Just like much of the country, the 1960s in Ohio was a time of great change and historic events. From politics and war to river fires and retro fashion, Ohio in the 1960s looked very different from the Ohio we know and love today! This era has a huge historical significance for Ohio history, however, and it’s fascinating to dig through the archives and get a better picture (literally) of this pivotal decade.  The following are 12 photos taken throughout Ohio during the 1960s, and they’re pretty cool to see.

1. Sealtest Dairy in Cleveland
Cleveland, OH, USA
Diane Gregg/Flickr
Check out this photo of Sealtest Dairy in Cleveland Ohio taken by Stanley Gregory with an Argus camera from 1960. It's proof Clevelanders have always loved their dairy!
2. Westinghouse Building in Cleveland in 1969
Westinghouse Building, 1186-1200 W 58th St, Cleveland, OH 44102, USA
Richard Huppertz/Wikimedia Commons
Here is a computer animated sign atop the Westinghouse Building on U.S. Route 20 in Cleveland, Ohio near Edgewater Park.
3. Lakeview Park Easter basket in Lorain
Lakeview Park, 1800 W Erie Ave, Lorain, OH 44052, USA
Rona Proudfoot/Flickr
What a lovely photo of a family in this small town near Cleveland!
4. Train Depot in Warren
South Street, South St, Clearcreek Township, OH 45036, USA
South Street, Warren OH
Josh Native/Flickr
Here is a Train Depot on South Street, Warren OH, circa 1960s. Today, visitors to Lebanon, Ohio, can ride the LM&M Railroad.
5. Bromley Hall at Ohio University in Athens
Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Ohio University Libraries/Flickr
Here's a photo of Bromley Hall interior dining hall from the mid 1960s. While many things have changed, one thing remains the same, and that's the food scene in this college town!
6. Arlington Arms Motel in Columbus
Columbus, OH, USA
1950sUnlimited/Flickr
What a cool photo of Columbus from the 1960s!

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7. A day at the park in Cleveland
Diane Gregg/Flickr
The Flickr user describes this photo: "Here is mom (dressed rather well for swinging) and us in dresses at one of Cleveland's wonderful playgrounds. This one may have been across from the A&P. I love how colorfully the swings are painted."
8. Lake Vesuvius in June of 1960
Lake Vesuvius, Elizabeth Township, OH 45659, USA
U.S. Forest Service photograph/Wikimedia Commons
Beachgoers have long enjoyed the scene at Lake Vesuvius in Ohio... even in the 1960s!
9. Cleveland Union Terminal
Tower City Center, 230 W Huron Rd, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA
David Wilson/Wikimedia Commons
Here's a capture of City Rapid Transit Station entrance on Feb. 25, 1968. Hooray for public transportation in Cleveland!
10. Interior of a Cleveland Transit System car
David Wilson/Wikimedia Commons
Here's a peek at what public transit looked like in the 1960s in Cleveland.
11. Cedar Point Monorail ride, circa 1960
Cedar Point, 1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky, OH 44870, USA
Cedar Fair L.P./Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Point's Monorail that was installed in 1959. The monorail was designed and built by John Braziel, William Burse, and Edward Everhart of Akron’s Ohio Mechanical Handling Company. The ride was originally installed and tested at Akron’s Summit Beach Park in 1957. That park closed in 1958, the ride was moved to Cedar Point. It was considered the first Commercial Monorail in America. It was suspended nine feet above the midway and traveled a three-quarter mile course. The monorail train consisted of five passenger cars. The monorail was gasoline-powered, and was an exciting feature in this thrilling Ohio amusement park!
12. Crosley Field in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH, USA
Blake Bolinger/Wikimedia Commons
Taken in August of 1969, this was an nostalgic landmark folks in Cincinnati still miss.

Do you (or anyone you know) remember what life in Ohio was like in the 1960s? Is it a decade you or a family member lived through? Share your memories and any photos you may have with us in the comments below!

For another trip down memory lane many of you might remember, be sure to check out this collection of Ohio photos from the ’80s.

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1960s Ohio

Sarah M. | April 28, 2022

What was Ohio like in the 1960s?

Ohio in the 60s was more farmland than it is today, with our larger cities more pronounced and the suburbs still decades away from truly taking off. One of the places that looked very different between 1960 and 2020 is Columbus. In the 1960s, Columbus was already a major metropolis. Ohio State University played a major role in life and suburban sprawl had only just begun. The downtown area was being altered constantly to make way for a changing lifestyle that involved a rapid increase in automobile use. The best way to get an idea of what 1960s Columbus, Ohio, was like is to take a look at this footage of Columbus in 1964-65, which shows how much the city has evolved over time. This video includes street scenes, the Ohio State University’s Oval and Mirror Lake, downtown Columbus, and the construction of the underground parking garage beneath the Ohio Statehouse grounds. It's quite fascinating to watch!

What are some other unique periods in Ohio history?

If you're a child of the '80s, you know how much the world has changed -- and Ohio is the prime example of this. Throughout the years, Ohio has seen a great deal of change. Looking back at the past though photos incites nostalgia and an appreciation for how far we’ve come. From department stores and local companies to amusement parks and other vacation destinations, these 15 rare photos of Ohio in the 1980s are sure to fascinate you! We're especially fond of the image of Riverfront Stadium in Downtown Cincinnati... what an icon it was!

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