Belpre was settled in 1789 as the second permanent settlement for the Ohio Company. The town was originally given the name Belle Prairie or "Beautiful Prairie."
The original Farmer's Castle fort housed settlers from 1791 to 1794. Farmers' Castle Museum is home to the Belpre Historical Society. A model of the Farmer's Castle fort, the Ferry Boat "Nina Paden", and the Mill Branch Covered Bridge are on display.
Exhibits include the Southeastern Ohio Underground Railroad exhibit, an archealogical collection highlighting 12,000 years in Southeast Ohio, photographs of of early Belpre families, farming tools, and a 1900 pump organ.
Hours:
April 1 to October 31: 1pm-4:30pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
Visitors can tour the factory of Lee Middleton Original Dolls Inc. in Belpre to learn all about the doll making industry and the history of this company. There is also an onsite gift shop where visitors can purchase an array of items. The Lee Middleton Original Dolls Inc. makes vinyl dolls, doll clothing, strollers, carriages, and other doll related accessories.
The factory is one of the highlights of visiting Belpre.
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