Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Oberlin, OH
Year Listed: 2004
Main Street in Oberlin, Ohio.
Credit: City of Oberlin, Office of Planning and Development
Oberlin (pop. 8,200) has it all - the quiet air of a small town combined with the art, music and culture of a big city. Often called "the most cosmopolitan small town in America," the community was founded in 1833 - at the same time as Oberlin College, one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges and the first institution of higher education to open its doors to all students regardless of color. Not far from the shore of Lake Erie and a half-hour from Cleveland, Oberlin boasts a vibrant downtown shopping district, tree-lined streets, world-class restaurants and beautiful parks.
The community has a rich and diverse history and has played a key role in many of the major reform movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries - from the Underground Railroad through more recent campaigns for temperance, female suffrage and civil rights. Built in 1842, First Church served as the meeting place for the Oberlin Anti-Slavery Society, and nearby Westwood Cemetery is the final resting place of former slaves and famous abolitionists. Other sites of interest include the Oberlin Heritage Center, a complex of three historic buildings, including a one-room school; the Allen Memorial Art Museum, one of the country's most prestigious college art museums; Frank Lloyd Wright's Weltzheimer-Johnson House; and the famed Oberlin Conservatory of Music, which offers scores of free concerts each year.
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