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Vandalia in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System

 
 
Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 27, 2024
1. Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker
Inscription.
You Are At North Park 2005 U.S. 40, Vandalia
Latitude: 39.877099 Longitude: -84.169101

Welcome To Taylorsville Metropark
Taylorsville MetroPark opened to the public on April 1, 1967. One of the first of Five Rivers MetroParks locations, this 1,300-acre property surrounds Taylorsville Dam, part of the Great Miami River flood control system created in 1922 by the Miami Conservancy District. Today, park guests can enjoy hiking, cycling, kayaking, canoing, sledding, picnicking and camping among the forests and rich history located at Taylorsville.

Experiences At This Location
Five Rivers Metroparks

This park is one of the outstanding public locations operated by your Five Rivers MetroParks. Founded in 1963 to serve the greater Dayton area, MetroParks protects thousands of acres of open space and provides year-round recreation, education and conservation opportunities. Locations are available to the public free of charge - made possible by Montgomery County citizen support of a property tax levy.

Tadmor
Once a bustling village at America's busiest crossroad, Tadmor was at the intersection of the Miami-Erie Canal, National Road, Dayton-Michigan Railroad and the Great Miami River. This strategic location should have helped Tadmor grow and prosper, but successive
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floods stifled growth, Tadmor was finally abandoned when the Taylorsville Dam was constructed.

Great Miami River Trail
Walk or cycle through stands of native forest, covering diverse terrain, while passing along the Great Miami River. To the north, discover where the village of Tadmor once stood; along the way, look for the remnants of the Miami-Erie Canal. Go south from the dam and stand on an observation deck above a native meadow. Enjoy a flat, 10-mile ride to RiverScape MetroPark.

Buckeye And North Country Trails
The North Country National Scenic Trail is a premier footpath stretching 4,600 miles and linking communities, forests and prairies across seven northern states. The Buckeye Trail winds 1,444 miles around Ohio, reaching every corner of the state. At Taylorsville MetroPark, these trails converge, leading hikers south to Deeds Point MetroPark in downtown Dayton or north along the Miami-Erie Canal.

Miami-Erie Canal
The canal provided a 274-mile navigable water route from Lake Erie in Toledo to the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Constructed between 1825 and 1845, the hand-dug canal took 4,000 men to complete. A great achievement in its day, it opened the state to commerce and development. Look for remnants of the canal on the north side of the dam.

Aqueduct
Just a few hundred feet north of the
Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 27, 2024
2. Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker
Taylorsville Dam stands the foundation of the Miami-Erie Aqueduct. It is one of 19 aqueducts constructed along the Miami-Erie Canal. This large, water-filled bridge allowed canal boats to cross the river.

Taylorsville Dam
Constructed between February 1918 and November 1921, this ingeniously simple flood-protection system was the first of its kind. Arthur Morgan designed the dry dams to hold back floodwaters after heavy rainfall. The rest of the time, the land behind the dams is used mainly for parkland and farmland. At the time, the dams were some of the largest earthen structures in the world.

Parks & Conservation Areas

2nd Street Market Feast On Fresh Local Foods
Local growers, bakers, culinary specialists and artisans fill this charming historical freight house. Reminiscent of European markets, it's alive with vendors, people and activity during Market hours.
600 E. Second St, Dayton

Aullwood Garden Metropark Find Tranquility In Marie's Garden
To many, Marie Aull was the godmother of the environmental movement in southwestern Ohio. Visitors to her former country garden retreat can enjoy the collection of wildflowers, beautiful gardens and natural areas she and her husband, John, worked for years to curate.
955 Aullwood Road, Dayton

Carriage Hill Metropark Share Simpler Times
Once
Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 27, 2024
3. Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker
farmland and woodlots, more than 50 years of natural succession have created rich areas of forests, thickets, meadows and prairies to explore at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Farm life in the 1880s comes alive at the historical farm, complete with period farm animals.
7800 E. Shull Road, Dayton

Cox Arboretum Metropark Cultivate Wonder
Cox Arboretum MetroPark is a special place to connect with nature. Look at, discover and rest in the serenity and majesty of trees and shrubs and gardens thoughtfully arranged to capture the imagination.
6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton

Deeds Point Metropark Pause For A Monumental View
This small MetroPark provides an unobstructed and picturesque view of the downtown Dayton skyline, embraced by the beauty of nature.
510 Webster St., Dayton

Eastwood Metropark Get Out And Play
Eastwood MetroPark is a hub of outdoor recreation. With a variety of water-based recreational activities, as well as land-based recreational and leisurely activities, the park offers visitors many opportunities to actively experience nature without leaving the city.
1385 Harshman Road, Dayton

Englewood Metropark Discover Next-Door Nature
The city of Englewood serves as the western boundary for a large portion of Englewood MetroPark. This nature-filled park, one of the largest in the
Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 27, 2024
4. Taylorsville Metropark - Metroparks Park System Marker
region, has been part of the Englewood community for more than 50 years.
4361 W. National Road, Vandalia

Germantown Metropark Explore A World Of Wild
Discover the largest areas of old-growth forest within Montgomery County, creating some of the best habitats for wildlife. From tall trees to water-carved ravines, colorful prairies and meadows to the scenic Twin Creek corridor, this park traverses some of the region's most beautiful landscape.
7101 Conservancy Road, Germantown

Hills & Dales Metropark Ramble Through An Urban Forest
Urban woodlands like those at Hills & Dales MetroPark are critical to the health and quality of life within our cities. They are dynamic ecosystems that provide clean air and water. This historical urban forest has been a natural refuge for Daytonians since 1907.
2740 S. Patterson Blvd., Kettering

Huffman Metropark Two-Wheeled Fun For Everyone
Huffman MetroPark, by its very name, draws connections to bicycles for local residents. The park and earthen dam within it are named after the Huffman family, founders of the Huffy Bike Corpora- tion in 1892.
4095 Lower Valley Pike, Dayton

Island Metropark Come Together At The River
Just a few miles north of RiverScape MetroPark, where the Stillwater River flows into the Great Miami, is an urban oasis with a long
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Dayton history.
101 E. Helena St., Dayton

Possum Creek Metropark Make Lasting Family Memories
Adults and children alike will love exploring the blend of nature, history and community at Possum Creek MetroPark. Hike together in one of Ohio's best examples of a tall grass prairie.
4790 Frytown Road, Dayton

Riverscape Metropark Dayton'S Front Porch
Amid the beautifully landscaped gardens, flowering pots, hanging baskets and reflecting pools, this lively park on the banks of the Great Miami River offers a place for those who live, work and play downtown to connect with nature.
237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton

Sugarcreek Metropark Escape Into Diverse, Natural Beauty
Oak trees estimated to be 550 years old, a tall grass prairie, woodlands and the scenic Sugar Creek beckon visitors.
4178 Conference Road, Bellbrook

Sunrise Metropark Watch Birds Beneath The Downtown Skyline
This small urban park is situated on a high bank above the Great Miami River.
50 N. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton

Taylorsville Metropark Rediscover The Crossroads Of Adventure
Today, the area serves as the crossroads of bike trails, hiking trails and river recreation. The park is a gateway to new outdoor experiences.
2101 U.S. 40, Vandalia

Twin Creek Metropark Climb The Region'S Most Rugged Ridges
Enjoy the best wilderness experience in the region. Part of the Twin Valley Conservation Corridor, Twin Creek MetroPark offers mature forests within the breathtaking ravines - an ideal spot for hiking, backpacking and camping.
9688 Eby Road, Germantown

Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark Inspire Your Inner Gardener
At Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, view landscaping with native plants in balance with traditional garden selections.
1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton

Wesleyan Metropark Kick Back On The Banks Of The Wolf Creek
Situated on Wolf Creek, it's hard to believe this picturesque natural area is located within the city. Wesleyan provides a gathering spot for friends and family to meet and experience the outdoors just down the street.
1441 Wesleyan Road, Dayton

Dull Woods Conservation Area Pristine Swamp Forest
This unique 8-acre woodlot is in Clay Township and adjacent to the Wolf Creek Trail.
Accessible From The Wolf Creek Trail

Medlar Conservation Area Conservation In Action
Medlar Conservation Area protects 416 acres containing mature woods, fields, shrub-scrub habi- tat, a pond and a number of created wetlands, preserving some of the last quality open space in this part of Montgomery County.

4558 Medlar Road, Miamisburg

Woodman Fen Conservation Area Dayton's Only Fen
This 33-acre natural area contains a rare groundwater-fed wetland known as a fen. Fens contain thick deposits of peat and support many rare and unusual plants.
2409 Newcastle Dr., Dayton
 
Erected by Five Rivers MetroParks.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational AreasSettlements & SettlersWaterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1918.
 
Location. 39° 52.63′ N, 84° 10.155′ W. Marker is in Vandalia, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is at the intersection of South Cassel Road and East National Road (U.S. 40), on the right when traveling north on South Cassel Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4700 E National Rd, Vandalia OH 45377, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Dayton Metro and in the Miami Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Taylorsville Metropark (a few steps from this marker); Tadmor - Taylorsville (a few steps from this marker); Taylorsville (approx. half a mile away); Henry Seger Community Park (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Crossroads of America (approx. 1.9 miles away); Phoneton (approx. 2.3 miles away); Murlin Heights Elementary School Flagpole (approx. 2.4 miles away); a different marker also named Phoneton (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vandalia.
 
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Village of Tadmor / The National Road (was approx. 1.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 165 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 17, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
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Jun. 26, 2026