Ohio students entering the fourth-grade in the 2025-2026 school year and up to three of their guests can receive free admission to Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek through the expanded AM250 Ohio Pass program, officials from the castle announced this week.
This special offer is only available through July 31.
To participate, simply download or print your Fourth Grade History Pass Plus and then come visit the castle, 10051 Township Road 47, West Liberty. Visit https://america250-ohio.org/fourth-grade-history-pass-plus-july-2026/.
“A big thank you goes to AM250-Ohio for providing Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek the funds to create our new experiences and for sponsoring Ohio’s 4th Grade History Passes,” Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek officials said.
The Fourth Grade History pass enables this same opportunity for students and their families to a variety of historical museums and sites around the state. Find other participating sites on the website.
At Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek, students can learn about American history by exploring over 200 years of Piatt family history.
Benjamin Piatt built a cabin here in 1828. His son Abram built the castle from 1864 to 1871. Abram's son Wiliam opened the home as a museum by 1912. The limestone walls, painted ceilings and beautiful woodwork create a unique setting that is still attracting visitors today.
As everything does, museums change over time and our new indoor exhibits are based on the theme “Telling Stories of Stories of Stories Told”.
The castle recently published a new children’s activity book with this title. The book turns artifacts found in the museum into characters that tell their own stories. It is available for purchase and enhances the experience by allowing young visitors to read and write down their impressions.
Speaking of writing, you can read family letters documenting their experiences in both the Civil War and WWII in our military room. This room highlights the Piatts and their service time from the American Revolution to Korea.
New outdoor exhibits are also available, including one that tells the story of the Shawnee and another that tells how the family migrated from France to Ohio. Other outdoor exhibits include information on the family, the building and the farm.
A kids’ favorite is the exhibit at the doghouse where you can see pictures of over 100 years worth of dogs. Another exhibit has toys to play with that would have been popular at the time the house was first built.
“Our self-guided tours allow you and your family to explore Piatt family history at your pace while prompting you to reflect on your own family history. Every family’s history is a piece of American history. Make a visit to Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek part of YOUR family’s history,” officials said in a press release.
