This Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-It Town in Ohio Is So Worth Exploring

The first time I visited Miamisburg was for a band competition my freshman year of high school. Despite living just 40 minutes south of this charming locale, I'd never gotten the chance to explore Miamisburg. I found myself taken by this picturesque little town located on the banks of the Great Miami River. Sadly, this suburb between Middletown and Dayton doesn't often get the accolades it deserves, so let's take a look at everything there is to see and do in this blink-and-you'll-miss-it-town. Consider this your sign to pack up the car and visit Miamisburg, Ohio.

In southwest Ohio, there's a small town that harkens back to a bygone time. A time of ice cream parlors and corner stores, of community pride and unabashed tradition, of parades and good, fashioned patriotic pride. (A regular farmer's market, auto shows, bicycle races, carnivals, open-air art shows.) The town? Miamisburg, Ohio, and not only does it hark back to another time... it actually predates Ohio's statehood.

Miamisburg's origins can be traced all the way back to 1797, when Zachariah Holes established a little place called Holes Station. Fearing the Native Americans who lived in the area, the pioneer built a stockade in which to live. His fears were unwarranted; the Miami Indians proved to be friendly neighbors, and eventually, more folks settled in the area. The town flourished and was renamed Miamisburg, named for the hospitable tribe that predated Holes and his settlement. (Today, kids love splashing about in the fountains at Riverfront Park!)

This spirit of community has only blossomed over the years, with Miamisburg boasting a population of 20,000 tight-knit residents who gather for annual events and hold fast to tradition. In fact, since the 1990s, the City of Miamisburg and its community have actively supported the revitalization and historic preservation of the downtown district and the stately Victorian homes that surround it.

Among the many notable buildings in the downtown, the Baum Opera House, Market Square Building, and Kercher Cabin stand as proud testaments to Miamiburg's history and legacy. Miamisburg's geography, of course, plays a key role in this legacy. The Great Miami River is the town's crown jewel, and Miamisburg pays homage to its original settlers at Miamisburg Mound, the largest conical Native American burial Mound east of the Mississippi River.

Add it all up, and you have a well-rounded, warm-and-welcoming Ohio town that's worthy of a day trip... or more! Have you had the pleasure of visiting this charming town in Ohio? Miamisburg may be easy enough to miss as you're traveling up or down Interstate 75 in Ohio, but this blink-and-you'll-miss-it town is worth a detour. If you have time after exploring Miamisburg, you may want to consider a visit to the charming city of Dayton, as well.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own small town adventures in the Buckeye State using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.