Schoenbrunn Village, New Philadelphia

About Schoenbrunn Village

Schoenbrunn Village preserves a settlement founded in 1772 as a Moravian mission, the first Christian settlement in Ohio. Visitors explore 16 reconstructed log structures including homes, workshops, and utility buildings, along with the original cemetery, the church, and gardens while experiencing the village as it appeared more than two centuries ago. A visitor center with museum exhibits and an introductory video helps orient guests before they walk the grounds. The village was established by David Zeisberger and became the site of Ohio's first schoolhouse, first church, and first civil code. Guided tours are available, and visitors can participate in seasonal demonstrations of period activities and crafts. Though the settlement prospered initially, pressures from encroaching settlers forced its abandonment in 1777, five years after its founding.