Walking Tour of the Historic Athens Asylum

You can buy tickets and give as gifts for any tours during 2019, just call us at 740-592-2280 and choose the gift shop option!

ALL REGULAR ASYLUM TOURS WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAYS OF EACH MONTH FROM 2:00PM-4:00PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Our schedule for the 2019 season:
March 10
April 14
May 12
June 9
July 14
August TBA
September 15
October 13
November 10
December 15

This is an outdoor walking tour and will cover the entire loop of the grounds including the cemeteries so if you have small children, bring a stroller!

Tour the famous Athens Asylum during its sesquicentennial year (1868-2018). Meet at the Kennedy Museum of Art, in front of the large Kirkbride Building of the Athens Asylum.

George Eberts, long time Asylum employee and local expert on the Athens Asylum, will be leading an outdoor walking tour of the historic Asylum grounds and buildings. His insights on patient treatment throughout the asylum’s 150-year existence are peppered with stories, personal anecdotes, and hidden locations throughout the grounds.

Learn about the history of the famed Kirkbride and other old buildings, the renowned landscaped grounds, historic cemeteries, and the evolution of mental health treatment from the inception of this storied institution until its closure a quarter century ago.

For more information or to reserve a space on the tour contact Heather at the Southeast Ohio History Center at 740-592-2280. Tickets can be purchased at the History Center at 24 West State Street in Athens.

The tour will last approximately two hours. Due to Ohio University restrictions, access to the inside of the buildings is limited, but you can tour the main entryway as well as the Kennedy Museum.

Rain Policy: We conduct the Asylum Tour in rain or shine so please bring appropriate clothing and umbrellas as conditions require.  Cancellation will take place only if dangerous weather such as lighting storm or high winds are active.  In winter months, if there is a level 2 or 3 snow emergency, the tour will be canceled as well.  In the event of cancellation, those with prepaid tickets can call us and choose either another tour or receive a refund.

All regularly scheduled tours are held on Sunday afternoons and start from the main steps of the Kennedy center located at the top of North Ridge Drive. 100 Ridges Circle is the address for Garmin and navigation tools.

Tickets are $18.00 with a Southeast Ohio History Center membership or $20.00 each for 12 and over. You can call us to prepay your tickets with a credit/debit card or stop in the gift shop to pay cash prior to the tour. If you need to mail in a check to pay for tickets, the address is: Southeast Ohio History Center, Attn: Gift shop, 24 W. State Street, Athens, Ohio 45701.  Payment must be received prior to the day of your tour.

REFUND POLICY-   Refunds will be given only under the following circumstances:

• Requests that are pre-paid and made at least 48 Hours prior to tour.
• Active lightening storms- you will be given either tickets to attend another tour of your choice, or, ticket price will be refunded. Rain DOES NOT cancel the tours- please bring appropriate rain/weather gear.
• Level 2 or higher snow emergency.

Due to the popularity of our tours we now request preregistration. Call 740-592-2280 and press 1 for the gift shop to reserve your tickets! Tours do sell out regularly, so please reserve your tickets prior to the tour.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Asylum Tour, call The Southeast Ohio History Center at 740-592-2280 and choose option 1.