Zanesville: Art, History, and Recreation

A bridge that is part of daily traffic, a large art collection, and a recreational trail give Zanesville several distinct sides. Those who explore the city can focus on art, history, or outdoor activities. These options give families a variety of topics to discuss together and help them tailor their stay to their own interests.

Art in Many Forms

The Zanesville Museum of Art has an encyclopedic collection of more than 8,000 paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and decorative art. The range of art forms alone makes the museum a destination for a variety of interests: you can focus on paintings or also include sculpture and applied arts in your visit. Admission is free. This is useful information for planning your vacation if you are considering a museum visit. The collection also offers an opportunity to talk with children about the many ways artworks can be created, without limiting a museum visit to a single genre.

The Y Bridge and Local History

The Y Bridge is not only connected to Zanesville’s history but is also used for daily traffic: city residents use it to get around. The first Y Bridge opened to traffic in 1814; the fifth Y Bridge was completed in the fall of 1984. These two dates mark different periods in the bridge’s history and give the city a vivid historical topic. If you are interested in the development of transportation structures, you can use the dates as reference points for learning about the Y Bridge, without treating the first and fifth bridges as contemporaneous.

Another historical connection is Stone Academy, which served as a station on the Underground Railroad. This links a specific building in Zanesville to the history of this network. For families, the site can be an opportunity to talk about the historical significance of the Underground Railroad. Together with the history of the Y Bridge, it offers two different ways to explore the past: a transportation structure with several phases of construction, and Stone Academy’s role as a station.

An Art Event Downtown

The First Friday Art Walk takes place in downtown Zanesville on the first Friday of every month. If you want to plan your stay around this event, the day of the week and monthly schedule provide a helpful guide. The Art Walk offers a different focus from the museum: it is a recurring event downtown, while the museum’s collection of diverse art forms provides a focus of its own. You can make art part of your trip by visiting either the museum or the First Friday Art Walk—or keep both in mind as different options.

Getting Around by Bike or on Foot

Zane’s Landing Park is the starting point of Zanesville’s recreational biking and hiking trail. If you enjoy spending time cycling or hiking, you can make the trail a focus of your stay. Since it is designated for two types of travel, you can choose whether to experience Zanesville by bike or on foot. A boat dock is also available at Zane’s Landing Park, adding a connection to the water. Art, history, and physical activity are distinct themes, so you can choose what to focus on during your time in Zanesville.

More places in this area: Dresden, New Concord.

Back to the regional travel overview: Muskingum.