Fremont: Hayes History, Parks and River

Fremont, Ohio, connects the history of 19th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes with city parks, a historic walking tour and experiences along the Sandusky River. These varied attractions make the town appealing to travelers looking to include culture and outdoor activities in their vacation plans.

The Hayes Home and Presidential History

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums includes the 31-room mansion of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th U.S. president. The Victorian Hayes Home is a National Historic Landmark. It has been restored to reflect the period when the president lived there. The rooms and the home’s historical context give the subject of the visit a tangible form: the focus is not only on the presidency, but also on Hayes’s life.

Exhibits at the Hayes Museum feature artifacts from Hayes’s life and presidency, the American Civil War, and the history of all U.S. presidents. The museum also has an extensive weapons collection. This gives visitors several different ways to explore U.S. history: through an individual political biography, a war, and the nation’s presidents as a whole. Those especially interested in presidential history can pair this focus with a visit to the historic mansion.

Another connection to the region’s history is the Battle of Fort Stephenson Barn at 2000 Christy Road. It was completed in September 2017 and commemorates a historic battle that took place in what is now Fremont during the War of 1812. The Sandusky County Historical Society displays numerous artifacts as part of a self-guided exploration of the past. In Fremont, regional history and places of remembrance are highlights alongside the story of a president.

Walking Tours, City Parks and Trails

The downloadable Fremont Walking Tour brochure offers a walking tour of downtown and the surrounding areas of historic Fremont. You can use the brochure as a guide to exploring on foot, focusing on downtown along the way. Robert L. Walsh Memorial Park on Morrison Street is Fremont’s largest city park. The North Coast Inland Trail runs along the northern edge of the park, and the Buckeye Trail follows it; the trailhead is at the park’s northeastern corner.

The 80-acre Don W. Miller Memorial Park offers a different park setting. It is located along a section of the Sandusky State Scenic River and was formerly known as River Cliff Park. This makes one of Fremont’s parks closely connected to the river, while the route and trailhead at Walsh Memorial Park provide a useful reference point for planning a walk. The walking tour, parks and trail offer different options for days when you want to explore Fremont on foot.

River Activities and Recreation

The Sandusky Rapids extend from the area below Ballville Dam to Roger Young Park. Depending on water levels, their difficulty is rated Class 1 to 3. If necessary, you must portage along the left riverbank. This information is important when planning a river activity, since both the rating and the need to portage depend on the section and conditions. Roger Young Park on South Front Street also provides access to the river from the left bank.

The Fremont Community Recreation Complex also offers a range of activities on land and in the water: indoor basketball and volleyball courts, a seasonal ice rink, and a heated outdoor pool. Together with the historic sites, walking tour, parks and river, these venues offer a variety of vacation options. When choosing a vacation rental in Fremont, you can first consider whether you would like to focus your stay on Hayes and regional history, trails and parks, or river and recreation experiences.

More destinations: Clyde.

Back to the regional travel guide: Sandusky County.