Shelby County Courthouse
Built in 1883, the Shelby County Courthouse at one time held
all the county government offices. Materials for its construction
(limestone, sandstone and marble) were brought in by canal boat.
The 170 foot center tower is constructed with galvanized iron
and features four clocks.
Ross Historical Center - Shelby County
Historical Society
The local historical society's home is Shelby County's
center for 
local
history. Visitors from outside the area and locals alike will
enjoy the exhibits on year round display. The Center also features
an impressive research center with computer access to a variety
of local history information, photos and stories..
The museum is located one block north of the
Shelby County Courthouse at 201 North Main Avenue in downtown
Sidney at the corner of Main and North Sts..
Summer Hours: Open Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday
9 a.m. to 12 p.m., closed Sunday and holidays.
To get just a taste of what the Ross Historical
Center has to offer, visit their web site today at www.ShelbyCountyHistory.org.
City of Sidney's Tawawa Civic Park
Residents of the City of Sidney 
are
blessed with an expansive park system of almost 400 acres of
park grounds. A large part of the City's park system is the
192 acre Tawawa Civic Park in eastern section of the City. The
park is a wooded reserve includes areas for hiking, fishing,
and is a wonderful outdoor location for family get togethers,
picnics and cookouts. It is also well know place for the runners
and walkers in the area to exercise and enjoy nature at the
same time. 
Located in Sidney's Tawawa park is Big Rock,
a favorite for young and old for many, many years. Big Rock
is but one of the many attractions located in Tawawa Park.
Sidney's Covered Bridge is also located in Tawawa Park.
The covered bridge is subject of many photographer's work over
the years, due to its peaceful, artistic setting.
The park is adjacent to multipal baseball,
softball and soccer sports complexes and also the municipal
swimming pool. For more about Tawawa Park and the rest of the
city's recreational facilities, please visit the Parks &
Recreation section of the City of Sidney website at http://www.sidneyoh.com/departments/parks.htm#tawawa.
Great Miami River
The scenic Great Miami River, which flows leisurely through
the city, offers the adventurous both fishing and boating opportunities.
Lake Loramie State Park
This state operated park is located to the north of Sidney near
the village of Fort Loramie and includes a 1600 acre lake and
30 miles of shoreline. It offers unsurpassed convenience for
the family who wants to combine boating and camping adventures.
At Lake Loramie visitors can set up camp in the 167 site camping
area, launch their boats and set out to do some fishing or just
to cruise the lake. 
A designated swimming area gives young and
old alike a chance to enjoy the water or simply relax in the
sun. Bicycles can be rented at the park's camp office providing
visitors the opportunity to explore the park or the community
of nearby Fort Loramie.
Lake Loramie visitors can set up camp and launch
their boats,
knowing there is plenty of opportunity for cruising. A designated
swimming area gives young and old alike a chance to enjoy the
water or simply relax in the sun. Bicycles can be rented at
the park's camp office providing visitors the opportunity to
explore the park and the community of nearby Ft. Loramie.
For more information about the Lake Loramie
State Park and Lake Loramie, please visit the park's website
at www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/lkloramie.htm.
Gateway Arts Council
Since 1988, this local group has been promoting
the creation, presentation, preservation and accessibility of
artistic/cultural resources for the benefit, enjoyment and enrichment
of the citizens of Shelby County. For more information and/or a schedule
of upcoming performances, visit their web site at GatewayArtsCouncil.org.
Shelby County Fair
Each
year the Shelby County Fair attracts visitors from all points
who come to enjoy the thrills of the midway, sample the many
food items, watch the harness racing and tour the agriculture
and livestock displays.
Great Sidney Farmer's Market
On the square in downtown Sidney, this event is held every Saturday,
starting in June and ending in October.
Peoples Federal Savings and Loan Building
This building was designed by famed architect Louis Sullivan
in 1917 and completed in 1918.
Big Four Bridge
A Sidney landmark for over 75 years. The Big Four Railroad line
was the east-west link through the county. It was known as the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis (thus the Big Four
Railroad), later the Bee line, and after 1930, the New York
Central Railroad. Construction was finished July, 1853.
GreatStone Castle
Perhaps no other residence in west central
Ohio captures the glamour and opulence of the 1890's more than
this home. Whitby Place was conceived and designed by W.H.C.
Goode, one of the wealthiest men in Shelby County, and the owner
of the American Steel Scraper Company. Along with its two acres,
it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
(phone 937-498-4728)
Historic Downtown Sidney
In 1819, the Ohio General Assembly determines that 
Shelby
County needed a permanent site to serve as the county seat.
Seventy acres of cleared farmland adjacent to the Great Miami
River were donated and the new town was named Sidney, after
Sir Phillip Sidney, an English patriot and writer. Now dubbed
a National Registered Historic District, the Downtown Courthouse
Square area of Sidney hosts an abudance of wonderful artwork,
architecture and historic sites which are bound to catch any
visitor's eye.
Monumental Building
Established in 1877, this building was constructed
to honor the county's Civil War dead. The building is located
on the square in downtown Sidney and now houses the Sidney Municipal
Court.
Ft. Loramie Wilderness Trail Museum
The Wilderness Trail Museum is owned and operated 
by
the Fort Loramie Historical Association. In it visitors can
view uniforms and memorabilia from the Civil War, WWI and WWII
as well as Indian artifacts. Visitors can also view a turn-of-the-century
dry goods store, women's store, and a display of old shoe-making
equipment. Included in the tour is a barn which features equipment
used on farms in the area a hundred years ago. The museum offers
a variety of programs and events throughout the year, most notably
the Williamsburg Christmas Dinners held over a four-evening
period in early December each year. (phone: 937-295-3855)
Find out more at www.fortloramiehistory.com.
Jackson Center Historical Museum
The museum offers visitors an opportunity to recall times past
with a wide variety of memorabilia from Jackson Center's history.
The museum is open on Sundays. Special group tours can be scheduled
on others days. (phone: 937-596-6545)
Amos Memorial Public Library
Starting life in 1869 as “The Sidney Lyceum and 
Library
Association” in a small, downtown rented room –
and later renamed Amos Memorial Public Library when its brand
new facility was opened in 1958 – the library system in
Shelby County has since grown to include the main library and
5 branches in Anna, Botkins, Fort Loramie, Jackson Center, and
Russia. In addition to its outstanding general reading and reference
materials the library features special interest programming,
an impressive genealogical research collection, a busy children’s
room, and a thriving AV department. Rental of all library materials
is free to library cardholders – and the card itself is
free.* Call 937-492-8354.
E-mail comments/questions to libraram@oplin.org
and be sure to visit our temporary AV web site at www.amos.lib.oh.us.
*Call the
library to find out what forms of identification are accepted.
The SPOT Restaurant
Art Moderns style restaurant built in 1941. Today, the SPOT
is a popular gathering place for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This restaurant is best known for its fresh ground beef burgers,
thick malts and home-made pies. (ph 937-492-8354)
Lockington Dam and Reserve
The Lockington Reserve is a 200-acre tract featuring
a remarkable variety of natural landscapes. Within its boundaries,
one can find flood plain forest and upland woods, 90-foot high
bluff, pine groves marsh areas, streams and ponds. This natural
area remains undeveloped because of its role as a dry storage
basin for floodwaters periodically backing up behind the Lockington
Dam. For moreinformatioin contact the Shelby County Park District.
www.shelbycopark.org
(ph 937-773-4818)
Hickory Hill Lakes - Country Concert
The
hills are truly alive with the sound of country music every
summer when County Concert at Hickory Hill Lakes brings top
country performers to its stage for a four-day extravaganza.
Fans come from all 50 states to enjoy the non-stop entertainment.
(www.countryconcert.com)
Airstream 
Airstream is a world-renowned trailer manufacturer and a popular
stop for many who travel through the area. The company conducts
daily tours that give visitors the opportunity to tour their
facility and see how the American legend Airstream is built.
(ph 937-596-6111)
The Lost Land Corn Maze
A wonderful outdoors fall activity - hosted weekends in Sidney from the beginning of September through early November. New maze designs are featured each year. The complete maze path totals 4 miles in length and is located at 2401 South Vandemark Road, in Sidney. A petting zoo, pumpkin launcher, haunted barn, DJ, bon fires, and straw pit are also offered. For more information phone 937-538-1079 or visit www.lostlandcornmaze.com.
(click on the photo for a larger aerial view
of the Corn Maze)
For more information about things
to do and see in the Sidney - Shelby County area, visit our
Annual Festivals Section
and our Local Events Calendar!
