Morgan Twp. Driving Tour (Governor Bebb Preserve)

As mentioned in yesterday's post, last Friday for date night the lovely Robin and I set out on a self-guided driving tour of historic Morgan Township with the help of a dandy booklet created by the Morgan Township Historical Society. After the metropoli of Auburn, Isis, St. Charles, and Scipio, we made our way to the Governor Bebb Preserve and Pioneer Village, located southeast of Scipio on Cincinnati-Brookville Road (Rt. 126). It is amazing to me that, having lived in Butler County now for twenty years, we have never previously visited this lovely place.

The park was dedicated on June 17, 1961. It is named for William Bebb, nineteenth governor of Ohio (1846-1849). The 1850 covered bridge pictured above, one of two remaining covered bridges in the county, was moved from the Oxford area and rebuilt at the park entrance in 1970.

The beautiful pioneer village on the grounds includes six authentic log cabins moved to the park and reconstructed to form a representative early Midwestern settlement. The log house below was the birthplace and boyhood home of Governor Bebb.

The park's 264 acres of woods, meadows, fields, streams, trails, campgrounds, and shelters are free to Butler County residents. All others (suckas!) are supposed to have a permit.

The parameters of our date night didn't allow us enough time here, so we will definitely be returning. In slightly cooler weather, we'd love to explore the trails.

The park is open daily 8:00 am until dark.