Description: Ohio Caverns, Champaign County, Ohio, ca. 1940-1949. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL00322
Subjects: Caves--Ohio; Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Crystals; Tourism; Geology--Ohio
Places: Champaign County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows the inside of the Ohio Caverns near West Liberty, Ohio. The unidentified man is touching a famous crystal known as "Crystal King." The most famous formation in the Ohio Caverns is the Crystal King, one of the biggest and most perfectly formed stalactites ever known. The caverns are the largest in the state, with over two miles of surveyed passageways ranging in depth from thirty feet to the deepest point of one hundred and three feet. The exact age of the caverns is unknown. The Columbus Grey Limestone in which the caverns are carved is some 400 million years old, and the oldest crystal is estimated to be 250,000 years old. The Ohio Caverns serve as a major tourist attraction in Logan County, along with the Zane Caverns and the Lake State Park. On the side of the photo in small print it reads: "Weber Photo." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06493
Subjects: Caves--Ohio; Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Crystals; Tourism; Geology--Ohio
Places: West Liberty (Ohio); Logan County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows the inside of the Ohio Caverns near West Liberty, Ohio. The focus of the photo is a crystal known as "Crystal King." The most famous formation in the Ohio Caverns, Crystal King is one of the biggest and most perfectly-formed stalactites ever known. The caverns are the largest in the state, with over two miles of surveyed passageways ranging in depth from thirty feet to the deepest point of one hundred and three feet. The exact age of the caverns is unknown. The Columbus Grey Limestone in which the caverns are carved is some 400 million years old, and the oldest crystal is estimated to be 250,000 years old. The Ohio Caverns serve as a major tourist attraction in Logan County, along with the Zane Caverns and the Lake State Park. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06495
Subjects: Caves--Ohio; Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Crystals; Tourism; Geology--Ohio
Places: West Liberty (Ohio); Logan County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows the inside of the Ohio Caverns near West Liberty, Ohio. The caverns were formed thousands of years ago when an underground river cut through ancient limestone and created rooms and passageways that later filled with a vast quantity of crystal stalactites. The most famous formation in the Ohio Caverns is the Crystal King, one of the biggest and most perfectly-formed stalactites ever known. The caverns are the largest in the state, with over two miles of surveyed passageways ranging in depth from thirty feet to the deepest point of one hundred and three feet. The exact age of the caverns is unknown. The Columbus Grey Limestone in which the caverns are carved is some 400 million years old, and the oldest crystal is estimated to be 250,000 years old. The Ohio Caverns serve as a major tourist attraction in Logan County, along with the Zane Caverns and the Lake State Park. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06497
Subjects: Caves--Ohio; Ohio History--Natural and Native Ohio; Crystals; Tourism; Geology--Ohio
Places: West Liberty (Ohio); Logan County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows a group of four log cabins probably on one of the Lake Erie Islands, as they were grouped with other photos from that area. The Lake Erie Islands are a chain of archipelagic islands in Lake Erie. Most islands that are large enough are popular tourist attractions with car ferries running from the mainland and between some islands and some small airports and numerous private marinas offering other ways to reach the islands. Grape growing and wineries were once the mainstay of the economy. Kelleys Island is heavily forested and has replaced them almost entirely, but still relies heavily on its limestone quarries. South Bass Island is more developed and still has a few large vineyards and is a popular vacation and recreation spot; it is often referred to as the “Key West of Lake Erie”. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_005_001
Subjects: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Tourism--Ohio; Log cabins--United States
Places: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio); Ottawa County (Ohio)
 

Description: This 'Central Ohio Tours' map was produced for the Ohio Guide in 1936. The map highlights towns, parks, and natural features along six prominent routes starting in Columbus and traversing every part of central Ohio. It was used in the 1940 edition of the Ohio Guide book. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B15F02_062
Subjects: Maps; Tourism--Ohio; Highways; Geography and Natural Resources
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This photograph shows six buildings, each shaped like a wine barrel, probably located on one of the Lake Erie Islands. The buildings have a covered porch, windows and a soft fabric roof. South Bass Island State Park offers four “cabents”, which are a cross between a tent and a cabin. Each has sturdy walls and multiple rooms, including a kitchen and bathroom, and topped with a canvas roof. It is possible the buildings in this photograph are predecessors of the current structures. The Lake Erie Islands are a chain of archipelago islands in Lake Erie. Most islands that are large enough are popular tourist attractions with car ferries running from the mainland and between some islands and some small airports and numerous private marinas offering other ways to reach the islands. Grape growing and wineries were once the mainstay of the economy. Kelleys Island is heavily forested and has replaced them almost entirely, but still relies heavily on its limestone quarries. South Bass Island is more developed and still has a few large vineyards and is a popular vacation and recreation spot; it is often referred to as the “Key West of Lake Erie”. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_041_001
Subjects: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Tourism--Ohio; Cabins; Camping; Recreation
Places: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio); Ottawa County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows the inside of the Ohio Caverns near West Liberty, Ohio. The caverns were formed thousands of years ago when an underground river cut through ancient limestone and created rooms and passageways that later filled with a vast quantity of crystal stalactites. The most famous formation in the Ohio Caverns is "Crystal King," one of the biggest stalactites ever known. The caverns are the largest in the state, with over two miles of surveyed passageways ranging in depth from thirty feet to the deepest point of one hundred and three feet. The exact age of the caverns is unknown. The Columbus Grey Limestone in which the caverns are carved is some 400 million years old, and the oldest crystal is estimated to be 250,000 years old. The Ohio Caverns serve as a major tourist attraction in Logan County, along with the Zane Caverns and the Lake State Park. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06496
Subjects: Crystals; Tourism; Caves; Geology--Ohio
Places: West Liberty (Ohio); Logan County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows a narrow, gravel covered street lined with nearly identical white cabins. While this scene is typical of many found around the state, it was mostly taken near the Sandusky Bay area, as it was grouped with others from that area. The Lake Erie coast of Ottawa and Erie Counties, as well as the Lake Erie Islands are very popular for summer vacations and visiting tourists. South Bass Island and the village of Put-in-Bay has been called the "Key West of Lake Erie". View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F09_023_1
Subjects: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Tourism--Ohio; Cabins
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This photograph shows a group of four log cabins probably on one of the Lake Erie Islands, as they were grouped with other photos from that area. The Lake Erie Islands are a chain of archipelagic islands in Lake Erie. Most islands that are large enough are popular tourist attractions with car ferries running from the mainland and between some islands and some small airports and numerous private marinas offering other ways to reach the islands. Grape growing and wineries were once the mainstay of the economy. Kelleys Island is heavily forested and has replaced them almost entirely, but still relies heavily on its limestone quarries. South Bass Island is more developed and still has a few large vineyards and is a popular vacation and recreation spot; it is often referred to as the “Key West of Lake Erie”. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F08_010_001
Subjects: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Tourism--Ohio; Log cabins--United States
Places: Lake Erie Islands (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio); Ottawa County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Mariemont Inn Erected 1925 & 1927 Mariemont Ohio." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B06F10_004_1
Subjects: Hamilton County (Ohio); Hotels; Tourism--Ohio
Places: Mariemont (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated ca. 1940-1949, this photograph shows the Blue Hole in Castalia, Ohio, a large spring fed by an underground river, about 43-45 feet deep. The Castalia Blue Hole was a major tourist attraction from the 1920s up to its closure, especially due to its close proximity to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. It maintains a water temperature of 48 degrees year round. The blue hole shown in this photograph closed access to the public in 1990, but a new blue hole is open to the public at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F08_001_1
Subjects: Castalia Blue Hole (Ohio); Geography and Natural Resources; Springs; Tourism--Ohio; Geology
Places: Castalia (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)