Ashville
Ashville is a small, close-knit community located in Pickaway County which was formed in 1810. It is named from the Pekowi band of Shawnee Indians, who inhabited the area.
Ohio's Small Town Museum
A one-of-a kind museum that will warm the heart and stimulate the mind is what can be found in the small community of Ashville. Founded in 1978, this museum has been recognized on Oprah, in the book New Roadside America, and by the Sunday New York Times. The museum features a hodgepodge of Americana that is a delight to see and read about even if you're not a history buff.
The Museum has a display which tells about the silver nuggets unearthed at the Snake Den Mounds and gives information about famous writers, inventors, politicians, entertainers, and the not-so-famous who once lived in this railroad boom town.
Perhaps the most famous item in the museum is America's oldest working traffic light that was invented by Teddy Boor, installed and operating in lovely downtown Ashville. The light worked efficiently for 50 years at the corner of Main and Long Streets until the ODOT insisted that Ashville get ready for the 21st Century by replacing it with a more ho-hum piece of technology you could see anywhere. Now, if you want to see the still operating traffic light, you'll have to drop in and see it in downtown Ashville at Ohio's Small Town Museum.
Also on display at the museum is perhaps the oldest surviving Ohio State Flag. Today's Ohio Pendant flag was adopted in 1902, but this flag pre-dates that flag. Although the flag looks very similar to the American flag, there never was a 17 star version.
Ashville 4th of July Celebration
Our festival is one of the oldest and largest 4-day community July 4th celebrations held each year in Ohio. Delicious foods, parades, crafts, rides, games, pageants, and free entertainment offer something for everyone. The grand parade starts at 11:00 a.m.on the 4th, and the celebration draws to a close with a fireworks display at 11:00 p.m. Don't miss the fine display of "country cadilacs".
Ashville Viking Festival
Held the last weekend in April at the Ashville Village Park. A family oriented festival featuring historical re-enactments, craft demonstrations, historical games of skill, entertainment, fighting demonstrations, craft merchants and food. Although there are plenty of viking representations, you can also see a wide range of historical re-enactors from Romans to Saxons.
