Information
Landmark: Adena Mansion and GardensCity: Chillicothe
Country: USA Ohio
Continent: North America
Adena Mansion and Gardens, Chillicothe, USA Ohio, North America
Overview
The Adena Mansion and Gardens, at 847 Adena Road in Chillicothe, Ohio, was once home to Thomas Worthington-Ohio’s sixth governor and a key figure in shaping the state-where the wide front porch still catches the afternoon sun.The mansion takes its name from the Adena culture, an ancient Native American people of the Ohio Valley, though the house itself was built in the early 1800s, long after their earth mounds had weathered under centuries of rain.Benjamin Henry Latrobe, often hailed as the “father of American architecture,” designed the mansion in 1807, its whitewashed brick catching the sun.Adena is one of just three of his houses still standing in the United States, a rare piece of history shaped by his hand.Architecture and Grounds Style: Federal, marked by crisp lines and balanced symmetry, the kind you’d see on a brick courthouse from early America.The mansion holds 20 rooms and 16 fireplaces, their brickwork still warm in color, a quiet testament to the grandeur of early Ohio settlements.Inside, you’ll find original furnishings, treasured family heirlooms, and antiques true to the era-each piece a quiet snapshot of life in the early 1800s, like a worn oak chair polished smooth by generations.Around the mansion stretch nearly 300 acres of manicured gardens, shaded woodlands, and winding paths where gravel crunches softly underfoot.The gardens have been carefully brought back to life to mirror their historical period, filled with native plants, bright flowers, and tall trees much like those that once shaded the grounds.The Educational and Visitor Experience Museum and Education Center features a museum with exhibits on Ohio’s early European settlement and the Adena culture, where you might see artifacts worn smooth by centuries of touch.Guided tours lead you through the mansion, revealing its storied past and the intricate woodwork carved into its grand halls.Docents bring Thomas Worthington’s world to life, pointing out the curve of a hand-carved banister, explaining the house’s design, and weaving in stories from the region’s past.Special programs welcome school groups and curious visitors, offering lessons in history, archaeology, and horticulture-sometimes right beside a blooming rose garden.Throughout the year, the estate comes alive with historic reenactments, fragrant garden tours, and lively community celebrations.From April 19 to October 26, you can visit Wednesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m.; the mansion’s final tour leaves at 3:30 p.m., and it’s closed on July 4.Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $6 for kids ages 6–12, with free entry for children under 6 and members of the Ohio History Connection or the Adena Mansion & Gardens Society.Just a short drive away, Fort Hill Earthworks & Nature Preserve invites you to hike past quiet woods and explore ancient Native American mounds.Serpent Mound, a colossal earthen snake carved by ancient Indigenous peoples, sits just a short drive away and is often visited alongside the brick‑front Adena Mansion.For more information, call 740-772-1500.You’ll also find event schedules, membership details, and ways to volunteer-right down to helping set up chairs before a concert.Visitors can wander a historic estate steeped in early American architecture, Ohio’s past, and gardens so well-kept you can smell the fresh roses along the path.If you’re exploring Chillicothe or the wider Ohio Valley, you can’t miss this spot-it’s the kind of place where you’ll want to linger and snap a few photos.
