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Media contacts: Kim Schuette: 614.297.2314 or kschuette@ohiohistory.org
For Immediate Release
Ohio Historical Society Joins With Licking Valley Heritage Society To Manage Flint Ridge
Historic Site Now Open Weekends
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)– The Ohio Historical Society has entered into a management agreement for Flint Ridge State Memorial near Brownsville with the Licking Valley Heritage Society, according to William K. Laidlaw, OHS executive director and CEO.
"We are pleased the Licking Valley Heritage Society will manage Flint Ridge for the Ohio Historical Society," Laidlaw said. "This arrangement with a local organization will allow the museum to be open to visitors this year. Just as important, it should provide for increased community support and enable the site to continue to be a source of community pride."
After receiving comments from community members at a public meeting May 11 and taking into consideration the best interests of the historic site, the OHS Board of Trustees authorized staff to enter into a management agreement with the Licking Valley Heritage Society. The local organization took control over the daily operations May 15.
"The Ohio Historical Society has one of the largest state site networks in the country, and with financial support from the state of Ohio continually decreasing, we were faced with the prospect of reducing the number of open hours for sites or not opening museums, as in the case with Flint Ridge," Laidlaw said. "By teaming up with the Licking Valley Heritage Society, we can keep Flint Ridge open and increase access for visitors."
Bill Weaver, LVHS vice president, said, "We're looking forward to working with the Ohio Historical Society and we're enthusiastic about promoting and interpreting the history of Flint Ridge to visitors and groups."
With this agreement 31 of the 58 sites in the Society's network of historic sites and museums are managed by other organizations. Under such agreements, the Ohio Historical Society typically provides an annual financial subsidy to a local organization to help underwrite the costs of day-to-day site operations, which primarily includes providing visitor services, educational and interpretive programs and basic maintenance. The local group keeps income from admissions, program fees and rentals. The Society will continue to provide liability insurance, major maintenance and professional resources as well as administer capital improvement projects. Managed sites continue to be a vital part of the OHS network of historic sites and museums.
"These agreements benefit the sites and the communities where the sites are located plus they draw on local enthusiasm and expertise among friends groups to support the local sites and the Ohio Historical Society. It’s a classic 'win-win-win' situation," Laidlaw said.
Flint Ridge contains quarry pits where Native Americans and early settlers came to get flint for both tools and weapons. The flint was also a trade item for many of these people. The flint was especially prized by the Hopewell Culture for its quality and beauty. The museum at Flint Ridge is built around a prehistoric quarry pit and explains both the digging and shaping of flint. The unique geology of the area is also a feature of the exhibits. There are also walking trails through the wooded site.
Flint Ridge was established in 1933 and today preserves 533 acres of land that contain flint outcroppings with prehistoric quarry pits and second growth hardwood forests. The Ohio Historical Society, a nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, archaeology, natural history and historic architecture, will continue to administer the site as part of its responsibilities.
New hours of operation will be Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 18. Admission: $3/adult, $1/student (grades K-12) and children and under/free. The site is located four miles north of I-70, three miles north of Brownsville, in Licking County, at the intersection of County Roads 668 and 312 (Flint Ridge Rd.). For more information, visit www.ohiohistory.org/flintridge or call 740-872-3143/800-752-2602.
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