HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio – Ohio offers a treasure trove of historical farms than can transport the visitor back to a simpler time. With echoes of a bygone era at every turn, these farms not only tell stories of agriculture and perseverance but also weave together the fabric of Ohio’s rich history.

The heritage farms of Ohio are more than just agricultural spaces, they’re living museums that preserve rural traditions. Walking through them gives folks a rare glimpse into the life of early settlers.

Carriage Hill Farm & MetroPark in Huber Heights in the southwestern part of the state is one example of a historical farm that recreates the life of a typical conservative farm family of the 1880s. Period farming and domestic activities are demonstrated throughout the year by both staff and volunteers.

According to Lauren Lemons, Five Rivers marketing director, the thrust is to show farm life as it was in the late 1880s.

“From heirloom vegetables to period breeds of animals, the late 19th century is brought to life here at Carriage Hill Farm,” Lemons said.

Staff and volunteers dress in attire that was commonly worn during that period, making the experience even more authentic. These presenters perform regular demonstrations of heritage skills and crafts, like blacksmithing, woodworking, cooking, quilting and canning. Household chores and farming are demonstrated as they were more than 140 years ago as well.

The structures at the site, such as the old farmhouse and barn, are authentic and have only been restored with coats of paint to preserve the wood.

Goats, sheep, pigs, horses and a donkey roam the grounds to give it a real-life experience.

“The historical farm at Carriage Hill tells important stories that celebrate our agricultural heritage in the Miami Valley,” Lemons said. “Visitors to Carriage Hill Historical Farm will be immersed in 19th-century farm life, at a time when the sustainable farm, home and craft practices were simply practical.”

In Evendale, just 13 miles north of downtown Cincinnati, rests Gorman Heritage Farm. The small village of Evendale isn’t exactly an agricultural setting as it is home to GE Aviation, Formica Corp. and Gold Medal Products. Still, it is home to the 122-acre Gorman Heritage Farm, in existence since 1835. It includes 30 tillable acres, farmyard gardens, five miles of hiking trails and a wildflower preserve. The farm raises livestock, grows vegetables and flowers.

In a county with the fewest farms in the state, Gorman Heritage Farm offers many educational programs, such as school field trips, summer day camps, summer farm tours, farm-to-school programs and family programs. And the structures on the premises will take visitors back in time as they’ve been in place since the farm was established.

“Gorman Heritage Farm is a significant example of historic agricultural production and farming practices that spanned 160 years in Hamilton County and embodies the era of diversified family farms,” said Sandra Murphy, volunteer and former executive director at Gorman Farms.

The property consists of the original 99-acre farm, owned and managed by five generations of the Brown and Gorman families from 1835 until 1996, when it was deeded to the Cincinnati Nature Center to preserve it from encroaching residential, commercial and industrial development.

“Visitors to this day are treated to the landscape at it was nearly 170 years ago,” Murphy said. “The original farm dwelling is an early version of a ‘pre-classic I house’ type. The four-bay, two-story, stone house was constructed in 1835 and banked into a slope at the rear. Around 1858, a stone kitchen was added to one corner of the house and by the early 1900s the limestone bearing exterior walls and walnut lintels were stuccoed.”

And there’s more, such as two 19th-century stone springhouses, one built in 1835, the second one in 1890. Also still standing is an early 20th century alfalfa barn, a 1920 limestone smokehouse and a 1930s rabbit house.

Just south of Columbus, Ohio, sits Slate Run Historical Farm, offering an authentic recreation of 19th-century farm life. This working farm feels like a time machine, complete with open tractors, restored barns and heirloom crops. The living history staff brings the 1800s to life, allowing visitors to witness daily chores like churning butter or harvesting crops with vintage tools. Families with kids will relish the chance to see farm animals up close and play old-fashioned games, just as they did in the 1800s.

Johnston Farm and Indian Agency in Piqua, Ohio, goes a bit further than other heritage farms in Ohio as it offers a look at 2,000 years of Ohio history including everything from Native American history to Ohio’s canals.

This 200-acre farm once belonged to John and Rachel Johnston. Johnston was a U.S. Indian Agent in western Ohio from 1812 to 1829 as well as a local farmer. Today, volunteers provide a hands-on living model of life on the farm in the 1800s, observing things such as fabric dying, beekeeping, historic cow milking and cheese making and basket weaving.