Topics: Civil WarAfrican American HistoryDaily LifeTravel & Tourism
Join me as I visit the sites in the Ohio History Connection network! This month's road trip took me to the John Rankin House in Ripley.
The Rankin House tells the story of John and Jean Rankin, who along with their 13 children, their neighbors in Ripley and their church community, helped the enslaved on their path to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
The house, which sits on a bluff above the Ohio River, was an important and well-known refuge for enslaved people. The Rankins kept a lamp burning in the window to guide people to their home, where they would receive clothing, shoes, food and guidance to the next safe haven. Although there are stairs from the house down to the town, our guide let us know that the enslaved people who came to the house would have skirted around the property and climbed the hill to get there.
The house is a National Historic Landmark and has been lovingly restored to look as if the Rankins just stepped away. During your guided tour of the house, you’ll learn about the Rankins, the Ripley community and the Underground Railroad. You’ll also learn about the restoration process, which I found fascinating.
Address: The John Rankin House is located at 6152 Rankin Hill Road, Ripley, Ohio.
How much time: The tour of the house takes about an hour and starts at the top of the hour. However, you’ll want to leave time to explore the Visitor’s Center and gift shop.
If you plan to climb the famous steps down to Ripley, you’ll want to plan for it to take about 15 minutes to go down, but around 30-45 minutes to climb back up.
A view of the back of the Rankin House.
The famous stairs that lead down to the town of Ripley.
Truda's Tips: The stairs from the Rankin House down to Ripley are not to be taken lightly. There are 150 steps, which might not sound like a lot, but have defeated many a visitor, according to the Rankin staff. Going down seems easy, but the trip back up can be difficult if you’re not prepared. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. The Rankin staff also advises visitors to take water with them. You can bring your own or purchase water at the Visitor’s Center. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from taking the stairs—I just want you to know what you’re getting into.
My Favorites: The Rankin House is a place where you can really feel the history around you. When you stand in front of the house and look down to Ripley and the Ohio River, it’s easy to picture the stories that the tour guides tell you during the house tour.
You can take this one step further by taking time to explore the town of Ripley. You’ll be able to see Rev. Rankin’s church, the John Parker House and many other Underground Railroad sites. This walking tour of the town will help you see all the important sites.
If you take the stairs down from the house, you’ll end up about a block away from Rev. Rankin’s church. If, like us, you decide to drive down to Ripley, I would suggest you start your tour of the town at the John Parker House (please note that the Parker House is NOT an Ohio History Connection site, so all admission fees will apply). From there you can either walk or drive to the other sites on the walking tour.
Kid Friendly? Yes, for elementary kids and older: The staff at Rankin House guides thousands of school kids through the house each year, so they know how to engage young learners. The house is set up as it was when the Rankins lived here, so there’s lots to see and learn about everyday life. I think kids would find it fascinating.
Very young kids might have a hard time refraining from touching things in the house. Strollers aren’t permitted in the house either.
The view over the Ohio River from Rankin House.
Lunch: Rankin House has a lovely covered patio with picnic tables adjacent to the Visitor’s Center. You’re welcome to bring your lunch and eat there. Or you could bring a blanket and eat out on the beautiful lawn between the Visitor’s Center and the house. However, be aware that lots of school groups visit Rankin House and bring their lunches too.
For more information: To learn more about the Rankin House, you can visit our website. I always recommend that you call the site directly to confirm days and times of operation.
If you’re a historical marker junkie, you can see five in Ripley! Visit remarkableohio.org, select Brown County from the box under the map and then zoom in on the Ripley area to get a list of markers.
You could also combine a visit to Rankin House with a trip to other Ohio History Connection sites in the area. The U.S. Grant Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse in Georgetown is about 20 minutes away. The U.S. Grant Birthplace in Moscow is about 30 minutes away. The Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati is about an hour away. Be sure to contact the sites directly to check opening days and times.
Ohio History Connection members enjoy free general admission to the John Rankin House and the rest of the historic sites and museums in our network. Visit ohiohistory.org/join for more details!
