Explore Hilliard from different perspectives: historic sites tell the story of the city’s development, while parks and trails offer a variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors. When planning your trip, you can focus on one interest or combine culture and activity—without needing to follow a set itinerary.
Hilliard’s History in Its Landmarks
Hilliard’s Station Park marks the site of a former railway station and the original town square. The park also features splash fountains. Next to the park is the Early Television Museum. Its collection includes more than 150 television sets: mechanical televisions from the 1920s and 1930s, early British electronic sets from 1936 to 1939, and early American electronic sets from 1939 to 1941. It also includes postwar sets from 1945 to 1958 and early color televisions from 1953 to 1957. These date ranges give an idea of how many stages of development the collection covers.
On the edge of Old Hilliard is the Hilliard Ohio Historical Village. The Historical Village & Museum at Weaver Park features an authentic historic village in the style of the 1850s. Its buildings and facilities include a one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin, a railway station with a caboose, a barn, a farm workshop, and a church. The Historical Society offers tours of Hilliard’s Historical Village at select times; check the current tour schedule before your visit.
Other sites offer their own distinctive features: First Responders Park in Old Hilliard is a 9/11 memorial featuring two twisted steel sections from the World Trade Center. Merchant Park honors the first African American family believed to have settled in what is now Hilliard. The Hilliard History Express shares local history through stories about landmarks, notable places, and the people who shaped the city.
From Park Path to Multi-Use Trail
Homestead Park features a covered bridge, a replica railway station, and two barns. A three-quarter-mile paved path connects there with the 6.1-mile Heritage Rail Trail. This multi-use trail begins in Old Hilliard on Main Street and heads toward Plain City. The two distances help give a sense of the length of each trail option; the connection between them is described at Homestead Park.
Elsewhere in Hilliard’s parks and around the city, there are also paved paths and nature trails. The Hilliard Family Aquatic Center has a leisure pool, a lap pool, a slide pool with two slides, a lazy river, and an interactive children’s pool. Amenities and operating details may change; check for the latest information before visiting.
Choose Activities That Match Your Interests
Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park has an 18-hole disc golf course and an inclusive playground. Its equipment can be used by children with different abilities. If you’re out with a dog, Heritage Trail Park has a four-acre fenced dog park, with separate areas for active and less active dogs. These offerings vary widely, from disc golf and a playground to dedicated areas for dogs.
For a stay focused on local history, start with the museums, historic villages, and memorial sites. If you’d rather spend time outdoors, consider the parks, trails, and other recreational options. This lets you explore Hilliard according to your interests, without turning the various sites into an unsupported walking route.
Discover more destinations: Reynoldsburg, Dublin, Worthington, Groveport, Whitehall, Obetz, Canal Winchester, Upper Arlington.
For the main travel overview: Franklin.
