OHTRV | General E-Bulletin

Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail Seeks Your Submission

Lake Erie, the Ohio River, and the canals that connect them, move people, products and ideas. Part of the largest freshwater system globally, Lake Erie has been molded by glacial history, ecological processes, and human behavior, and it continues to evolve. Together with the Ohio River and the state’s canal system, these bodies of water laid the foundation for the vibrant cultural and industrial history that deﬁnes us today.

To showcase these stories and inspire travel throughout the state, America 250-Ohio (in partnership with the Ohio Travel Association) is curating a driving trail called the Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail.

This is the third statewide trail project launched by America 250-Ohio. It joins the Ohio Air & Space Trail and the Ohio Creativity Trail. These two trails have already captured the hearts and attention of Ohioans and others, with more than 22 million impressions generated by dozens of media stories thus far.

Criteria Used for Consideration:

The scope of the Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail is to create a driving trail connecting the places where visitors can learn more about Lake Erie, the Ohio River and Ohio's canals. As this is a tourism-based project designed to encourage people to spend time in our communities and visit our museums, natural areas and businesses, submitted sites must meet the following criteria. Submissions are evaluated based on their ability to meet the expectations below:

Accessibility – Is the site open to walk-in visitors during consistent and regular hours? Is there parking? Is the schedule posted? If you are relying on call-ahead access, tours must be open to the public and posted on your website with an easy booking process.

Relevancy – Does the site interpret a story that directly relates to how Lake Erie, the Ohio River and the connecting canals shaped (and continues to shape) Ohio's culture and opportunities?

Visitor Experience – Is that story told on-site either through regular tours open to the public or exhibits one can easily find when stopping by the site? Is there signage directing visitors to where they can experience the story? The scope of this project is to create a trail where visitors to and through Ohio can stop and spend an hour or two at each site, learning more while being engaged in the story.

Submit a Site Here

Tips Before You Submit:

Before you start the submission process, consider how your site contributes to the story of how Lake Erie, the Ohio River and the canal systems move(d) people, goods and ideas. Consider the following key storylines as you shape your story.

critical transportation routes for goods, people, and resources
lighthouses
helped turn Ohio into an industrial powerhouse
led to westward expansion of the United States
strategic importance during times of conﬂict
importance to livelihoods
cultural contributions as people came to work on the lake, river and canals
signiﬁcant environmental implications for Ohio and the nation
contributions to quality of life through access to outdoor recreation and scenic beauty

A Note for CVBs:

Please forward this Call for Submission to your partners. While we have sent this Call for Submission through various channels, you have the most direct pathway to sites that may fit this trail.

Questions?

To learn more, please join us for a Q&A Zoom call on April 22 at 1 p.m. If you plan to attend the Q&A zoom call, you must register to receive the link. Questions can also be sent to Haley Martin (America 250-Ohio Trails & Tales Project Coordinator) at haleymartinoh250@gmail.com.