Even small-town Ohio can have some fascinating history and historical characters! One such person is General William Tecumseh Sherman, who played a crucial role in the Union’s victory during the Civil War. (Sorry, Atlanta.) Today, you can visit The Sherman House, his childhood home, which has been turned into a museum. Nearby is The Georgian, another museum in Lancaster, Ohio, the home of one of the wealthiest and most influential townspeople in the 1800s.
The dining room of the Sherman House. By the way, that picture above the mantel? It’s needlepoint of silk thread on silk fabric done by General Sherman’s mother…The detail is incredible!!
The Sherman House Museum
Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman may have used controversial tactics. But there’s no denying his brilliance in the military and his influence in the war.
The Sherman House was constructed in 1811 for Sherman’s parents, who had moved to Lancaster from Connecticut. Sherman was born in this house and lived there for nine years until his father unexpectedly passed. After that, “Cump,” as his family called him, was sent to live with neighbor and close family friend, Senator Thomas Ewing. This was because Cump’s widowed mother couldn’t care for all 11 of her children on her own. (And who could blame her?!)
Tours of the Sherman House Museum include details of daily life from that period, as well as items owned by the Sherman family and Senator Ewing. There are also a couple rooms with information about Sherman’s early life and role in the war. It’s a whole lot of information to absorb in the one-hour tour!
If able, I also recommend watching The History Channel miniseries “Grant” before you visit. General Grant, also from Ohio, often worked with General Sherman during the war. This miniseries helps set the stage for some of the information you’ll learn on the tour. Of course, watching the miniseries isn’t necessary to enjoy or understand the tour, but I do think it helps enhance the experience.
In 2024, the Sherman House also acquired General Sherman’s own sword used during the war! The sword is on display on the second floor in one of the information rooms. The artwork along the blade is beautiful, and the Museum is absolutely ecstatic about this addition!
General Sherman’s very own sword! The museum is incredibly proud of this piece, as they should be. And that’s not all dirt and rust along the blade — there’s a beautiful etched design as well!
The Georgian
The Georgian house is an iconic house in Lancaster. It’s a large, beautiful brick structure with a double-curved wall and Ionic columns. The house was built in 1832 for Samuel and Sarah Maccracken. Samuel was one of the wealthiest businessmen in the area. He played a lead role in extending an arm of the Ohio-Erie Canal into Lancaster to further improve business in the area.
In fact, twin parlors are on the first floor of that double-curved wall. Samuel could open a latch under the window in the parlor, lead his guests onto the veranda, and look down the hill to see how traffic was on the canal that day. By the way, the fireplaces in those twin parlors are a gorgeous blue marble!
One of the twin parlors in the Georgian House
A lot of the furniture and items weren’t owned by the Maccrackens. But these items are period-appropriate to give an idea what life in that time was like. And because the items come from several owners, there are tons of interesting stories and history in that house! There’s also a beautiful staircase with a wide spiral! Blushing brides could descend for a grand entrance at their wedding and a picture-perfect moment.
A couple rooms of the house hold other informational collections. One room holds a dollhouse collection and unique, antique miniatures. There is a dollhouse with wood carvings from famous artist Elijah Pierce. Mr. Pierce is also featured at the Columbus Museum of Art and the Smithsonian. A large room in the basement has become a rotating exhibit. Another room in the basement has multiple glass cases with information and historic pieces on other aspects of Ohio’s history, such as the Native American tribes of Ohio, and Scipio Smith, the first black business owner in Lancaster.
A room full of information and the home’s dry well in the Georgian House.
If You’re Interested in More Ohio Historical Places of Interest…
In June 2025, downtown Lancaster unveiled an incredible statue of Scipio Smith, sculpted by Ohioan Alan Cottrill. His works are amazing and are even featured in Washington D.C.! If you visit the Sherman and Georgian, be sure to also stop by the statue, located in downtown Lancaster by the Ohio Glass Museum.
And if you’re interested in learning more about the Hopewell Native American tribe, check out the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Nearby is also an outdoor amphitheater, home to a famous play about the legacy of Tecumseh, the famous warrior that General William Tecumseh Sherman was named after.
Tickets and Tours
If you’re looking for an affordable outing for the family, definitely look into this one! For each house, students are $2, adults are $6, and seniors are $4. They offer discounts for AAA and active military and veterans. You also get a discount for touring both the Sherman and Georgian houses. As an adult doing both houses and no claimed discounts, my tickets cost $10 plus $1 for fees. Note that entry tickets include a guided tour, and tours start on the hour.
Regarding the Sherman House Museum Tour…
The tours are scheduled to be about one hour for each house. You are, however, able to linger longer in the last couple rooms of the Sherman House museum. There’s a lot to read in these rooms. And you can visit the gift shops! Visitors often do the tours back-to-back, though there is a few minutes’ of walking between houses. If you wanted to read more of the info at Sherman House museum, or if you’d simply not like to feel rushed, you could schedule an hour in between tours.
If you’re left with a chunk of time between the tours, I recommend walking to the downtown square where there’s a large fountain (installed in 1890), as well as a statue of General Sherman and memorials to our local war veterans. L-City Coffee is located between the houses, or you could stop by Provisions for a snack or late lunch.
This statue of General Sherman rests in the downtown square, less than a block from the Sherman house, and between the Sherman and Georgian houses.
Final Thoughts on the Sherman House and the Georgian
There are certainly more historic sites to explore in Lancaster, like the Ohio Glass Museum and Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, both of which are also downtown.
Lancaster itself plays a large role in American history, too. General Sherman’s brother, Senator John Sherman, authored the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which prevents against monopolies. The Lancaster Lens Company produced a hand-blown glass reflector for the torch in the Statue of Liberty for her 50th anniversary in 1934. And Lancaster-native Robert Heft designed the current United States flag as part of a high school assignment. (His teacher gave him a B-, but that was changed to an A after Heft’s flag design was sent to Washington D.C. and chosen as the new national flag by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.)
If you’re coming in from out-of-town, be sure to check out some of the other historic sites in Lancaster, like Mount Pleasant or the other museums I mentioned. There are also plenty of restaurants, and an 8-mile bike trail, should those strike your fancy.
It’s a cute little city, if I do say so myself.
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