Students in the Natural and Historical Interpretation program at Hocking College will be giving historical tours of Nelsonville on Friday, March 27 and Friday, April 24. These tours are part of a capstone project for seven students, allowing them to apply what they have learned in school.

Using the information they gathered through research and talking to knowledgeable townspeople, students will tell tour participants about each site they visit.

Participating students include: Emily Garnich, Halie Popovitch, Hannah Capannari, Joe Dudo, William Smith, Nora Steele and Kathryn Zeppernick. These students also take part in the historical interpretations, in 1850s clothing, at the Robbins Crossing village.

Those who are interested in taking a tour should be at the arch over Rocky Boot Way at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the tours. Each tour is expected to take an hour and a half, and will be held rain or shine.

The tour includes stops at the Dew House, Stuart's Opera House, the former YMCA building, Fort Street Cemetery, Rocky Boots and the Mine Tavern.

This is the first year of these tours but everyone is optimistic it will go well. "Giving historical tours gives people a sense of self," said student Halie Popovitch, adding that making people more aware of their past will help ensure that historical sites are preserved. "Not only preserved, but improved," Emily Garnich added.