local unique sites and visuals

come Take a look at some historical places near you

By Aidan Brown

Edited by Madison Moeller

Illustrations by Logan Phillips

Photography by Shaelyn Thomas

Layout by Rachel Klosterman

Many students that go to Wright State Lake Campus either live in the dorms provided by the campus or drive up to Celina for classes. For many, Celina is a new place for students to explore and they may not think there is anything of interest in the town, which is simply not the case. Celina is home to several unique and interesting places, such as the Lake State Park the town is known for, the Celina lighthouse, and the Mercer County Historical Museum.

Grand Lake St. Marys State Park

The Celina, or the Grand Lake St. Marys, is the most well-known landmark in Celina, but many do not know much about it other than it is in fact a lake. The lake is 13,500 acres of water and is the largest inland lake in Ohio. In-depth, however, it is shallow, with the average depth being about 5 to 7 feet deep. The reason for the lake’s shallow depth but large surface area is because the lake is man-made and was once the largest manufactured lake. The park is open year-round for recreation, where students can go boating, fishing, swimming, and even hunting; perfect for students who like to enjoy nature. If fact, if you are a student that wants to boat across the lake, the Lake Campus has a boat house that is open on Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Experience the unique sites of Celina Ohio in a way that only a student, or faculty member, could.

Celina Lighthouse

The Celina lighthouse, or the Celina Rotary Lighthouse, is a popular tourist attraction on the bank of the Lake. The lighthouse was built in 1986 and serves as an observation deck for citizens, students, and tourists. The lighthouse stands at an impressive height of 40 feet and can be used as the perfect place to see St. Marys Lake. The lighthouse can even be used as a backdrop for photos, perfect for students that want to remember everything about their time at Wright State.

Mercer County Historical Museum

For students that have a fascination with history, there is the Mercer County Historical Museum, located at 130 E Market, with PO Box 512 Celina and zip code OH 45822. The Museum chronicles the past 200 years of Mercer County, including many genealogical materials and dozens of books on local history. There are even special exhibits held throughout the year, such as prehistoric artifacts, antique guns, postcards, and old sports hall of fame. For students that are only interested in certain aspects of history and old Celina culture, these exhibits are perfect for you.