Ohio is now known throughout the world for the fleet of lighter-than-air blimps operated by Goodyear, but the state was first known in blimpdom as the site of the death of the airship Shenandoah.

The almost 700-foot long rigid airship was built in 1923 out of a then cutting-edge material, duralumin, a combination of aluminum and copper. It was the first blimp in the Navy fleet, a reconnaissance ship with an effective range of 5,000 miles at speeds up to 70 mph. The Shenandoah was also the first ship of its size to use helium rather than the highly-volatile hydrogen (as used in the Hindenberg), and sucked up a great deal of the world's supply just filling its gas chambers.

On September 2, 1925, the ship was sent to tour some of the nation's cities and state fairs. Unfortunately, the next morning, while passing over southeastern Ohio, the Shenandoah was caught in thunderstorms and crashed to the ground near Caldwell. Miraculously, of the 43 crew members, 29 survived, but the ship was a ruin.

Ohioans came from all over (including my grandparents, from Cambridge) to witness the wreck. Some even fashioned jewelry from the debris. I ran into someone recently who still treasures a family heirloom 'Shenandoah bracelet'.

The site is commemorated by a memorial. But the real scoop can be found in the Shenandoah Memorial Trailer, a museum on wheels created by the Rayner family. It is usually parked near their house in Ava, Ohio.

The local high school adopted the nickname The Zeps (for zepplin), and feature a dirigible mascot.

The other day I stumbled on a website offering a chance to vote for the New Seven Wonders of the World. I put my two cents worth in, of course, but I can't say I was all that impressed with the nominations. My first thought was of an Ohio landmark that's just as important and interesting as some of the ones offered.

One thing led to another and we've to start our list of the ( Drum roll, please! ) Seven Wonders of Ohio. In a state with so much to offer, this should be both interesting and easy.

My nomination, today, is a site of international importance that can hold its own with any world-class prehistoric site you can name. It's the Great Serpent Mound, in Adams County. It's hard to argue that a mound in the shape of a snake, almost a quarter mile long, isn't impressive. It's probably the biggest effigy mound and the biggest representation of a serpent in the world.

The Great Serpent Mound, now a state memorial, is believed to have been built by the Fort Ancient Culture, a Native America society that lived in parts of Ohio and Kentucky, between the years 1000 and 1650. Carbon dating tests on charcoal found at the site yielded a date of about AD 1070. The question of why the mound was built remains a mystery. There is no evidence of burials in the mound itself. The head, however, does appear to be aligned to the summer solstice sunrise. This offers the possibility of some astronomical significance.

Our list of the Seven Wonders of Ohio is now off and running. Let's see what my intrepid colleagues have to add.

The holidays are a memory, spring still not on the horizon. Rather than give in to couch-itis, why not take a weekend getaway to one of Ohio's top-notch lodges?

Among my favorites:

The Inn at Cedar Falls. Only a short walk from Ohio's greatest state park, The Hocking Hills, and its namesake Cedar Falls. The Inn offers rooms on a bluff overlooking the hills, with gourmet meals served in the restored cabin. The highlight here, though, is a winter hike up the gorge from Cedar Falls to Old Man's Cave. If the weather has been below freezing for a few days, the water that seeps through the sandstone cliff freezes, covering the gorge with sheets of icicles that shine stunningly against the moss-covered walls. Lunch at the nearby Etta's Lunchbox Cafe is highly recommended, too.

The Inn at Honey Run. This treasure, hidden in the midst of Amish country in Holmes County, provides a wonderful touch of luxury and comfort. The locally-influenced meals are served in the main building. The Honeycomb, a separate building built into the hill nearby, offers rooms with fireplaces and a spendid. There are also cabins available.

For those staying here, day excursions into the Amish area are a delight in the winter. You won't have to fight the summer tour bus crowd when shopping for quilts and furniture, and a table at your favorite restaurant. (Recommendation: The Homestead in Charm; order the fried chicken. I promise you won't be disappointed.)

The Murphin Ridge Inn, Peebles. Tucked away in a little-visited part of Ohio, Adams County in Southwestern Ohio, this old farmhouse and new bank of luxury rooms is a true getaway. The meals are splendid and the quiet of the winter woods should have you sleeping like a baby.
During the day, take a trip to the Serpent Mound or Buzzards Roost Rock, hike at the Davis Memorial, dig for fossils along Rt. 41, or tour the local Amish area. Make sure to lunch at the historic The Olde Wayside Inn in downtown West Union, built in 1804.

Check out Jamie's story or mine in previous blogs for more background.

So don't give in to the blahs – treat yourself to something new.






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In the rural towns outside of Youngstown and Warren Ohio, you can find many great shops and historical sites like this general store, still operating in Fowler, Ohio. One of the things I like about Ohio is how you can seemingly time travel like this once you leave the borders of many of its cities.