Free
Ohio and Muskingum riverfront
Parks and walks where the two rivers meet.
Ohio
Marietta
Founded in 1788 as the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory, where the Muskingum meets the Ohio: Campus Martius Museum, the Ohio River Museum, an ancient earthwork mound in a pioneer cemetery, and sternwheelers on the river.
Photo: A sternwheeler on the Ohio River at Marietta, Aparkswv, CC BY-SA 4.0
Marietta was founded in 1788 at the meeting of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. Campus Martius Museum stands on the site of the settlers' fort, and brick streets roll down to the water.
Long before the settlers came, Indigenous people built earthworks here. In Mound Cemetery, a great conical mound rises among the graves of Revolutionary War officers. On the riverfront, the Ohio River Museum is home to the W.P. Snyder Jr., a steam-powered sternwheel towboat.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Covered bridges
Historic covered bridges on the back roads of Washington County.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Mound Cemetery
An ancient conical earthwork mound among the graves of early settlers.
Free
Harmar Village
A historic neighbourhood across the Muskingum, reached by a footbridge.
Cheap
Campus Martius Museum
Pioneer history on the site of the 1788 settlers' fort.
Cheap
Ohio River Museum
River history and the steam sternwheel towboat W.P. Snyder Jr.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Paid
Valley Gem sternwheeler
Sightseeing cruises on the Ohio River.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Marietta farmers' market
A seasonal market downtown.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Campus Martius Museum
Museum admission.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Valley Gem sternwheeler Cruise
Part of our Southeast Ohio guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The museums and the mound fill a full day.
- A sternwheeler cruise is the perfect slow evening.
- Wayne National Forest and covered bridges make a second day.
Nearby and worth the drive
Ready-made trips with Marietta
Good to know
- Museums: Campus Martius and the Ohio River Museum: Ohio History Connection.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: A sternwheeler on the Ohio River at Marietta, Aparkswv, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Campus Martius Museum, Snoopywv, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sternwheel towboat W. P. Snyder Jr., J Clear (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mound Cemetery entrance, Marietta, Chrispainter1966, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Front Street, Marietta, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0