Nelsonville in Athens County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Stuart's Opera House
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 19, 2025
1. Stuart's Opera House Marker
Inscription.
George Stuart's first career was as the owner and operator of a showboat, and after that boat sank in a storm, he returned to Nelsonville. There, George married Nancy Dew, from a prominent local family, and started construction on a permanent theater. Stuart's Opera House opened in 1879 at the start of Nelsonville's boom period. It became a cornerstone of the town, right on its historic Public Square. Stuart's hosted all kinds of entertainment and was a gathering place for the community. The Opera House also attracted a high caliber of shows, playing host to some of the era's most successful acts until it closed in 1924. In the 1970s, community members hoped to re-open the building, but a devastating fire in March of 1980 would delay the grand re-opening until 1997. Stuart's is a world-class performing arts center and historic theater that continues to host numerous concerts, plays, and performances. The community remains central, whether directly impacted by arts education programs or celebrated with the annual Nelsonville Music Festival. You can view Invisible Ground markers outside on the Square at various marked locations
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and inside the Opera House on the right side of the main floor and balcony.
Erected by Invisible Ground - Southeast Ohio History Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1980.
Location. 39° 27.632′ N, 82° 13.93′ W. Marker is in Nelsonville, Ohio, in Athens County. It is at the intersection of Public Square and West Washington Street, on the right when traveling south on Public Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 34 Public Square, Nelsonville OH 45764, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Hocking Hills. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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 walking distance
Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
