Wilberforce

History of Wilberforce Ohio

The history of Wilberforce is inseparable from the larger story of freedom and education in America.

In 1850, the natural springs east of Xenia became a resort known as Tawawa Springs.  The destination gained popularity among Southern slaveholders who brought enslaved people north during the summer months. Many Ohio residents strongly opposed this dynamic.  Business declined, the resort closed in 1855, and the land soon found a new purpose.

By 1856, the site became a stop along the Underground Railroad and the home of Wilberforce University — named for 18th-century British abolitionist William Wilberforce.  The university opened its doors as a joint effort between the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  By 1858, 200 students were enrolled.

From contested ground to a center of education and empowerment… Wilberforce became a place defined not by division, but by advancement.

Wilberforce Ohio Landmarks

• Wilberforce University: Founded in 1856, it is the oldest private historically Black university in the United States. Its campus represents resilience, scholarship, and leadership.
• Central State University:  Originally established as a department of Wilberforce University before becoming an independent institution, it remains one of Ohio’s two public historically Black universities.
• Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument:  The preserved home of Colonel Charles Young, one of the highest-ranking Black officers in the U.S. Army before World War I and a distinguished Buffalo Soldier.
• National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center:  A state-supported museum preserving and celebrating African American art, culture, and history in Ohio and beyond.

Together, these institutions make Wilberforce one of the most historically significant small communities in the state of Ohio.

Fine Art Prints of Wilberforce Ohio

Wilberforce imagery carries depth. Campus architecture framed by mature trees. Quiet academic greenspaces. Country roads stretching beyond historic institutions. The landscape here feels thoughtful… intentional… enduring.

For alumni, faculty, students, and families, these prints represent more than scenery. They represent legacy. For healthcare and corporate environments, the images offer recognizable places tied to scholarship, leadership, and cultural heritage.

Technically, many of these works are high-resolution compositions capable of scaling into large canvas and metal installations while maintaining architectural detail and tonal clarity.

Beyond the campuses, Wilberforce’s surrounding farmland and winding rural roads offer peaceful Greene County scenes under expansive Ohio skies — a reminder that history and countryside coexist here.

If Wilberforce is part of your story — through Wilberforce University, Central State, Charles Young National Monument, or its surrounding countryside — explore the gallery below and select the scene that reflects your connection to this historic Greene County community.

• Beavercreek Ohio Art Prints
• Bellbrook Ohio Art Prints
• Cedarville Ohio Art Prints
• Clifton Ohio Art Prints
• Fairborn Ohio Art Prints
• Jamestown Ohio Art Prints
• Spring Valley Ohio Art Prints
• Sugarcreek Township Ohio Art Prints
• Wright-Patterson AFB Art Prints
• Wright State University Art Prints
• Xenia Ohio Art Prints
• Yellow Springs Ohio Art Prints