Milan (Ohio) - village in Ohio, USA

Milan is a city in Ohio Erie shore west. It is located in the south part of Erie County and the area known as The Firelands. Today it is best known as the birthplace of inventor Thomas Edison, who lived there until age seven. The Milan Canal, built in the mid-1800s led to Milan being the 2nd largest grain export port in the world during the 1800s, shipping grain from Ohio farms to the Huron River, into Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, on to the Erie Canal, to its destination in New York City. Milan was also a ship building community, building over 60 schooners that graced the Lake's and made it a center of commerce in northern Ohio. When the railroads laid track in Ohio, that was the demise of the Milan Canal. Milan survives today as a beautiful village in Northwest Ohio.

Get in

By car

South of Sandusky, approx. 12 miles, off US-250.

Get around

Being a small village, walking is very easy and most likely the easiest way to see the town, parks and museums. There is no public transportation. Since the Milan Canal dried up in the 1800s, no boat traffic is present. Much of the village is very flat with few hills.

See

• The Edison Birthplace Museum, 9 Edison Dr, 41.30003°, -82.60439°, +1 419-499-2135. The museum is adjacent to the home where Thomas A. Edison was born and resided until age 7, when his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. The visit to the museum and the adjacent birthplace tour are well worth the $7.00 fee.
• Milan Historical Museum, 10 Edison Dr, 41.29949°, -82.60367°, +1 419-499-2968. Located on one acre of grounds and gardens, this seven building complex reveals Milan's unique heritage and includes the home of Dr. Leman Galpin, he attended the birth of Thomas A. Edison, who lived approx. one block away. It is a site well worth the visit and includes a blacksmith museum and a doll museum in the mix. Take time to see the 13-minute film on the Milan Canal, it will be time well spent.
• A total solar eclipse on Monday 8 April 2024 starts at 3:12PM local time and lasts 4 min. The chances of a clear sky are 35%. The track of totality is northeast from Mexico and Texas to Ohio, then along the Canada–New England border.

Do

• The Annual Mid-Summer Antiques Fest. Early July of each year. 2018-12-09
• Milan Melon Festival. Every Labor Day weekend. 2018-12-09
• Milan Historical Museum's Settlers Weekend. Third Saturday in October. Free 2018-12-09

Buy

Antique collectors will delight in Milan Village Square, loaded with antique shops all within easy walking distance from each other.

• Sights and Sounds of Edison, 21 S. Main St, +1 419-499-3093. Sale and repair of Edison Phonographs plus more.
• Milan Inn-tiques, 3 Main St, +1 419-499-8509.
• Hidden Creek Pottery, 41 E. Front St. On The Square (Corner of Front and Center streets). M-Sa 11AM-5PM. Locally made pottery, fused glass, fine art and jewelry.

Eat

• Invention Family Restaurant, 15 Main St, 41.29765°, -82.60597°, +1 419-499-0478, pepper_richardson@yahoo.com. Su M 6AM-2PM, Tu-Sa 6AM-8PM. Serves home-style food, has Edison-related photos and quotes on its menu. 2019-12-28
• Jim's Pizza Box, 10 Main St, +1 419-499-4166.
• The Culinary Vegetable Institute, 12304 Mudbrook Rd, +1 419-499-7500. A high-end venue that grows its own seasonal ingredients. Requires reservations. 2018-12-08

Drink

• Park Lounge, 51 E. Front St, +1 419-499-2833.
• Wonder Bar Inc, 48 E. Front St, 41.29869°, -82.60606°, +1 419-499-2777.

Sleep

• Colonial Inn South, 12211 US-250 +1 419-499-3403
• Hampton Inn Sandusky/Milan, 11600 US-250, 41.3262°, -82.6179°, +1 419-499-4911. 2019-01-04
• Motel 6 Sandusky - Milan, 11406 US-250 N. +1 419-499-8001
• Days Inn, 11410 US-N +1 419-499-4961
• Red Roof Inn, 11303 US-250 N +1 419-499-4347
• Super 8 - South, 11313 US-250 N +1 419-499-4671
• Quality Inn, 11020 Milan Rd, +1 419-499-4681.

Bed & Breakfast

• Angel Welcome Bed & Breakfast, 2 Front St, +1 419-499-0094.

Connect

• Milan Chamber of Commerce, 11 S. Main Street, +1 419 499-2944. 2017-07-20
• Lake Erie Shores & Islands Welcome Center, +1 419 625-2984. 2019-12-28
• Milan-Berlin Library, 19 E Church St, 41.29761°, -82.60463°, +1 419-499-4117. 2018-11-23

Go next

• Huron
• Norwalk
• Sandusky
• Vermilion