Ripley, Ohio and the Underground Railroad By Matthew Caracciolo

 
Ripley, Ohio and the Underground Railroad
By Matthew Caracciolo
 
The Ohio River valley meanders southeast from Cincinnati on the Ohio River Scenic Byway. This sparsely populated corner of Ohio is home to sleepy Ripley, OH, which had an oversized role in the underground railroad as a major center of abolitionism in the 19^th century. Such was the fervor of the town’s anti-slavery sentiment, slaveowners across the river in Kentucky referred to Ripley as the ‘Hell Hole of Abolitionism.’ Today, that legacy is preserved through two historical sites: the John Rankin House and the John Parker House.
 
John Rankin House
Atop a hill overlooking the town and the Ohio River is the John Rankin House, which was a station on the underground railroad. From this vantage point, Rev. Rankin and his family could keep tabs on people crossing the river to Ripley. An estimated 2,000 runaway slaves came through the farm, and none were caught in the process. One of these runaways was the real-life Eliza, a character in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin who shares her story about crossing the icy Ohio River.

John Rankin House

Tours of the inside of the house are at the top of the hour and leave from the visitor’s center. However, it’s free to roam the grounds which has a lovely view of the Ohio River valley.

John Parker House
The John Parker House sits near the river, next to a park and a small but handsome promenade on the riverbank. John Parker was a prominent businessman, entrepreneur, patent holder, and abolitionist in town. He was also African-American, an ex-slave, and a conductor on the underground railroad. He assisted hundreds of runaway slaves cross the river into Ohio, delivering them into the hands of people like Rev. Rankin. His house is now a small museum, with displays on Parker’s life and the underground railroad.

 
What else can you do in Ripley?
Though the town is small, it’s situated on a beautiful curve of the Ohio River. Walk from the John Parker House along the river, past old, stately homes to Cohearts Riverhouse to grab an inexpensive bite to eat. Even better, order takeout and enjoy your food outside on a bench, watching river traffic go by. If you want to stay for a peaceful night, the Signal House Bed and Breakfast is also along the river near the John Parker House. There are a handful of shops in town, such as the Olde Piano Factory Antique store. There’s also the Ripley Museum, a sort of hodge podge collection of local history artifacts. Hours are a little spotty though, and are mainly during the weekends.
 
If you’re still in a historical mood, there are some nearby spots relevant to President Ulysses S. Grant’s life. West of town on the Ohio River Scenic Byway is Grant’s Birthplace State Memorial, a humble little cottage where our 18^th president was born. Inland from the river in Georgetown is the US Grant Boyhood Home and Schoolhouse, a larger home the family moved into when Grant was a boy.
 
All told, Ripley is a unique day trip option for Ohioans and Kentuckians full of history and excuses to enjoy the river.
 
Matthew Caracciolo is a freelance writer and author of The Waygook Book: A Foreigner’s Guide to South Korea from Monday Creek Publishing. He also maintains his own travel blog, Travel is Fatal, on his website. To find out more about The Waygook Book or Travel is Fatal, please visit matthewcaracciolo.com.