Harmony Hill Museum to host Ohio Open Doors

Posted Wednesday, September 2, 2026 10:00 am

by Anthony Palmer
Chief Editor

WILLIAMSBURG — The Harmony Hill Museum invites visitors on Saturday, September 19, as part of Ohio Open Doors. This statewide event honors historic buildings, local museums, and cultural landmarks. Visitors can attend this event for free and may arrive any time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Ohio Open Doors is a biennial program of the Ohio History Connection, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing Ohio's history and prehistory. The team has collected over 2 million artifacts and over 700,000 archival materials from Ohio’s 88 counties, with significant samples originating from Clermont County.

The Harmony Hill Museum event will feature a special birthday celebration for Major General William Lytle, whom local history recognizes as the Father of Clermont County and Williamsburg. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grassy Run Reenactors and expanded museum displays will give visitors several ways to learn about the county’s past. Attendees can also take part in several hands-on activities that demonstrate the challenges early settlers faced in daily life.

Visitors can churn butter, grind corn, and more. The activities will give children and adults a chance to learn through direct experience rather than simply viewing museum displays. That hands-on approach can make local history feel less distant, particularly for younger visitors who may find it easier to connect with the past by trying some of the tasks themselves.

Diana Welling, director of the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office and State Historic Preservation Officer, said the event helps people discover important landmarks and interesting sites close to home. She said the program also highlights the history and unique character of some of Ohio’s most beloved places. Ohio Open Doors gives communities across Ohio a chance to showcase historic locations and share stories about the places that shape their communities.

The event also offers an opportunity to consider how much daily life has changed over the last several hundred years. Tasks that once required significant time and physical effort were necessary parts of everyday life for early families, while many of those same tasks are now unfamiliar to modern visitors. Experiencing them firsthand can provide a small but meaningful glimpse into the work involved in building and sustaining early communities.

Celebrations for America’s 250 Commemoration continue throughout the year. The Community Band will perform “Salute to America – 250” at 2:30 p.m. Visitors can sit back and enjoy the concert after spending the day exploring the museum and its special activities.

Carol M. Highsmith

For communities such as Williamsburg, events like Ohio Open Doors can also help make local history part of everyday community life. Museums preserve objects and stories, but programs that bring people through their doors allow residents to engage with that history together. They can also introduce longtime residents to pieces of the community’s story they may not have encountered before.

Events like these support Clermont’s Agenda For the Future, promoting lifelong learning and a more vibrant community.

Discover Clermont passports

Harmony Hill Museum will also participate in the Clermont County History and Museum Passport program. Visitors who already have a passport can bring it to the event to receive their stamp, while those without one can pick up a passport at the museum. The passport gives residents another way to explore and connect with museums and historic sites throughout Clermont County.

With free admission and activities for visitors of different ages, Harmony Hill Museum expects a large turnout for the Ohio Open Doors event. The combination of local history and live music offers visitors more than a traditional museum visit and provides several reasons for families and history enthusiasts to spend part of the day exploring Williamsburg’s past.

Discover more upcoming events in Clermont County.