I had the pleasure of virtually interviewing Betty Weibel, Ohioana Library Association board member, about the Ohio Literary Trail, its experiences, and how you can connect with this trail in your region.
Hi Betty! It's great to e-meet you. Can you tell me more about the Ohio Literary Trail project? What is the intent of this trail?
The new Ohio Literary Trail shines a spotlight on Ohio’s role in shaping culture and literature worldwide. Designed to increase awareness of Ohio’s literary accomplishments and encourage exploration (and travel within the state), the Ohioana Library Association compiled a diverse trail of inspirational landmarks that pay tribute to the authors, poets, illustrators, libraries, and creative influencers of the written word. Tourists planning a literary-themed outing, as well as Ohioans who want to discover literary treasures they never knew existed in their own backyard, will find it here.
Love that! What literary experiences are included in the trail?
Destinations include museums, historical homes, libraries, and historical markers and most of the markers are outdoors and free of charge. The libraries with attractions do not charge admission, and some of the museums and historical homes feature outdoor gardens, and more than one destination is part of an Ohio State Park, so travelers can enjoy many sites even with travel restrictions in place.
There is some great diversity in attractions on this trail. Where does the trail span?
Absolutely! The Ohio Literary Trail celebrates Ohio’s diversity through an eclectic range of literary greats who influenced feminism and women’s rights, Black history, religion, LGBTQ+ rights, and American culture through literature.
The trail spans the entire state of Ohio with literary sites in every region of the state including indoor and outdoor locations. Visitors are encouraged to spend time in the towns around the literary sites and enjoy other attractions there as well.
That's great! Can you tell me who came up with this and when?
An Ohio Literary Trail was first developed on a small scale in the 1950s by Ohioan Library Association and updated over the years in print form. In 2020, I joined the Ohioana Library Association Board of Trustees and worked with the staff to develop a digital map. The literary sites were expanded to include historical markers, libraries, and more destinations for visitors of all ages and levels of literary interest. That online map links to every site and can be found at Ohioana.org.
In May, I authored a travel guide called The Ohio Literary Trail – A Guide, and it will be published by The History Press and marketed to retailers across Ohio. The book includes details on the literary sites and area attractions, historical marker texts, and expanded ODNR literary sites for children and nature lovers.
Thanks for the background information. How can others in the travel industry help promote visitation to this trail?
We encourage the travel industry to reach out directly to the site partners on the Ohio Literary Trail to explore promotion of the destinations. In the case of the historical markers, Ohio History Connection is the umbrella for the majority of those listed. The book is also available to carry in gift shops and other sales sites and the author will be available for book talks and signing to support sales.
Thanks, Betty. Who can they contact for more information about this trail and how?
For more information on the trail, please visit the Ohioana website or contact the Ohioana Library Association at info@Ohioana.org. For additional details on the travel guide or to arrange a speaker, please contact me, Betty Weibel at byweibel@gmail.com.