Oberlin College Homecoming & Reunion Special Weekend Tours
Friday, October 10-Saturday, October 11
Tours are open to anyone attending the college’s events as well as the general public. Guided tours and history walks require advance registration.
Friday, October 10
10:00am-3:00pm: Self-Guided “Oberlin Origins” Tour & “Back to School”: Oberlin Public Schools Exhibit
Location: Monroe House (73 1/2 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074)
Move at your own pace through the Monroe House (1866), exploring stories that outline Oberlin’s founding, the college’s promise of co-education, the community’s commitment to abolition, and more. Tour information is provided via a tablet. Admission includes access to the “Back to School” exhibit featuring items and images that tell the history of Oberlin’s public schools. Cost: $3/adult; free for students and children. No reservations required.
3:30-4:45pm: Scholars & Settlers History Walk
Location: Flagpoles on Tappan Square, corner of Main & College Streets
Learn about the earliest residents of Oberlin and hear fascinating stories of the triumphs, debates, and scandals linked to the landmarks around Tappan Square on this 75-minute walk. Compare the buildings of today to the buildings of yesteryear using historic photographs and walk away with a lively appreciation of Oberlin’s unique heritage. Whether you’ve lived in Oberlin forever or are new to the area, you’ll find much to enjoy. Cost: $10/adult; $5/students; free for children. Advance registration is required as space is limited.
Saturday, October 11
10:00am-3:00pm: Self-Guided “Oberlin Origins” Tour & “Back to School”: Oberlin Public Schools Exhibit
Location: Monroe House (73 1/2 S. Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074)
Move at your own pace through the Monroe House (1866), exploring stories that outline Oberlin’s founding, the college’s promise of co-education, the community’s commitment to abolition, and more. Tour information is provided via a tablet. Admission includes access to the “Back to School” exhibit featuring items and images that tell the history of Oberlin’s public schools. Cost: $3/adult; free for students and children. No reservations required.
10:30am-12:00pm: Freedom’s Friends: Abolition & the Underground Railroad History Walk
Location: Front Steps of the First Church in Oberlin (106 N. Main Street, Oberlin, OH 44074)
Prior to the Civil War, as many as 3,000 African Americans passed through or lived in Oberlin after escaping from slavery. The town was said to be second only to Canada as an asylum for freedom seekers. Guests on this history walk are guided by a docent from the Oberlin Heritage Center who discusses the historic decisions that shaped Oberlin’s growth as a station on the Underground Railroad and the individuals and events that marked Oberlin as one of the most active stations. Hear stories about Oberlin’s most famous freedom seekers and people known to have helped them make their way to freedom on this 90-minute neighborhood walking tour. Cost: $10/adult; $5/students; free for children. Advance registration is required as space is limited.
2:00pm-3:30pm: Civil War to Civil Rights History Walk
Location: Front Steps of the First Church in Oberlin (106 N. Main Street, Oberlin, OH 44074)
This 90-minute tour highlights historic events that reveal both Oberlin’s progress and setbacks in race relations dating from early Oberlin all the way up to the 21st Century. Learn how Oberlin was a leader in abolition, participating heavily in events such as the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue, the Raid on Harpers Ferry, and the American Civil War, but also struggled with its own issues of equality and racism during these early years and later through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, and today. Cost: $10/adult; $5/students; free for children. Advance registration is required as space is limited.