Home >
Land of the Cross Tipped Churches Byway
This byway travels through Shelby, Auglaize and Mercer counties. It begins in McCartyville and follows SR 119 to Fort Recovery. The route then proceeds north along SR 49 and terminates at SR 29 west of Walbash. This 38.4 mile long scenic route encompasses many of the grand historical aspects of the early settlers of the region. An array of cross-tipped churches can be viewed endlessly as one travels through this virtually level farming region. These structures were entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 .
Points of interest
-
Fort Recovery, located at One Fort Site Street in the village of Ft. Recovery of Mercer County, houses the largest display if Indian artifacts in Ohio, and is listed on the National Register of historic places.
-
The National Marian Shrine of the Holy Relics, located at 2291 St. John's Road in Maria Stein, contains approximately 500 relics of the Saints and is the second largest collection of its type in the United States. Built in 1890, the shrine is also listed in the national Register of Historic Places.
-
Maria Stein Heritage Museum, offers byway travelers a look at the early German settlements of southern Auglaize and Mercer counties and the history of the Sisters of the Precious Blood.
- The Belle of St. Mary's is a full scale replica of a packet canal boat, measuring 76 feet long and 14 feet wide. As it rests on the waters of the Miami-Erie Canal in Memorial Park, this exhibit is always open to visitors of Auglaize County.