Adena Mansion & Gardens Historic Site

"I'm a big fan of local history, and this place checked all the boxes. The star of this visit was definitely the Worthington mansion. Made with local sandstone and larger than I imagined, the mansion served as the home of the 6th governor of Ohio. The home tour is about an hour long, and the docent that we had was excellent! The grounds are open to explore several outbuildings. Also, on the grounds, an overlook has the view that inspired the great seal of Ohio, although on my visit, the overlook was quite overgrown, and you could not see the river below. The visitor's center has some nice displays also and gives more history of the Worthington family."

"There is a great little museum by the main parking area. Here is where you pay admission for the tour of the mansion and the museum. Ohio History members get in free here. Call ahead to see what time tours are before going. Also, check hours, they are currently closed Monday and Tuesday, but there is talk that might be changing. There is no food, water, candy or gum allowed in the mansion, and no photography inside the mansion either. Photography is welcome outside the mansion. The Docents were amazing, there are some steps to get into the mansion, however, if not able to climb the stairs to the second floor, there is a second Docent available with a video tour of the upstairs, which was very informative. The garden has years of built up overgrowth, which is really sad. Not enough funding, or volunteers/employees to clean it out. The museum and grounds are wheelchair and stroller accessible, but the mansion is not. There is a very nice picnic shelter with tables just outside the musuem on the way to the mansion, pack a picnic! Restroom doors are not ADA compliant, but there is an ADA compliant stall."

"Early Ohio historic mansion built by a two term governor. Restored to period condition. Worthington was a surveyor, land speculator, trader, governor and US senator."

"I have been wanting to visit the Adena Mansion and Gardens for awhile now and yesterday while in Chillicothe got a brief look. It is a wonderful place with a great drive up the wooded hillside to reach the main grounds. The visitor center is quite comprehensive with a gift shop, museum and meeting rooms. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. We were unable to tour the mansion as it was toward the end of the day and the last tour had left. We did walk the gardens and some other parts of the grounds. We intend to go back in the future when we have more time. This is a great stop if you visit the Mound City UNESCO World Heritage Site since it is just minutes away. Happy travels!"

"This place is great for those who appreciate early Ohio history. It gives us a slice of how Ohio became a state and how Thomas Worthington was instrumental during the process. The house was constructed by Thomas Worthington around 1803 and still stands in much the same way it did then. They have a museum that gives great background on the Worthington family and a house tour that last about 45 minutes. The grounds are beautiful and you can view the overlook that the Ohio State Seal was derived from. Tickets are $12 per person and well worth every penny! We have a rich history in Ohio and this place is a hidden gem right in our backyard!"