Ohio Pioneers traveling exhibit opens at Marietta Armory

MARIETTA -- An exhibit about the pioneers who came to Ohio is on display at the Armory on Front Street.

The traveling Ohio Pioneers exhibit, hosted by the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, features 12 standing panels that tell the story of Marietta's settlement and growth.

Inspired by Pulitzer-Prize-winning author David McCullough's recent best seller, "The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West," the exhibit was created by the staff of the Marietta College Legacy Library.

Christina Ullman of Ullman Design illustrated the banners with highlights from manuscripts, rare books and artwork used by McCullough during his research in the library's Special Collections.

Topics include the Northwest Territory, relationships with Native Americans, pioneer life and the struggle for a free state, among others.

"The Pioneers" reached No. 1 on The New York Times' Best Seller list for nonfiction in 2019. It continues in the spotlight this summer, having recently been honored with the 2020 Ohioana Book Award for a work about Ohio or Ohioans.

The Ohio Pioneers exhibit was funded by the Ohio Humanities Council, Edward Parish Chapter of Colonia Dames XVII Century, Marietta College and David and Rosalee McCullough. It premiered at the Ohio Statehouse last summer and has since traveled around the state.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. To learn more, contact the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-288-2577 or mariettaohio.org.