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Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is the county seat of Richland County, Ohio. James Hedges, Jacob Newman, and Joseph Larwill established the town in 1808. Residents named the community after Jared Mansfield, the surveyor general of the United States.
Mansfield grew slowly, having just 20 houses and 1 store in 1817. By 1846, 2,330 people resided in Mansfield. This tremendous growth resulted from the completion of a railroad that connected Mansfield with Sandusky, Ohio.
In 2000 , the city was ranked as the 5th best place in the United States to raise a family, and the United States Conference of Mayors has voted the community one of "America's most livable cities."
Richland Carrousel Park
Located in downtown Mansfield is the Richland Carrousel Park that is the first hand-carved carrousel to be built and operated in the United States since the early 1930s. The Richland Carrousel includes 30 horses, 22 menagerie figures and 2 chariots. Each figure is unique, carved and hand-painted in the style of G.A. Dentzel, one of the most respected carrousel carvers of the early 20th Century. To accompany the carrousel, there is a Stinson Band Organ that plays authentic carrousel music.
The park is open year round with daily hours from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and Wednesdays open to 8:00 pm.
Richland Carrousel Park
75 N. Main Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44902
(419) 522-4223
Mansfield Memorial Museum
34 Park Ave. West, Mansfield Ohio 44902
The museum is the oldest museum in Richland County and was founded in 1889. Visiting the museum allows you to step back in time to the late 1800s. Artifacts on 2 floors of displays span from Roman to modern times. The museum houses many collections from early Native American, African, Asian, military, and natural history. A display of nearly 600 planes showing the history of aviation is on display.
Historic Ohio State Reformatory
100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, Ohio 44905
With the cornerstone laid in 1886, this castle-like prison was designed as a reformatory for young offenders. Abandoned in 1990, the original cell-blocks and administration areas remain intact. Four major motion pictures have been filmed on location including "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Air Force One". The reformatory has been listed on the Travel Channel's "101 Things to do before you Die" and in Entertainment Magazine's "Vacation on Location Top 10". The Historic Ohio State Reformatory invites you to come see this monumental 19th century architectural achievement for yourself.
Make a special visit during the month of October, when the Ohio State Reformatory opens its doors for a haunted prison experience.
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