Hamilton, Ohio — Don’t throw away your shot at exploring one of Ohio’s most delightful small cities this holiday season.
Named for Alexander Hamilton by his pal Arthur St. Clair, the governor of the Northwest Territory, Fort Hamilton was built on the banks of the Great Miami River in 1791 and served as a supply depot for American forces in the late 18th century.
A town quickly grew up around the abandoned fort, becoming the Butler County seat and a hub of commerce and industry. Today, Hamilton is the 11th largest city in Ohio and has a thriving downtown district that’s perfect for a quick Yuletide getaway.
Standing at the site of the old fort at the center of town is the "Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument," a beautiful neoclassical structure first opened in 1906. The monument honors Butler County military veterans, whose names (through the Spanish-American War) are etched into the Tennessee marble walls.
Visitors can go inside to see those names as well as the original huge stained-glass windows with life-sized depictions of women who helped the Union effort during the Civil War. Upstairs, in a room that Civil War veterans once used as a meeting hall, are several historical displays, including a 1939 scale model of Fort Hamilton.
Atop the building, 100 feet above the street, is a statue of a young Union soldier yelling and waving his cap to celebrate a Union triumph. Officially named “Victory — Jewel of the Soul,” the 3,500-pound bronze sculpture, which was cast in Hamilton, is known locally as “Billy Yank.”
Billy Yank is one of many public sculptures adorning downtown Hamilton. Another, of course, is Alexander Hamilton himself, cape flying and impossible to miss on a pedestal in the middle of High Street. Other sculptures and murals downtown celebrate beloved characters from children’s books such as “Lentil” and “Make Way for Ducklings” written and illustrated by Hamilton native Robert McCloskey.
Although visitors can seek out the many downtown artworks, it’s fun to discover them serendipitously while exploring the many shops and restaurants at the center of town.
Across from the soldier’s monument is Heritage Hall, a lovely Art Deco building that once served as a municipal building. Today the building houses a museum room dedicated to McCloskey, offices and several businesses including Municipal Brew Works, 20 High St., www.municipal.beer/, a terrific craft brewery in a terrific historic space.
