Worthington Historical Society

“A Merry Beary Christmas” Doll Museum Special Exhibit
2025-11-06 - 2025-12-20 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Visitors of all ages are invited to “A Merry Beary Christmas”, a heartwarming holiday exhibit on display in the Old Rectory Parlor. Featuring a delightful collection of teddy bears, these cherished bears—each with its own story and personality—have been lovingly arranged in festive vignettes. Bears bundled in knit sweaters, seated in antique sleighs. A charming tea party scene with bears dressed in vintage attire, sipping from dainty porcelain cups and nibbling on tiny pastries. Groups of bears nestled on the settee enjoying time together at the holiday. This festive exhibit runs through our seasonal closing in December. Free, Open to the Public.
Gift Shop & Doll Museum Hours:
Wednesday-Friday, 1-4 pm
Saturday, 10 am-2 pm
Closed Wednesday, Nov. 26th and Thursday, Nov. 27th for the holiday.
Saturday, Dec. 20th is the last day to visit the Shop and the Doll Museum in 2025. Closed in January. The Rectory will reopen in February 2026.

Thanksgiving Closure
2025-11-26 - 2025-11-27 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
The Shop and Doll Museum at the Old Rectory will be closed Wednesday & Thursday, November 26th and 27th.
Normal hours will resume on Friday and Saturday, November 28th & 29th. Happy Thanksgiving!

POSTPONED! Celebrating Margaret Lawrence, A Holiday Open House
2025-12-02 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | The Hartford at Stafford Village, 120 E Stafford Ave, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. DETAILS ON RESCHEDULING TBA.
Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, 7 – 8:30
Celebrating Margaret Lawrence, A Holiday Open House
Join us in honoring Margaret Lawrence’s remarkable 20+ years of service to the Worthington Historical Society before her retirement at the conclusion of 2025! On Monday, December 2nd from 7:00–8:30 PM, we’ll gather at the Hartford for a cheerful open house filled with tasty treats, heartfelt memories, and holiday spirit. This special evening is a chance for members and friends to celebrate Margaret’s dedication and connect in a relaxed, festive setting. Don’t worry, Margaret still plans on volunteering for many of the Society’s events throughout the year!
RSVP Google Form Here
We look forward to seeing you there—and to celebrating Margaret!

Illuminated Shopping - Shop Open
2025-12-03 18:00 - 21:00 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
The Shop at the Old Rectory will be open extra hours on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd from 6-9 pm for Illuminated Shopping. This longstanding tradition in historic Old Worthington includes live holiday music, festive luminaries lining High Street, and local retailers open late. There will be a horse drawn carriage and a DJ spinning holiday tunes.
Take the short stroll down New England Avenue to shop our antiques and consignment items! Lots of unique Worthington gifts and holiday decor, too.

Christmas Traditions: An Historic Holiday Tour
2025-12-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Orange Johnson House, 956 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Thursday, December 11th, tours starting at 6:30 pm; reservations required
Join us for this special evening tour of the Orange Johnson House, beautifully decorated and aglow for Christmas. Delight in the stories shared by history interpreters about Christmas celebrations by Worthington’s founders in 1803, continuing through the 1800s and early 1900s. From Christmas stockings and trees to ghost stories and gift-giving, this tour will explore the traditions of the season!
Tickets may be purchased for $15.00 online using the link below. Tickets are non-refundable. Please note that the Orange Johnson House has several flights of stairs. Guests should be able to navigate steps and stand during portions of the tour.
Book online now!

Orange Johnson Christmas Open House
2025-12-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Orange Johnson House, 956 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Enjoy “An Old Time Christmas” at the Orange Johnson House!
Sunday, December 14th, 1 pm – 4 pm
The Worthington Historical Society invites you to enjoy the spirit of the holidays at the Orange Johnson House on Sunday Dec. 14th! We look forward to welcoming you and your guests to stroll through the house on a self-guided tour and enjoy festive holiday decorations.
The Society will collect non-perishable goods for the Worthington Resource Pantry. In lieu of an admission cost, guests are asked to donate one or more items to this valuable community program. While members receive complimentary visits all year long, we extend this invitation to donate items to our Society community as well.
PLEASE NOTE: The Orange Johnson House will close for tours after the Christmas Open House until Spring 2026.

Winter Closure 2025-26
2025-12-21 - 2026-02-10 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
The Shop and Doll Museum at the Old Rectory will be closed beginning December 21st, 2025, and will reopen in February 2026. The Orange Johnson House can be booked by request will resume normal reservations in spring 2026. Thank you for your support!

Reopening Feb. 11th
2026-01-20 08:00 - 2026-02-11 17:00 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
On Wednesday, February 11th the Doll Museum and Shop at the Old Rectory will reopen for 2026 with special exhibit, “American Icons”. Make plans to visit this spring!
Shop & Doll Museum Hours:
Wednesday – Friday, 1-4 pm
Saturday, 10 am-2 pm
General admission fee applies; members are free. We look forward to seeing you at the museum or to shop for unique items at the antique and consignment shop.
The Orange Johnson House Museum can be booked by request now and will resume regular tours in Spring 2026. General admission fee applies; members are free.

New Docent Class
2026-03-01 - 2026-03-31 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
The Worthington Historical Society is looking for interested candidates to join our 2026 Docent class. Volunteers lead scheduled guided tours of the Orange Johnson House throughout the year. Additionally, docents are able to participate in education events such as Worthington History Days for our district’s third graders, and other special events throughout the year. Training consists of several half day workshops in early spring. If interested, please contact the Society at info@worthingtonhistory.org or by phone, 614-885-1247.
New & Returning Docents! The Society is looking for volunteers specifically to help with the walking tours during Worthington History Days for third graders in May. Volunteers lead four 30-minute walking tours from the Green to New England Avenue and back over the course of each morning, discussing how Worthington has changed and what has stayed the same over the past two centuries. Contact Kate at the office if interested in being part of the team that fills this role in 2026.
The Shop is seeking a few more wonderful NEW volunteers to join our team, especially on Saturdays. You’ll have the opportunity to assist customers alongside a current Shop volunteer, making a real difference in our community. Our Shop volunteers are truly invaluable, helping us open the doors to our museum and antique shop to our visitors. Your time and dedication can make a world of difference!

Orange Johnson House Tours, Wednesdays in March & April
2026-03-04 - 2026-04-29 | Orange Johnson House, 956 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Each Wednesday in March and April, the Orange Johnson House will welcome guests for tours at 1 pm on a drop-in basis. Reservations will not be required! Admission will be $8 per adult, $5 per child 6 – 16 and is free for children five and under. Members are free.
Sunday tours can still be booked online, 24-hr advance reservation, using the “Book A Tour” button on our homepage.

Lunch & Learn: Honoring Worthington’s Women of Influence
2026-03-13 12:00 - 13:30 | McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening Street, Worthington, 43085, United States
Friday, March 13th, 12:00-1:30 pm
McConnell Arts Center, Master Classroom
777 Evening Street
$25 per person, register at worthingtonhistory.org
Join the Society for a program to celebrate Women’s History Month in March. Enjoy a box lunch and hear from Historical Society speakers who will share the stories of women who’ve made significant contributions to Worthington, Ohio and the country through their works across the last two centuries.
A selection of boxed lunches will be offered (select from choices when registering). Space is limited – register through our website, using the “Book online now!” link below.
Pictured above: Ruth Potter, March 31st, 1955, Worthington News. Potter was a 1929 Worthington High School graduate who went on to take over the family business, serving as President of the Potter Lumber and Supply Co.
Book online now!

Sheep Pastures to Progress: A Worthington Art & History Installation
2026-04-23 - 2026-10-31 | East Granville Road Park, 245 E. Granville Rd., Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Sheep Pastures to Progress is Worthington’s community-wide outdoor art and history installation celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. From April–October 2026, painted sheep silhouettes—created by local artists, schools, and organizations—will appear throughout the city, turning Worthington into a walkable gallery that highlights our past and imagines our future. The Society’s sheep, designed by artist Niki Gnezda, reflects generations of local history and iconic architecture.
This project is led by the America 250 – Worthington committee in partnership with the Worthington Historical Society and local community organizations. Together, we invite you to celebrate our shared past, honor our present, and imagine Worthington’s future—one sheep at a time.
The sheep will be displayed in various locations.
Thursday, April 23 – May 7th – Northeast Village Green
Thursday, May 7th – May 21st – East Granville Road Park
Thursday, May 21-June 4 – Worthington Fire Station
Thursday, June 4-June 18 – McCord Park
Thursday, June 18-July 2 – Griswold Center
Tuesday, July 7-July 23 – Selby Park
Link to the full tour guide: Sheep Pastures to Progress | Experience Worthington

Bus Tour: "Historic District"
2026-04-28 10:00 - 12:00 | The Griswold Center, 777 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Historic Neighborhood Series Bus Tour: “Historic District”
Join a Society Docent for this bus tour highlighting historic homes, school sites, churches and commercial buildings found throughout the Historic District. You’ll learn how and where the earliest schools operated, as well as the remarkable contributions of the earliest pioneer men and women. Bring your imagination–some of these sites are no longer here, but their stories remain an important part of Worthington history! Bus tours depart from and return to the Griswold Center.

All bus tours can be reserved through Worthington Parks & Recreation registration.
Spring registration for Residents and Passholders begins at Midnight on March 16th.
Open registration begins at Midnight on March 18th.

Activity search | Worthington Parks and Recreation (activecommunities.com)

Bus tours this year are presented as part of our yearlong America 250 programming. Additional itineraries will be featured in the summer session with the Griswold Center. Stay tuned for details!

Worthington History Walk
2026-05-01 - 2026-10-31 | OH
Worthington History Walk is an outdoor gallery in the historic district featuring 22 historical photographs from the Worthington Historical Society archive that picture Worthington throughout its almost 250-year existence. The History Walk will be on view May through October and is brought to you as part of Ohio’s America 250 celebrations and is a partnership between the Worthington Historical Society and Experience Worthington.
Link to the full walking tour: History Walk | Experience Worthington

Memorial Day Parade
2026-05-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Walk in the Memorial Day Parade with the Worthington Historical Society! Join us in costume from any historical time period, 1803 to present, as we promote America 250 in Worthington.
Contact Kate, info@worthingtonhistory.org or call 614-885-1247, to sign up. (Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.)

Bus Tour: "The Civil War Era and Worthington’s connection to the Underground Railroad"
2026-05-26 10:00 - 12:00 | The Griswold Center, 777 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Historic Neighborhood Series Bus Tour: “The Civil War Era and Worthington’s connection to the Underground Railroad”
This tour explores Worthington’s rich Civil-war era history and its significant role in the Underground Railroad. Stops include the site of the first meeting of the local Anti-Slavery Society took place, Sharon Memorial Hall, the Morris Addition, St. John AME church, a documented Worthington stop on the Underground Railroad, the former Twin Oaks site, Flint School, Flintridge Terrace, the newly restored Ozem Gardner homestead, Flint Cemetery and the historic Village of Flint. Bus tours depart from and return to the Griswold Center.

All bus tours can be reserved through Worthington Parks & Recreation registration.
Spring registration for Residents and Passholders begins at Midnight on March 16th.
Open registration begins at Midnight on March 18th.

Activity search | Worthington Parks and Recreation (activecommunities.com)

Bus tours this year are presented as part of our yearlong America 250 programming. Additional itineraries will be featured in the summer session with the Griswold Center. Stay tuned for details!

Sunday Funday - Worthington Pride
2026-06-07 13:00 - 17:00 | Southeast Village Green, 700 High Street, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Sunday, June 7th, 1-5 pm
The Worthington Partnership, along with the merchants of Old Worthington, present “Sunday Fundays”, afternoons of themed food, entertainment, and specials in our historic district.
Each merchant will adapt the theme to their own business. This summer, find the Worthington Historical Society on the Village Green, where volunteers will have Pioneer Games on hand on June 7th, August 9th, and September 27th.

Annual Meeting & Program: Minute Men, Green Mountain Boys & More: Worthington’s Revolutionary Legacy
2026-06-10 19:00 - 20:30 | The Griswold Center, 777 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Annual Meeting & Program
Minute Men, Green Mountain Boys & More: Worthington’s Revolutionary Legacy with Ted Dziemianowicz
Wednesday, June 10th, 7 – 8:30 pm
The Griswold Center, 777 High Street
Free & Open to the Public
Many Worthingtonians know that Scioto company members and town founders Abner Pinney, Israel Case, and William Thompson served in America’s struggle for independence, but did you know that two Minute Men, a member of the Green Mountain Boys, and a New Hampshire soldier who fought at Bunker Hill are also here?
Ted Dziemianowicz has followed the breadcrumbs left by Virginia McCormick and others to learn some of their stories.
A brief business meeting will be held before the program.

Yard Sale at the Rectory
2026-06-20 09:00 - 15:00 | Old Rectory, 50 West New England, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Saturday, June 20th, 9 am-3 pm
It’s the return of the best yard sale of the summer! Weather dependent, the Historical Society will have tables on the lawn selling unbelievable items donated by our members and the community. A variety of items including antiques and collectibles, glassware, jewelry, books, and household items will be available.
Have items you’d like to donate? We will be accepting donations from 7 to 8:30 am on Saturday the 20th. All items should be cleaned and priced for sale. To make donations at any other time please contact the shop to set up a drop-off time. (shop@worthingtonhistory.org or 614-885-1247) All proceeds will support the Society.

Bus Tour: "Expansion into the North Quadrant and Across the River"
2026-06-23 10:00 - 12:00 | The Griswold Center, 777 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Summer registration for Residents and Passholders begins at Midnight on May 18th.
Open registration begins at Midnight on May 20th.
Visit: Activity search | Worthington Parks and Recreation (activecommunities.com)
Tuesday, June 23rd, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
This tour highlights the community’s growth northward and includes notable sites such as the Sears Row homes, Medick Estates, Plesenton, the Jeffers Mound, Linworth and its experiential school, the Beechviews, John Antrim’s home and several historic residences on the west side. Participants will learn engaging stories and historical details connected to each location.
Pictured here: Medick Estates

Independence Day at the McConnell Arts Center
2026-07-04 17:00 - 21:30 | McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening Street, Worthington, 43085, United States
Independence Day at the McConnell Arts Center
With Historical Displays by the Worthington Historical Society
777 Evening Street
5:00 – 9:30pm
Celebrate Independence Day at the McConnell Arts Center with special historical displays from the Worthington Historical Society. On July 4, visitors can explore historic flags, a 1976 Bicentennial Quilt, and photographs highlighting Worthington’s past as part of the community’s America 250 celebration. The MAC will be open from 5:00–9:30 p.m. with restrooms, drinks, and popsicles available for purchase—offering a cool, welcoming stop during the festivities.
Outside on the lawn, the Rotary Family Picnic begins at 6:00 p.m. with food trucks, games, music, and space to relax with blankets and lawn chairs. Fireworks follow at 10:00 p.m., viewable from the Thomas Worthington High School stadium.

Bus Tour: "Expansion to the South"
2026-07-28 10:00 - 12:00 | The Griswold Center, 777 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Summer registration for Residents and Passholders begins at Midnight on May 18th.
Open registration begins at Midnight on May 20th.
Visit: Activity search | Worthington Parks and Recreation (activecommunities.com)
Tuesday, July 28th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
This primarily residential tour features visits to the homes of three notable local artists, each widely recognized in their time. We will also explore Riverlea, Davis Estates, Walnut Grove, Kanawha and its historic log cabin, and Chaseland – along with the story of Philander Chase – before concluding at Kenyon Brook.
Pictured here: Bishop Chase House

Bus Tour: "Worthington Becomes a City, a Seminary, and a Few Country Clubs"
2026-08-25 10:00 - 12:00 | The Griswold Center, 777 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Summer registration for Residents and Passholders begins at Midnight on May 18th.
Open registration begins at Midnight on May 20th.
Visit: Activity search | Worthington Parks and Recreation (activecommunities.com)
Tuesday, Aug. 25th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
This tour begins in Colonial Hills and continues to the Pontifical College Josephinum and the Woods at Josephinum. We’ll then visit the York Country Club, Worthington Hills and its Country Club, and view several model homes from the 1966 Columbus Dispatch Parade of Homes. The tour concludes by learning about Ruth Potter and the subdivision of Potter’s Creek.
Pictured here: Pontifical College Josephinum

Ohio Open Doors - Worthington
2026-09-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Orange Johnson House, 956 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
We’re participating in Ohio Open Doors on Sunday, September 13th at the Orange Johnson House and the Old Rectory! Ohio Open Doors is a statewide event organized by the Ohio History Connection in which local sponsors are opening their historic buildings and landmarks to the public for special tours and programs. More details to follow!
Join us in honoring the history, design and stories of our historic place! Learn more about Ohio Open Doors at ohiohistory.org/ood.

Bus Tour: Farmlands North of Route 161 and “the Rivalry”
2026-09-22 10:00 - 12:00 | The Griswold Center, 777 High St, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Fall registration dates will be announced in August. Stay tuned for details!
Visit: Activity search | Worthington Parks and Recreation (activecommunities.com)
Tuesday, Sept. 22nd, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
This tour explores the northern farmlands beyond Route 161, beginning with the planning concepts behind Worthingway and Worthington Estates. We then cross High St. to a former orchard area, visit the Orange Johnson House, and discuss the significant farm activity which took place there. The tour continues through the Wilson Hill neighborhood before returning to Old Worthington to learn about the rivalry between Kilbourne Village and Rush Creek.
Pictured here: Rush Creek

Flint Ridge Terrace Historical Marker Dedication
2026-10-25 | Historic St. John’s A.M.E. Church, 682 Plymouth Street, Worthington, OH, 43085, United States
Save the Date for the Flint Ridge Terrace marker dedication on Sunday, Oct. 25th. There will be a program at St. John’s AME followed by the on-site unveiling. More details to follow!
