Serving as the seat of Allen County, Lima is a vibrant Ohio city located partway between Dayton and Toledo. Prior to European settlement, the area was known as the “Great Black Swamp” and was largely home to the Shawnee people. The new town was named “Lima” in honour of the Peruvian capital, which provided an important source of anti-malarial quinine to the area during the 19th century.
Things to do in Lima
Overlooking the Town Square is ArtSpace/Lima, which houses several gallery spaces within a historic brick building. In addition to changing exhibitions featuring the work of local and regional artists, it hosts community events and art-focused education programs. Nearby is the Greater Lima Region Park & Amphitheater where live music concerts take place throughout the year.
To learn about the people, events and industries that have shaped the city, stop by the Allen County Historical Society and Museum, which has been going strong since 1908. In addition to the main museum building where Native American artefacts, vintage vehicles and albino animals are on display, it features a log house and a Shingle-style Victorian mansion known as MacDonell House.
Train enthusiasts can visit the John H. Keller Memorial Railway Exhibit, which showcases one of the last “Berkshire” locomotives built for the Nickel Plate Road. It occupies a replica train depot along a section of the Indiana & Ohio Railroad and is just a stone’s throw from the recreational facilities of Lincoln Park. Here you’ll find three children’s play areas, basketball courts and picnic tables.
Getting around Lima
Lima is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport, which has flights to destinations across North America. Long-distance buses connect to Lima while local services travel throughout the city. The centre of Lima can easily be explored on foot.