Located in Zanesville's Putnam Historic District, The Stone Academy is one of the oldest and arguably the most historic buildings in Muskingum County. 

Located in the Putnam Historic District, The Stone Academy is one of the oldest and arguably the most historic building in Muskingum County. Constructed in 1809 by Dr. Increase Mathews, Levi Whipple, and Ebenezer Buckingham, it was designed to serve as the new state capitol building. Across the river in Zanesville, then a separate and rival community, John McIntire and others constructed a building of their own with the same goal. Zanesville was selected and served as the capital of Ohio from 1810 to 1812.

The Stone Academy functioned as a school and a public building until it was converted to a private residence in 1840. In the 1830's it was the center of abolitionist activity in Putnam. The Ohio Anti-Salvery Society held state conventions in the building in 1835 and 1839. On both occasions violence erupted when mobs of pro-slavery Zanesville "Tuckahoes" disrupted the proceedings.

The building also served as a station on the Underground Railroad. The museum's most popular exhibit highlights a hidden trap door under the staircase that accessed a craw-spacewhere run-a-way slaves hid.

Another popular exhibit features books written by author, actress, and activist Elizabeth Robins who lived in the building in the 1870's.

Other highlights include historic portraits of John and Sarah McIntire and others, several murals, Allwine and Bailey furniture, pottery, Native American artifacts, an historic timeline of Putnam, exhibits from Zanesville's old bridges including the famous Y-Bridge, a tribute to John Glenn, and many other items illustrating the history and culture of Muskingum County.

Location: 115 Jefferson Street, Zanesville Ohio 43701

Phone: 740-454-9500

Hours (subject to change) May 1 through September 29: 
Wednesday - Friday 1 - 4pm; Saturday 10am - 4pm

OPEN YEAR ROUND BY APPOINTMENT

Admission:   Adults $5.00   Students $1.00 (No charge for school groups)

VISIT BOTH MUSEUMS FOR $7.00

To read more historic accounts of the Stone Academy click on the link below:

 STONE ACADEMY GARNERS NATIONAL ATTENTION

The Stone Academy is arguably the most historic building in Zanesville and Muskingum County. It is the only public building from the early 1800's still standing in Ohio. Its role in the anti-slavery movement that preceded the start of the Civil War is well documented. The building's connection to the Underground Railroad is widely recognized.

The National Park Service

Following a lengthy application process requiring extensive documentation, the Stone Academy was accepted by the National Park Service (NPS) as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Referring the Stone Academy, NPS Regional Director Stephen E. Adams wrote, "We found that it makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the Underground Railroad in American History and that it meets the requirements as a site.”

The Network to Freedom was created in 1998 by Public Law 105-203, which directs the National Park Service "to establish a program that tells the story of resistance to the institution od slavery in the United States through resistance and flight." According to the NPS, "this story is illustrative of a basic founding principle of this Nation, that all human beings embrace the right of self-determination and freedom from oppression. through the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, the NPS is demonstrating the significance of the Underground Railroad not only in the eradication of slavery, but as a cornerstone of our national civil rights movement." For more information click on Network to Freedom. To view the Stone Academy application click on Application.

State Representative Troy Balderson, Muskingum County History President Bob Jenkins, Nancy Sams of the Belpre Historical Society, and Underground Railroad historian Henry Robert Burke with the newly installed Ohio Historical marker at the Stone Academy.

Visit the Dr. Increase Matthews House