LEBANON, Ohio - One of Ohio’s most iconic homes turned museum could be hitting the market very soon.

The Glendower Historic Mansion and Arboretum in Lebanon has closed.

The non-profit Warren County Historical Society owns the home, but can no longer afford to maintain the property.

What You Need To Know

  • Glendower Historic Mansion is closed

  • Rising expenses force nonprofit Warren County Historical Society to turnover ownership

  • The mansion is known for Greek revival residential architecture

  • No price set for mansion and surrounding grounds

We spoke with the society’s executive director for not only a history lesson, but a look at the organization’s efforts over the past decade and beyond.

“This was the carriage path that connected all the big houses on the hill and Glendower was the first one built from 1836 to 1840,” said Executive Director Michael Coyan.

When it comes to the Glendower Historic Mansion, he can tell you just about everything.

“It is one of the finest examples of Greek revival residential architecture in Ohio. The fact that it only had five families live in it, they had children, but they were very strict with the children. The woodwork is absolutely pristine,” he said.

The mansion was home to families of a Union Civil War General, a prosecuting attorney, and a wealthy socialite.

The home and grounds have never really seen a major renovation.

“They’ve been here since the 1840s. They’re huge Bald Cypress,” said Coyan as he pointed out the trees on the property.

Even the materials used to build the home are linked to local history.

“The bricks were fired approximately five blocks from here,” he added.

In 2007, the Historical Society bought the home back from the state of Ohio.

Coyan says at first there was a lot of excitement and support.

“As the years have passed, the age of the house museum is largely over,” he said.

Coyan says they tried just about everything, but it doesn’t grab national attention like other museums around the area.

Even when they hosted festivals, it was nearly impossible to see the house from the road.

“We’ve tried Civil War encampments. We’ve had high teas up here, but all met with moderate success. The other thing is that attendance in general has fallen off. In two months we might have a dozen people go through the house,” he said.

It takes thousands of dollars each year to upkeep such a historic site and some updates are nearly impossible.

“There’s no way to make the handicap accessible without damaging its status as a house on the National Historic Registry,” he said.

Coyan says it’s a sad feeling to let the house go, but he hopes there are better days ahead.

“It’s like we’re saying goodbye to the house in a proper way and we want to make sure that it winds up in the hands of someone who loves the house and the property and maintains it because it is a magnificent example of Greek Revival architecture,” said Coyan.

Even though the doors are closed, the mansion does have a working furnace, air conditioners, electricity, running water, and bathrooms.

Most of the historical artifacts inside are in the process of being moved to the nearby Harmon Museum.

There is no set price tag yet for the mansion.

Discussions are underway right now on the best ways to market the house for a new buyer.