The Bicentennial celebration in the city of Mansfield is well under way, and by the looks of it, it is going to be an outstanding summer of fun and history in north central Ohio.

In South Park, the landmark 1812 Mansfield Blockhouse is undergoing complete restoration, and will be re-dedicated at a community birthday celebration on June 11. Other community events include a mobile museum of community history, choir concerts and other music, a downtown festival, vintage baseball games, laser light shows, and much more.

Speaking of baseball, Mansfield’s rich past became a bit “richer” earlier this year when the location of Davey Park was discovered, which may well be the location for the first professional baseball game ever played - anywhere! The year was 1869, and the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional team, went on the road for their first game – to Mansfield.

There’s much to see and do during the Bicentennial, in addition to the amazing schedule of events. Oak Hill Cottage is an extraordinary piece of antebellum Gothic Revival architecture that is open to the public, as is the renowned Ohio State Reformatory. The beautiful Kingwood Center, located some blocks west of downtown, includes 47 acres of formal gardens, fountains and greenhouses, and features the 1926 lavish mansion of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kelly King. And don’t miss Richland Carrousel Park, home to the country’s first hand-carved wooden carrousel since the 1930s (it opened in 1991), and the adjacent Historic Carrousel District for food and shopping.

To visit the Mansfield Bicentennial website, click here.

Photos:  Oak Hill Cottage and Kingwood Center, Mansfield - Preservation Ohio File Photos