When people think of Toledo's greatest achievements, names like the Jeep, Michael Owens' automatic bottle-making machine, and Dr. Allan DeVilbiss' atomizer often come to mind. But consider a different question: Which Toledo institution has had the greatest and most enduring impact on our community's quality of life? A compelling argument can be made that the answer is the Toledo Museum of Art. This year marks the museum's 125th anniversary—a milestone worth celebrating not on

The handsome Civil War Monument in Section 41 of Woodlawn Cemetery and Arboretum has an interesting history. In fact, the memorial almost didn't make it to Woodlawn. Today, most visitors know the monument simply as the G.A.R. Civil War Monument or Civil War Soldiers' Monument. Rising 65 feet above the surrounding graves, the granite memorial is one of the cemetery's most recognizable landmarks. Yet a review of contemporary newspaper accounts reveals that the monument's origin

I was honored to be featured by 13abc as part of their "We the People" series. What began as an interest in Toledo's history has grown into books, tours, podcasts, and countless opportunities to share the stories that make our community unique. I'm grateful to everyone who has followed Holy Toledo History, attended a tour, purchased a book, or simply shared a story of their own. Toledo's history belongs to all of us, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to help tell it.

When we think about the Underground Railroad, our minds often go to secret tunnels, hidden rooms, and whispered passwords. The reality was both less romantic and far more dangerous. For those seeking freedom, Toledo wasn’t just another stop along the way. It was the final threshold. Beyond Toledo lay Lake Erie. Beyond Lake Erie lay Canada. And beyond Canada lay freedom that American law refused to grant. In the 19th century, Toledo stood on the razor’s edge between slavery an

The David Dows and boat unloading cargo at Toledo's Union Railroad grain elevator in 1882. The city of Toledo, situated at the western end of Lake Erie on the Maumee River, has long been a pivotal node in the Great Lakes shipping network. From the canal era of the nineteenth century through the age of iron-hulled freighters and the advent of the St. Lawrence Seaway, Toledo’s port has stood at the crossroads of inland and international trade. Its story is one of innovation, r

This article originally appeared in the April 25, 1856, edition of The Toledo Blade and offers a remarkably vivid portrait of the Middle Grounds at a transformative moment in Toledo’s history. Its rich descriptions of the landscape and the ambitious railroad works underway at the time provide a rare, first-hand look at the city's rapid industrial and infrastructural growth. I recently discovered this article in my research into Toledo’s past and have carefully transcribed it

Of course, you’re thinking, “Henry Ford picked Detroit over Toledo?” Nope — not that Ford. The title is a playful tease. This post is about Edward Ford, not Henry. In 1907, glass magnate Edward Ford was ready to make his mark by constructing a grand headquarters. Considering his busy plate glass plant was less than a mile upriver, Toledo seemed like a natural fit — until skyrocketing land prices scared him off. According to Ford, as soon as Toledo’s developers discovered he w

Long before Toledo earned its name, before the rumble of streetcars and the hum of glass making filled the air, there were just two scrappy settlements clinging to the muddy banks of the Maumee River: Port Lawrence to the south, and Vistula to the north. These weren't booming towns—more like hopeful outposts carved from the wilderness, built by people who saw potential in the swampy lowlands and river access. But for all their ambition, they were little more than neighbors

Image courtesy of the United States Department of Energy. Local history author Joe Boyle had just finished his talk at a Walinsky History...

Toledo’s 1862 Race Riot: Civil War, Labor Strikes, and Violence on the Waterfront Toledo’s history is filled with stories of industrial growth, immigration, and the struggles that accompanied both. One of the city’s darkest and least-discussed chapters unfolded during the summer of 1862, in the middle of the Civil War, when racial tension, economic fear, and labor unrest erupted into several days of mob violence along Toledo’s waterfront. Known today as the Toledo Race Riot o

The Anthem That Defines the Glass City Joe Murphy Toledo is a city with a rich history and a vibrant cultural identity. One of the most...

This profile of Emma J. Ashley is from my 2023 Wine, Women, and Song tour at Woodlawn Cemetery & Arboretum. Sadly, I've failed to find a...

Marion and Ella Auther in front of the Royal Breeze Hotel at Woodland Park, Michigan. Each February, Toledo comes alive with educational...

Imagine it's early November 1908. You are a member of the Toledo Laundry Workers union, the first laundry workers union organized in the...

In the heartland of America, no rivalry stands as iconic as that between Ohio State and Michigan. But to the uninitiated, it might seem...

Greetings, fearless adventurers and thrill-seekers! Are you ready to embark on a journey through the spine-tingling corners of Lucas...

Today, we know the Friendly Center, located at the corner of Superior and Magnolia Streets in the Vistula Historic District, as a local...

For more than a century, Toledo baseball fans enjoyed exhibition contests that featured big league names and even bigger home runs. My...

Post War Film Provides a Terrific Trip Back in Time Camp Miakonda, the sixth oldest Boy Scout Camp in the United States, can trace its...

Since the first game on October 3, 1919, the "Battle of I-75," also known as the "Black Swamp Showdown," has become a significant event...