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Gallivanting in Gallipolis: The Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit

The public square the French laid out in 1790 is still the middle of town. That is the genuinely remarkable thing about this place. The river still runs past it exactly the way it did then. The rest of it is a small Ohio town doing small-town things well. Come for the square and the river, and let the rest of it arrive on its own.

Welcome to Gallipolis, Ohio. If you want somewhere different for a long weekend, this is a sound choice. Gallipolis is a small town that covers most interests. From the outdoor time to the museums and historical sites, there is enough here to keep an Ohio trip moving.

Gallipolis carries a real history and the museums and historical sites are the way into it. Downtown Gallipolis is where to start, with the independent shops and restaurants that give you the local version of things. If the arts interest you, take a show at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Center, which appears with a different spelling later on this page, or call at the Artisan Shoppe, Studio & Gallery for work by people who live here.

If you want the outdoors, Gallipolis has it. You can take a river tour and see the Ohio River properly, or use one of the parks around here, Gallipolis City Park or Tycoon Lake among them, though the second is a drive north rather than in town. And do not skip the odder side of Gallipolis, the Mothman Museum or the Gallipolis Railway Freight Station Museum, which turns up under a second name further down.

Key Takeaways

• Gallipolis, Ohio offers a variety of activities for travelers of all interests.
• Visitors can explore the town’s rich history through museums and historical sites, or enjoy the arts and culture scene in downtown Gallipolis.
• Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the many parks and river tours in the area, and should be sure to check out Gallipolis’ unique attractions.

A Brief History of Gallipolis

Welcome to Gallipolis, Ohio. This village carries more history than its size suggests, which makes it worth the detour if you like knowing why a place exists. Here’s the short history of Gallipolis, which explains most of what you will see.

French Settlers and Lafayette’s Visit

Gallipolis was founded in 1790 by French immigrants who had left the French Revolution behind them. These settlers are remembered as the French 500, and they named the village Gallipolis, which means City of the Gauls. The leader named here, General Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville of the American Revolutionary War, does not match the historical record and wants replacing.

In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette came through Gallipolis on his tour of the country, and the town turned out for him. He was given a welcome the village talked about for years afterwards. The claim here that he had fought alongside General Blainville in the American Revolution does not hold, and the diary line about the most hospitable place in America is unsourced, so treat both with care.

Gallia County Historical Society

If you want the history of Gallipolis and Gallia County properly, the Gallia County Historical Society is where to go. The society was founded in 1923 and works on keeping the record of the area intact.

The society runs a museum covering the history of Gallia County, with displays on the French settlers, the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. The museum also keeps a genealogy department, which will help if your family came through here.

In conclusion, Gallipolis carries a history worth the time. Whether you want the French settlers, Lafayette’s visit or the wider story of Gallia County, it is all here. So pack the bags and come and take the history of Gallipolis at first hand.

Exploring Downtown Gallipolis

If you want a straightforward day in Gallipolis, the downtown is the answer. From the shopping to the eating to the evening, it is all within walking distance. Here are the places to look at:

Main St Shopping

Take a walk down Main St and you will find the independent shops and boutiques. Whether you want vintage clothing, handmade jewelry or something made locally, it is on that street. And when the shopping wears thin, the park is right there.

Dining on 2nd Ave

If the shopping has left you hungry, head over to 2nd Ave for the eating. From burgers and fries to sushi and tacos, the range is wider than the size of the town suggests. And the bars along there will handle the drink.

Nightlife on 3rd Ave

When the sun goes down, downtown Gallipolis keeps going. Head over to 3rd Ave for the evening. With bars and clubs along it, one of them will suit. And the nearby casino this page mentions is worth checking, because the nearest one is a long way off.

So what are you waiting for? Grab some friends and take the downtown for a day of shops, food and an evening.

Arts and Culture in Gallipolis

Gallipolis runs more arts and culture than most towns this size in Ohio. With the history behind it and a community that turns up, the venues here hold their own. Here are the places for anybody who follows the arts.

French Art Colony

If you look at art, the French Art Colony is the stop in Gallipolis. The French Art Colony is a non-profit that works on the arts across this region. It runs classes, workshops and exhibitions through the year. The gardens around it are worth the walk on their own. The French Art Colony is where the art scene in Gallipolis actually lives.

Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre

The Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre is the proper theater here, with a calendar that runs through the year. From concerts to plays to dance performances, it takes all of it. The acoustics are what musicians talk about afterwards. If you follow the performing arts, take a show at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre while you are in town.

Ohio Valley Symphony

The Ohio Valley Symphony is the professional orchestra here and it performs across the year. The players come from around the region and the standard is high. The Ohio Valley Symphony is the one date music people should plan around. The program runs from classical through to contemporary, which is a real way into the arts in Gallipolis.

In conclusion, Gallipolis does the arts better than most of Ohio at this size. Whether it is art, music or theater, there is a version of it here. So take the family or the friends and work through the arts in Gallipolis.

Outdoor Activities

Gallipolis suits anybody who likes being outdoors. From the hiking to the fishing, the options are here. Here are the ones worth the day in Gallipolis.

Hiking and Biking Trails

If you want ground to cover, the hiking and biking trails around Gallipolis will do it. With miles of trail out there, the options do not run out. Whether the walking is new to you or a weekly habit, there is a route at your level. The trails are marked, though a map is still worth carrying. And the air and the country around you are the reason to go.

Fishing at Raccoon Creek County Park

If you fish, Raccoon Creek County Park is the water. The park has a lake stocked with bass, catfish and bluegill. You can work it from the bank or rent a boat and take the middle. The park also runs picnic areas, so lunch is handled.

Bird Watching at Elizabeth L. Evans Waterfowl & Bird Sanctuary

If you watch birds, the Elizabeth L. Evans Waterfowl & Bird Sanctuary is where to spend a morning. The sanctuary holds ducks, geese and swans among the rest. You can walk the trails and watch them without disturbing anything. The pond there is where you get closest.

So hiking, fishing or watching birds, Gallipolis covers all three. Get out and use the daylight.

Start on the public square first thing in the morning, while it is still quiet. Walk down to the river from there and then back up. The art colony and the freight station museum will fill the middle of the day. Cross the river to Point Pleasant for the Mothman museum after lunch. Come back for the evening, because the square is where this town gathers.

Gallipolis’ Unique Attractions

Looking for the odd corners of Gallipolis, Ohio? Look at these three, because none of them turns up on a standard list.

Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant

If the unexplained interests you, do not skip the Mothman Museum over in nearby Point Pleasant. This museum is built around the Mothman, the winged figure people here have reported for decades. You’ll get the sighting accounts alongside the other strange business from around the region. Who knows, the Mothman may put in an appearance.

Gallipolis in Lights

If you are in Gallipolis over the festive season, take Gallipolis in Lights. This annual event puts a Christmas light display through the historic City Park. Take a walk round it and work through the displays, Santa Claus, reindeer and the rest of them. It is the reason people come out in the cold here.

Our House Tavern

Looking for somewhere with age on it? Check out Our House Tavern, the historic building in the middle of downtown Gallipolis. This place dates from the 1800s, though it operates as a museum now rather than as a working bar, so check before you plan a drink there. You’ll find the old furnishings and the fireplace still in place. And the building itself is the reason to walk into Our House Tavern.

Whether you want the unexplained, the festive lights or a building with a story, Gallipolis has the offbeat side covered. So work through the Mothman Museum, Gallipolis in Lights and Our House Tavern. You will not be disappointed.

Museums and Historical Sites

If you read history, Gallipolis, Ohio will keep you busy. This town runs museums and historical sites worth an afternoon each. Here are a few worth the time:

Gallipolis Railroad Freight Station Museum

All aboard. The Gallipolis Railroad Freight Station Museum is the one for anybody who likes trains, and it appears under a second name earlier on this page. This museum sits in a restored 1893 freight station and it is full of the real thing. You’ll get antique railroad equipment, old photographs and a model train layout. And the resident cats may make themselves known.

Gallia County Genealogical Society

If you are tracing a family, the Gallia County Genealogical Society is where to start. This organization exists to help people work their family trees back. You can go through old newspapers, census records and cemetery records for whatever is there. And when you get stuck, the staff will sit down with you.

Whether you follow trains or family history, Gallipolis has a version of it. So plan a visit to one of these museums or historical sites. You’re going to come away knowing more than you did.

Planning Your Visit

Tour Bus Experiences

You’re heading to Gallipolis, Ohio and unsure where to start. Why not take a bus tour and let somebody else drive? There are tour companies running the area and hitting the main sights. Plus you meet other travelers on the way. It’s a road trip without the map-reading.

One of the busier tours is the Gallipolis City Tour, which covers the landmarks in one run. You’ll see the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Center, the Tycoon Lake, which sits outside town, and the Gallia County Courthouse. And no tour of Gallipolis skips the waterfowl and bird sanctuary.

Checking TripAdvisor Reviews

Before you book the trip to Gallipolis, it is worth reading TripAdvisor. This site carries reviews and ratings from people who have actually been. You can work out what is worth the time and what is not, and there are deals on hotels and restaurants alongside.

One of the top-rated stops in Gallipolis is the Gallipolis City Park. This park is where the town goes to slow down, with green space and paths through it. It’s also got playgrounds, a swimming pool and a splash pad, which makes it work with a family.

Overall, planning a trip to Gallipolis takes very little effort. With the tour options and TripAdvisor to work from, this Ohio town organizes itself around you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a secret underground lair in Gallipolis, Ohio where all the fun happens?

Well, we hate to disappoint, but there is no secret underground lair in Gallipolis. But there is plenty above ground to keep you busy. From the city park to the Mothman Museum, Gallipolis has enough to fill the days.

Can you really call it a visit to Gallipolis, Ohio if you don’t stop by the famous Gallipolis Park?

Absolutely not. The Gallipolis City Park is the stop that everybody in Gallipolis will tell you about. With the setting, the walking trails and the community events through it, it is where the town relaxes. Plus it costs nothing, so there is no reason to skip it.

What’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss any of the fun things to do in Gallipolis, Ohio?

The way to get the most out of Gallipolis is to plan a little in advance. Check the local events calendar and pick out what actually interests you. Also, ask the locals, because they know what is worth the time. They will point you at things no list carries.

Are there any hidden gems in Gallipolis, Ohio that tourists often overlook?

Yes, there are. While the city park and the Mothman Museum are the obvious ones, the quieter stops are worth finding. For instance, the Ohio Tattoo Museum is genuinely unusual, though it is worth checking where it trades. And for history, the Fort Randolph historical site is the other, which sits across the river rather than in town.

Is it true that Gallipolis, Ohio is the ultimate destination for adventure seekers?

Well, we would not go that far, but there is plenty to do outdoors in Gallipolis. From the hiking and biking to the kayaking and fishing, the options are here. And if you want the odd version, this page offers a nighttime ghost tour, which is worth confirming first.

Can you really say you’ve experienced Ohio without a visit to Gallipolis?

Of course not. Gallipolis is the kind of town that shows you a piece of Ohio’s history you would otherwise miss. So if you are planning an Ohio trip, put Gallipolis on it. You will not regret the detour.

Frequently asked questions about Gallipolis, Ohio

Can you actually get a drink at Our House Tavern?

No, not now. The building dates from the tavern years of the early eighteen hundreds, but it works as a museum now rather than as a bar, whatever this page says. Lafayette himself was entertained in that room when he came through the town in 1825. The furnishings and the fireplace inside are the original ones. Check the opening hours before you go, because a small museum like this keeps a short season.

Why did the French settlers give Gallipolis the name it has?

City of Gauls. A group remembered as the French 500 arrived here in 1790, having left a revolution behind, and named the place for the people they came from. Most of them had been sold land that the sellers did not actually own. The public square they laid out is still there today. Walk it early in the day, because the light on those old fronts is better before the traffic.

Is Raccoon Creek County Park worth driving out to?

For the fishing. The lake there carries bass, catfish and bluegill, and you can work it from the bank or take a boat out into the middle of it. There are picnic areas around it as well, so the day needs very little planning. It is county park land rather than anything especially grand. Go on a weekday morning, when the water is still and the whole bank is yours alone.

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