuterie boards featuring selections from Pearl Valley Cheese in Fresno.
Steel Mill Mural
Fountain near Historic Fort Steuben
Historic Fort Steuben
Historic Fort Steuben
Land Office
Naples Spaghetti House
Drosselmeyer's Nutcracker Shoppe, Historic Fort Steuben
Antique Warehouse
More to See & Do
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