Ever since the 1817 construction of the Erie Canal, Ohio has received a steady influx of home furnishings. Perhaps it is this history that inspired Ohioans to have an ongoing love affair with antiques. From Cincinnati to Springfield, approximately 84 miles apart, there are some wonderful antique shops. Springfield is home to an estimated 1,500 dealers, and there are more in the nearby towns of South Charleston, Harmony, Clifton, and Carlisle.

When it comes to antiques shows and flea markets, there are a few here worth noting as well. There’s a mid-monthly Antique Show and Flea Market in Springfield, and in May, July and September, there’s am event that features 2,500 dealers presenting a vast variety of objects, from American period furniture to the 1950s folk art and collectibles. And last but not least, there’s the Antique Bottle and Fruit Jar Show and an Antique Gun, Weapon, and Tool show that happens in November.

Local attractions in Springfield include a museum with American and European Art, a June/July arts festival, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wescott House museum. Waynesville holds an old-time music festival in Late June, and the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival on the second weekend in October.