Steubenville is a small city of about 20,000 people in eastern Ohio, on the banks of the Ohio River at the border with West Virginia. It is the seat of Jefferson County and best known as the "City of Murals" — a downtown outdoor gallery of over 25 giant historical murals painted on building walls, depicting scenes from the city's history. From May to October, artists can sometimes be seen at work on new panels. Guided tours and maps are available from the visitor bureau at 120 South Third Street.
The city's other claim to fame is Dean Martin, who was born here in 1917. The stretch of Route 7 through downtown is named Dean Martin Boulevard, and the annual Dean Martin Festival in June draws fans from across the country.
Old Fort Steuben, a reconstructed frontier military post from 1787, marks the spot where government surveyors laid out the first seven ranges of the Northwest Territory. The site includes an archaeological dig and hosts an annual festival. Next to it, the First Federal Land Office (1801) preserves the administrative machinery of the early republic. Franciscan University of Steubenville is worth a visit for its Portiuncula Chapel — a replica of the chapel St Francis of Assisi rebuilt — and the surrounding gardens.