John Rankin House Historic Site

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Ripley, OH
John Rankin House Historic Site

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Rankin House was the home of abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor, Rev. John Rankin. He and his family helped over 2000 slaves escape to freedom. Rev.

It contains some family memorabilia and the site offers a spectacular view of the Ohio River. John Rankin and his family moved to Ripley, Ohio, in 1822 where he served as pastor of the local Presbyterian church. A staunch abolitionist, Rankin wrote a series of letters, explaining the evils of slavery to his brother Thomas, a slave owner in Virginia. Rankin's brother eventually freed his slaves and settled in Ohio. Rankin's letters were published in 1826 as "Letters on American Slavery," one of the earliest American anti-slavery books. Rankin, his wife Jean, and their 13 children helped lead an estimated 2,000 slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. A light in the window of their hilltop home overlooking the Ohio River into Kentucky provided a beacon to runaways. Rev/ Rankin's commitments to the church and as an Underground Railroad conductor often kept him away from home. On several occasions, it was Jean and the children that protected the home from bounty hunters and escorted runaways to stations in neighboring towns. The John Rankin House Historic Site is administered by the Ohio Historical Society for the State of Ohio. It is locally managed by Ripley Heritage, Inc. The site is open May through October. The site is currently undergoing a restoration, which visitors will learn about during their tour as well as the history of the Rankin Family. The house is a National Historic Landmark.

08/14/2026

Electrical service has been restored and the John Rankin House Historic Site will be open to the public today, Friday, August 14.

08/13/2026

Due to a continued electrical outage in Ripley the John Rankin House Historic Site will be closed today, Thursday, August 13. We are sorry for any difficulties this closure may cause.

08/12/2026

The John Rankin House Historic Site will be closed today, Wednesday, August 12, due to a town-wide electrical outage.

07/11/2026

Stop by a check out our newest historical marker at the John Rankin House Historic Site. The marker was dedicated May 30 during a program at the Rankin House visitor center. The marker was provided by the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative and is part of a multi-state project documenting and interpreting verified Underground Railroad sites. The trail covers sites along the Ohio River in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

07/02/2026

The John Rankin House Historic Site in Ripley, Ohio will be open for tours on Independence Day, Saturday, July 4. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm and tours are given on the hour with the last tour of the day beginning at 4 pm.

06/30/2026

The flower pots at the visitor center at the John Rankin House Historic Site are cared for by the Local members of the Brown County Master Gardeners. Our thanks goes to Cindy Kratzer, Martha Fithen and Sara Goldsberry. Also, a big thank you to Jim Donovan for caring for our flower garden. And, our Jean Rankin herb garden is cared for by members of the Ripley Women’s Club. A tip of the hat to everyone.

03/31/2026

The John Rankin House Historic Site will be closed Sunday, April 5 in observance of Easter.

01/02/2026

Happy New Year to our friends and supporters!
This year marks the 78th year the John Rankin House Historic Site has been open to the public and 197 years ago that Rev. Rankin snd his family moved into this hilltop home.
We are grateful for all of you for your support of this historic site. We look forward to another year of sharing the story of this remarkable family and their role in the Underground Railroad movement.
Ripley Heritage Board of Trustees and staff

Address

6152 Rankin Hill Rd
Ripley, OH
45167

Telephone

+18007522705

Website

http://www.ohiohistory.org/museums-and-historic-sites/museum--historic-sites-by-name/rankin-househttp://

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