Historic Farms and Villages of the Valley

Dozens of older buildings, working farm animals, and heritage gardens show how people lived in the middle of the 1800s. The property belongs to the Western Reserve Historical Society, and its craftspeople give living history demonstrations of candle making, blacksmithing, sawmilling, and cooking over an open hearth. Visitors can watch each task unfold the way it was once done.

Peninsula Village Historic District and Everett Historic District are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Everett district lies in Peninsula, Ohio. At the Hunt House, a compact white home with a porch, the Growing Up in Everett exhibits draw on the recollections of Helen Fiedler Toth. Her stories and photo album recall what a farm childhood was like during the 1920s and 1930s. Outside the house, a sculpted calf and chickens invite children to play.

Farming has shaped the valley for a long time, and eight working farms still operate inside the park. Some sell produce from roadside stands, while others host events on their grounds. Weekly farmers markets also run in and around the park. Botzum Farm and the Jaite Mill Historic District both appear on the National Register of Historic Places listing for historic districts in the park.

Everett Covered Bridge gave travelers a dependable route across Furnace Run. The bridge standing today was rebuilt after a flood in 1975. The trailhead beside it leads to the bridge and nearby paths, including the 1.9-mile Furnace Run Trail, a walking route where spring wildflowers draw visitors, and the 5.6-mile Riding Run Trail, which is open to walkers and horses.