RIPLEY LOOP About the bicycling: Ripley (from Front St., located 2 blocks Distance: 8.9 mi. Recommended for east on Mulberry St.). 68 62 beginner cyclists. Slight uphill grade both ▲ Ripley Musuem, 219 N. 2nd St., Ripley, 125 leaving and entering Ripley. Schwallie Rd. 937-392-4660. is essentially one lane with residential-only Where to eat: George- Russellville traffic and the last mile all downhill to ▲ Coheart’s Riverhouse Restaurant, 18 N. 125 Ripley Rd. Front St., Ripley, 937-392-4819. town To do & see: ▲ Rockin’ Robin’s Soda Shoppe, 8 N. Front ▲ Rankin House, 6152 Rankin Hill Rd., St., Ripley, 937-392-1300. 0.6 Ripley, 937-392-1627 (from 2nd St., Where to stay: Main St. located 0.25 mi. east on Rankin Hill Rd.). Call the Brown County Tourism Office for . O d ▲ DENNIS COELLO l Parker House, 330 Front St., Ripley, 937- lodging options in the area, 937-378-1970. R d 392-4188. Pedaling through downtown Georgetown.
▲ Ripley Presbyterian Church (Rev. l i U
o . Rankin’s church), 114 Mulberry St., S
S . ee RED OAK LOOP Fr H
i
g
About the bicycling: h w N Distance: 12.8 mi. Recommended for UHLMAN TOM 221 Historic church in Red Oak. intermediate cyclists. Slight uphill grade a y both leaving and entering Ripley. U.S. 0 1/4 1/2 1 .8 Highway 62/68 is a four-lane highway with 5 6 mile shoulders that carry heavy traffic. Use 8 caution. 4
To do & see: .8 . ▲ Red Oak Presbyterian Church, 5754 d R
Cemetery Rd., Red Oak (from U.S. .
Highway 62/68, located 0.2 mi. east on d 68
R l l Cemetary Rd.). i ➤ H See Ripley Loop for additional listings. l y Rd. i r en Where to eat: View of Rankin House from the bottom of the hill. o H S See Ripley Loop for listings. Inset: Looking out the window of the Rankin House toward y W. 2.7 a 0.9 the Ohio River. Red
Where to stay: ee D
Call the Brown County Tourism Office for Fr ➤ Oak lodging options in the area, 937-378-1970. Old y 0.2 62 O e Higginsport A&P 2 l S 68 l .9 p d i Rd. c GEORGETOWN LOOP R .1 h 3 w Centerpoint U 1.0 4 About the bicycling: Bicycle shop: . a . S 1 Rd. l Distance: 26.5 mi. Recommended for ▲ Mycle's Cycles, 106 E. Cherry . l i intermediate to advanced cyclists. Slight St., Georgetown, 937-378-5700. Highw e . uphill grade leaving Ripley resulting in a Local cycling information, bike ay Rd 6 nice downhill back into town. Free Soil rentals, and guided tours 8 y
R e
Rd. is a long, slow climb north toward available. Ask about longer KENTUCKY OHIO d. l p Georgetown. Use caution descending Old Underground Railroad route options. 3.1 i U.S. Highway 68 through the hairpin curve Where to eat: 52 R known locally as “Horseshoe Bend” to the ▲ Alley Cat Café, 106 S. Main St., 2.2 1.8 intersection with Centerpoint Rd. Deer are Georgetown, 937-378-5300. Oh frequently sighted at this location. ▲ Parker’s Pizzeria, 124 N. Main St., io General notes about the bicycle routes: 9 ♦ All loops are best ridden in a To do & see: Georgetown, 937-378- Ri 2nd . ▲ Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home, 219 6936. v 1 clockwise direction. If riding on er a weekday try to ride between E. Grant Ave., Georgetown, 937-378- St. Where to stay: Ripley Loop 9AM and 3PM. 4222 (from Main St., located 0.2 mi. east ▲ Bailey House B&B, 112 St. ♦ Old US Highway 68 has light- on Grant Ave.). N. Water St., Sycamore 0.7 ain to-moderate traffic with two ▲ Grant Schoolhouse, 508 S. Water St., Red Oak Loop M lanes and no shoulder. It is a Georgetown, 937-378- St. popular cycling road so motorists Georgetown, 937-378-4222 (from Main 3087. are generally aware of bicyclists. St., located 2 blocks east on E. 3rd St.). Georgetown Loop ♦ Most road surfaces are chip seal ▲ John A. Ruthven’s Art Gallery, 203 E. Front or tar roads with loose gravel. Grant Ave., Georgetown, 937-378-4222 Adventure Cycling Association St. Ripley ♦ Wildlife is abundant in the area. (from Main St., located 0.2 mi. east on Underground Railroad Bicycle Route Watch for deer in the road, Grant Ave.). particularly on descents. 0.2 52 ♦ Many of the roads in these loops Mileage between points Front Street in Ripley. will have rolling hills.
COVER PHOTO BY DENNIS COELLO
risks encountered, and is advised to use good judgement and obey all traffic laws. traffic all obey and judgement good use to advised is and encountered, risks
warrants the safety of those who bicycle on the roads used. The user assumes the assumes user The used. roads the on bicycle who those of safety the warrants .adventurecycling.org/ugrr. www this route and all its attributes, visit visit attributes, its all and route this
County Tourism Office, the listed sponsors, nor the Ohio Department of Transportation of Department Ohio the nor sponsors, listed the Office, Tourism County
encounter — they’ll be sure to have stories to tell! To learn more about more learn To tell! to stories have to sure be they’ll — encounter
aid for bicyclists. By producing it, neither Adventure Cycling Association, the Brown the Association, Cycling Adventure neither it, producing By bicyclists. for aid
Route. We encourage you to say hello to any bike travelers you might you travelers bike any to hello say to you encourage We Route.
Adventure Cycling Association has produced this map solely as an as solely map this produced has Association Cycling Adventure DISCLAIMER:
Please enjoy your adventure on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Railroad Underground the on adventure your enjoy Please
organizations contributed major financial support for the project. the for support financial major contributed organizations
together to put more people on bicycles more often. Both of these of Both often. more bicycles on people more put to together
Association
Missoula, MT, 59802 MT, Missoula,
Belong, the national coalition of bicycle suppliers and retailers working retailers and suppliers bicycle of coalition national the Belong, Cycling
your name and address at: 150 E. Pine St., Pine E. 150 at: address and name your
Adventure included Seattle-based Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) and Bikes and (REI) Inc. Equipment, Recreational Seattle-based included
[email protected], or write to us with us to write or [email protected],
Additional partners in developing and promoting this heritage route heritage this promoting and developing in partners Additional
For a more information call 1-800-755-2453, e-mail: 1-800-755-2453, call information more a For
people to this wonderful mode of travel. of mode wonderful this to people
Discounts on bicycle maps bicycle on Discounts
■
or an even longer ride — will provide the spark to introduce ever more ever introduce to spark the provide will — ride longer even an or
Organized tours Organized ■
heritage route — whether enjoyed for a day trip, a week’s adventure, week’s a trip, day a for enjoyed whether — route heritage The Cyclists' Yellow Pages, Pages, Yellow Cyclists' The an annual resource directory resource annual an ■
Adventure Cyclist Adventure ages, walks of life, and cultural backgrounds. We believe this new this believe We backgrounds. cultural and life, of walks ages, magazine of issues 9 ■
benefits include: benefits bicycle touring is an activity that can be enjoyed by individuals of all of individuals by enjoyed be can that activity an is touring bicycle
An Adventure Cycling membership is $35.00 a year. Member year. a $35.00 is membership Cycling Adventure An joys and health benefits of traveling by bicycle. By its very nature, very its By bicycle. by traveling of benefits health and joys
www.adventurecycling.org struggles in our nation’s history. And second, we wish to promote the promote to wish we second, And history. nation’s our in struggles
listing of all the routes available, visit our website: our visit available, routes the all of listing
opportunity to learn more about one of the most challenging cultural challenging most the of one about more learn to opportunity
on riding conditions, services, weather, and local history. For a full a For history. local and weather, services, conditions, riding on
First, we want to provide twenty-first century Americans with an with Americans century twenty-first provide to want we First,
of mapped bicycle routes. These easy-to-read maps have information have maps easy-to-read These routes. bicycle mapped of
lifestyles. Both organizations share a twofold goal in creating the route. the creating in goal twofold a share organizations Both lifestyles.
Our National Bicycle Route Network encompasses 36,180 miles 36,180 encompasses Network Route Bicycle National Our
CMH advocates for innovative ways to encourage people to live healthy live to people encourage to ways innovative for advocates CMH
and history of America for fitness, fun, and self-discovery. and fun, fitness, for America of history and
.cmh.pitt.edu) to create the route. the create to .cmh.pitt.edu) www of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania ( Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh of all ages to travel by bicycle. We help cyclists explore the landscapes the explore cyclists help We bicycle. by travel to ages all
partnered with the Center for Minority Health (CMH) at the University the at (CMH) Health Minority for Center the with partnered non-profit bicycling organization. Our mission is to inspire people of people inspire to is mission Our organization. bicycling non-profit
Adventure Cycling Association Cycling Adventure Adventure Cycling Association is a national, member-supported, national, a is Association Cycling Adventure
for bicycle travelers. bicycle for
sites and communities as feasible as communities and sites
to Canada, incorporating as many as incorporating Canada, to
MS
history carry the route all the way the all route the carry history
Email: [email protected] Email:
AL Ohio rivers. From there, we let the let we there, From rivers. Ohio
confluence of the Tennessee and Tennessee the of confluence Website: www.county.brown.oh.us Website:
TN along the rivers and byways to the to byways and rivers the along
Phone: 937-378-1970, cell 513-304-1523 cell 937-378-1970, Phone: Gourd” guided our route north route our guided Gourd”
KY
slave spiritual “Follow the Drinking the “Follow spiritual slave
office.
number of routing options. The options. routing of number
in Brown County, contact the Brown County Tourism County Brown the contact County, Brown in
corridors, providing a countless a providing corridors,
OH
IN
For more information about the Underground Railroad Underground the about information more For
North followed scores of different of scores followed North
striving to reach freedom in the in freedom reach to striving PA
That’s because enslaved blacks enslaved because That’s
more symbolic than geographical. than symbolic more
NY ON
ping this long distance route was route distance long this ping
The guiding principal for map- for principal guiding The
instead in hotels. in instead
gear) their gear in vehicles, while others choose not to camp but stay but camp to not choose others while vehicles, in gear their gear)
of the route. Others employ family or friends to SAG (support and (support SAG to friends or family employ Others route. the of
sleeping bags, and cooking gear and ride self-contained on all or portions or all on self-contained ride and gear cooking and bags, sleeping
this route in a variety of ways. Some “load” their bikes with tents, with bikes their “load” Some ways. of variety a in route this
sections of approximately 400 miles each, cyclists can choose to travel to choose can cyclists each, miles 400 approximately of sections
on the maps, help bring the route to life. Broken down into five map five into down Broken life. to route the bring help maps, the on
important service information. Historic details and stories, also featured also stories, and details Historic information. service important
map panels; cycling, elevation, and weather conditions; as well as well as conditions; weather and elevation, cycling, panels; map
and historic sites while providing turn-by-turn instructions; illustrated instructions; turn-by-turn providing while sites historic and
Ontario, Adventure Cycling’s 2,028 mile route passes points of interest of points passes route mile 2,028 Cycling’s Adventure Ontario,
Ripley, Ohio Ripley,
Cycling Association. Running from Mobile, Alabama, to Owen Sound, Owen to Alabama, Mobile, from Running Association. Cycling
part of a much larger route which was created in 2007 by Adventure by 2007 in created was which route larger much a of part
people of all ages and abilities. A portion of these mapped loops are loops mapped these of portion A abilities. and ages all of people RAILROAD BICYCLE ROUTE BICYCLE
history of the area while providing you with a beautiful bike ride fit for fit ride bike beautiful a with you providing while area the of history
loop routes that will transport you into the rich Underground Railroad Underground rich the into you transport will that routes loop Adventure Cycling Association Cycling Adventure
UNDERGROUND
County Tourism and Adventure Cycling Association and features three features and Association Cycling Adventure and Tourism County
THE
is the product of a collaborative effort between Brown between effort collaborative a of product the is Freedom's Landing Freedom's
Brown County Tourism County Brown for people to actively experience history. This brochure This history. experience actively to people for
Welcome to the first in a series of day trip maps created maps trip day of series a in first the to Welcome
Route to Freedom to Route
Governor's Office of Appalachia of Office Governor's
Discover America’s Legendary America’s Discover Thanks to our generous sponsors generous our to Thanks
RIPLEY RED OAK 0 50 miles IO TAR ON Lake Erie The village of Ripley was The Red Oak Church was the next stop on the Underground 0 50 kilometers an important stop on the Railroad for those freedom seekers heading directly north. MICHIGAN Underground Railroad. Situ- According to the paper, “Acorns from Red Oak,” the Red Oak 90 ated on the banks of the Ohio Church was founded in 1798 and the first building was erected in Toledo River Cleveland River, a dividing line between a grove on Red Oak Creek. The first religious meetings in Brown umee slavery and freedom, this County were held here. After the second log church burned in Ma 80 Akron borderland community had 1816, work began on the stone church some of the most active sta- which still serves the tiny congregation OHIO tions in Ohio. The geography today. 71 75 Sc ioto helped shape its role; creek On the subject of slavery, Judge W.
R
i beds threw off tracking dogs, W. Gilliland, an early church member, v
e r 77 and hills and valleys provided was quoted as saying, “The opposition PENNSYLVANIA INDIANA excellent hiding places and to slavery at Red Oak was almost uni- Columbus escape routes. versal from the origin of the church. A
r 68 e It was in this setting that large part of the church members as well v 70 i Dayton 62 R Rev. John Rankin crossed the as the pastor wanted to be free from the o Ohio River on December 31, curse of African slavery. They soon
i DENNIS COELLO OHIO h ➤ O 1821, to begin his new life in became active conductors on the Un- a free state. An active abolitionist and Methodist minister, Rankin derground Railroad.”
OCincinnati 62 and his entire family became well known by both freedom seekers There are two cemeteries on the h i 68 and slave holders alike for their role in the Underground Railroad. property, one dates from before the Civil DENNIS COELLO o Ripley Oh 52 79 R io War and the other is still in use. 71 i R The Rankin House, located on Liberty Hill, overlooks the Ohio ver iv KY er River and the town of Ripley and is one of the most recognized 75 KENTUCKY Ripley sites on the Underground Railroad. Rankin said, “My house has 64 Charleston GEORGETOWN Lexington been the door of freedom to many human beings but while there WEST VIRGINIA was a hazard of life and property, there was much happiness in The village of Georgetown is proud of its connection to the giving safety to the trembling fugitives.” Civil War. This community was the boyhood home of Union The Parker House, owned by John Parker, advanced his status General Ulysses S. Grant from 1823-1839, the longest period of THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD from former slave to successful patented inventor and businessman Now you can experience one of the most storied treks to time Grant spent in one residence. Be sure to visit the Grant in Ripley before the Civil War. He is credited with assisting Home and Grant Schoolhouse on your ride through town. freedom in American history – by bicycle. A clandestine network hundreds of slaves as they made their way north to freedom. John A. Ruthven, an internationally acclaimed wildlife artist, of routes and safe houses that helped enslaved Americans find According to Parker’s recorded journals, the real warfare against freedom, the exact origin of the name is not known; however, by slavery in the borderlands along the Ohio River was waged around is a resident of Georgetown and has a studio open to the public. the 1820s both those who aided freedom seekers and those who the few houses at the top of the riverbank on Front Street in John was part of the recovery team that searched for the ivory- were angered by the loss of their human “property” began to refer Ripley. billed woodpecker. In 2005, the U. S. Secretary of the Interior in to an Underground Railroad. In its most developed form, the The village became so well known that Rev. Calvin Fairbanks, Washington D. C. unveiled a painting of the ivory-billed wood- Underground Railroad offered local aid to runaways, assisting also an active conductor on the Underground Railroad, was told pecker he created. them from one point to another. “Conductors” would guide the that Ripley was a “black, dirty Abolition hole” when he crossed freedom seekers to a safe The community of Georgetown is quaint and slow paced. Enjoy the ferry to Ripley in 1844. “station” on the route north. soaking up the history and hospitality of this lovely southern Ohio After the Fugitive Slave Act During the Civil War, General John Hunt Morgan and other town. of 1850, the Underground leading Confederate raiders had sworn to burn this “damned Railroad evolved from its abolitionist hellhole to the ground.” loosely organized beginnings In February, 1838, a Kentucky slave woman and her young to something more deliberate child crossed the partially frozen Ohio River with slave hunters and organized. Despite the on the chase. Somehow she managed to escape both her tormentors illegality of their actions, and and the melting pockets of ice that broke with her every step, with little regard for their own plunging her and the baby into its freezing waters. Wet and frozen, personal safety, people of all she sought refuge at the Rankin home. Later, Rankin recounted races, classes, and genders her story of courage to Harriet Beecher Stowe. This story, in turn, participated in this widespread inspired the character of Eliza in Beecher’s novel Uncle Tom’s form of civil disobedience. Cabin. The Underground Railroad Ripley’s history continues to inspire and intrigue historians, Bicycle Route honors the residents, and visitors. As you travel through Ripley, picture the bravery of those who sought past – slaves escaping the river, running through the alleys, and their freedom and those who climbing the steep bank to Rankin’s house, the beacon of freedom. provided shelter. Please enjoy And think about the dangers for those who believed that enslaving
Ripley Presbyterian Church, Reverend your ride through the area humans was wrong – great Americans who put their convictions DENNIS COELLO Rankin’s church, in Ripley. known as Freedom’s Landing. in motion and had the courage to say no to slavery. Cyclists enjoy the view from the Rankin House in Ripley.