Photo by Janelle Patterson Volunteer guide Maggie Webster, center, explains the fortifications surrounding Rufus Putnam's house inside Campus Martius Museum Wednesday as she talks with Michigan visitors Russ and Kate Chapel.

Though predictions were for spikes in local tourism next year following the spring release of David McCullough’s “The Pioneers,” avid readers are already popping up in Marietta.

“Our visitation numbers have definitely been up since July 1. We’re having to guide tours every hour– we’ve never had that– let alone multiple people on each tour every single hour. This is really incredible,” said Christina Tilton, director of marketing for the Campus Martius Museum.

And that increase in visitors is coming from a mix of people.

“We have whole families coming, maybe not all have read the book, but they’ve heard about it, and the kids are looking at the model French musket, some of the girls who have kitchen chores pay more attention to Rufus Putnam’s kitchen and how one of the chores was churning butter, and all of the kids are interested in the chamber pots upstairs,” said volunteer tour guide Maggie Webster. “Many who come here are surprised the house is still standing and that the museum was built around it.”

Webster gave a tour Wednesday to a couple who drove to Marietta from Michigan, specifically because of McCullough’s book.

“My birthday is June 2, and my son got me a copy of the book,” explained Russ Chapel Wednesday as the pair began their tour of Putnam’s house inside Campus Martius. “There are so many sites mentioned in the book here, and it’s not a hard drive.”

Webster explained the design of Campus Martius as a fort built for the protection of early settlers.

And she answered questions about the palisades of the fort as she pointed out the diorama, and noted the mixture of professions for early settlers from retired soldiers to businessmen and farmers.

“There was never a direct attack on Campus Martius, this was where early pioneers retreated for protection,” she explained before guiding the Chapels into Putnam’s kitchen, upstairs bedrooms and around the home.

“We’ve heard of Campus Martius before in reference to a place in Detroit,” said Kate Chapel. “It would be neat to follow up with a trip there to see what’s the same and what’s different.”

Tilton said visitors like the Chapels have been pouring through the doors.

“Some are only halfway through the book but were passing through the Midwest, others have had relatives somewhere in Ohio and have found the detour down here worth the trip,” she said. “People are literally coming from all over.”

And as they come, the museums are guiding visitors to other stops in Marietta from historic house tours to restaurants.

“We took the trolley this morning and learned so much, too,” noted Kate Chapel before their guided tour wrapped up Wednesday.

Trolley owner Harley Noland said his tour riders have spiked by 50 percent since the release of the book.

“The book has brought them here, many have never been to Marietta before,” he explained. “But it’s also bringing out more locals who’ve never been on the trolley either.”

And though not mentioned in the publication, The Castle museum has seen an uptick in tourism as well, said Noland, who is a board member.

“It’s sparked a general re-interest in local history,” concurred Heather Sands, of the Valley Gem Sternwheeler and Riviera Restaurant. “We’ve always included stories about local figures on our sightseeing tours, but when our captains ask how many onboard have read the book, tons of hands are going up. But we’re also seeing more interest in our partnership with Henderson Hall, too.”

At the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Executive Director Deana Clarke said visits to the center are up by 60 percent.

“And they’re coming from multiple states, all to find the places mentioned in the book,” she said. “They want to know where the First Congregational Church is, Campus Martius, Mound Cemetery and we also send them to the display at Marietta College’s library.”

Clarke said between April and June, 790 visitors passed through the doors of the center.

Janelle Patterson can be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

If you go:

• Highlights into the writing of David McCullough’s “The Pioneers” can be found:

• In displays at Marietta College Legacy Library.

• In the home of Rufus Putnam at Campus Martius Museum.

• During the Rivers, Trails and Ales river and riding scavenger hunts this weekend.

Source: Times research.