Wilberforce University and Central State University are in Wilberforce, Ohio, and both offer ways to explore their campuses. You can arrange a guided visit at either university or explore Central State on your own, then pair your campus time with local history nearby.
- Both universities are in Wilberforce, Ohio.
- Central State offers guided tours and self-guided campus visits.
- The National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center is on the western edge of Central State’s campus.
Where are the two campuses?
Wilberforce University and Central State University are both located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Wilberforce University describes itself as the nation’s oldest private historically Black university and says it has been a university since 1856.
Central State’s main campus is at 1400 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, Ohio 45384. Its campus includes a clock tower, Student Center, Sunken Garden, and Hallie Q. Brown Memorial Library. The Student Center has a cafeteria, café, and bookstore.
The universities sit close to each other, making it practical to plan visits to both during the same trip. Payne Theological Seminary is also in the area; it takes about 9 minutes to drive there from Xenia Country Inn. You can find details for planning a visit to Payne Theological Seminary if you want to add another campus stop.
Planning visits with each university
Both universities provide ways to arrange a visit, but their tour options differ.
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University provides an online portal for scheduling a campus visit and tour. The portal displays available and unavailable dates, so check it while planning and confirm the options that fit your schedule.
Central State University
Central State offers Marauder-led campus tours, with separate registration options for individuals and groups of 10 or more. You can also explore the campus on a self-guided visit without registering for a guided tour.
Central State describes its campus as 638 acres and provides a list of 20 points of interest to help you plan a self-guided route. If you register for a guided tour, the university directs visitors to park in the Norman E.
Ward Sr. Center lot and go to the Admissions Office lobby on the building’s ground level. For tour-day arrangements, check the university’s official site before you go.
How do you get from Xenia to the campuses?
The campuses are about 8–9 minutes by car from a hotel in Xenia.
Highways connect to Interstate 71 from all directions. Central State’s main campus address is 1400 Brush Row Road, which you can use when setting your destination. The university also gives 937-376-6348 as a contact number for visitors who have issues or are running late for a tour.
Pairing a campus visit with local history
You can add local history without leaving the Wilberforce area. The National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center is at 1350 Brush Row Road, on the western edge of Central State University’s campus. It opened in 1988 and is managed by the Ohio History Connection.
The museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and it is closed December 24–January 3. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $3 for youth ages 6–17; children age 5 and younger, Ohio History Connection members, and Central State or Wilberforce students enter free.
Check the Ohio History Connection’s official site before you go, as hours and admission details can change. The archive is available by appointment only.
For another history stop, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument identifies Youngsholm at 1120 US Route 42 E., less than one mile west of both campuses. The National Park Service says historical markers on the grounds can be viewed at any time.
From Youngsholm, follow U.S. Route 42 about 1.0 mile to Brush Row Road, turn left, and the museum is on the right after the Lionel H. Newsom administration building.
The museum’s location makes it easy to combine with Central State. For its collections, visitor logistics, and planning details, read how to plan a museum visit.
FAQs
Are Wilberforce University and Central State University in the same town?
Yes. Both universities are in Wilberforce, Ohio.
Can you visit Central State University without a guided tour?
Yes. Central State says visitors may take a self-guided tour without registering for a guided tour.
What are the National Afro-American Museum’s regular hours?
The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and closed December 24–January 3.
Can you see historical markers at Youngsholm?
Yes. The National Park Service says visitors can view the historical markers on the grounds at any time.