MECHANICAL MUSICIANS EMERGE FROM THE WORLD’S LARGEST CUCKOO CLOCK TO MARK THE HOUR. | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Twice each hour, the world’s largest cuckoo clock chimes in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

The landmark marvel is much more than a clock; after bells toll to sound the hour or half-hour, a quintet of mechanical musicians emerge from within the structure to play a lively tune while another pair of figures dance nearby. All day, you’ll see tourists line up to take videos of the public display while local teens — not to mention Mennonite and Amish citizens riding in horse-drawn buggies — stroll by, barely glancing at the tourist attraction that has for decades marked the time in their hometown.

The town proudly calls itself “The Little Switzerland of Ohio,” a designation that dates back to the original settlers of the village; most were either recent Swiss immigrants or Amish groups with German heritage. Switzerland is omnipresent in Sugarcreek, where even bank branches and law offices have alpine scenes painted above their doors — and the Alpine Hills Museum, which contains several detailed recreations of traditional homes, plays pleasant Swiss tunes from a rooftop speaker during daylight hours.

THE FACADE OF THE CHEERFUL ALPINE HILLS MUSEUM. | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

The cuckoo clock is a well-maintained and lively example of a particular sort of attraction — the roadside curiosity, made to encourage travelers to stop and buy lunch (and a postcard or two). But it’s also a hint at the surprising number of remarkable and unique institutions to be found here and in neighboring towns.

A short drive from the center of Sugarcreek, visitors to the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum can inspect dozens of vintage locomotives — some in working order. The massive machines, some of which are in perfect working order, were collected by the late Jerry Joe Jacobson, a railroad executive who built the roundhouse as a tribute to steam engines and their history. You’ll leave a guided, 90-minute tour having seen locomotives that appeared in films including “Stand by Me” and “Terror Train,” and with a newfound appreciation for the extraordinary feats of engineering these mechanical monsters required.

ONE OF MANY LOCOMOTIVES AT THE AGE OF STEAM ROUNDHOUSE MUSEUM. | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

A smaller but no less detailed collection can be found steps from the cuckoo clock at Collectors Decanters & Steins (119 E. Main St.), a storefront museum that contains thousands of antique liquor decanters shaped like cowboys, celebrities, birds, cars, creatures — pretty much any shape that can hold a suitable amount of whiskey.

In nearby Dover, another hidden museum takes up the better part of a funeral home. At the Toland-Herzig Famous Endings Museum, funeral director John Herzig has displayed the world’s largest collection of funeral programs and memorabilia. The list of notable figures represented here is staggering; guests can look at programs detailing the funeral arrangements for Princess Diana, Grace Kelly, Mark Twain, Neil Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, John F. Kennedy, Harry Houdini, Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Prince and hundreds of others. The massive collection — which also includes funereal ephemera such as a lantern from a train that carried Abraham Lincoln’s body and part of the undertaker’s equipment used to display the remains of Jesse James — is still growing; materials from the recent funeral of Jimmy Carter are on display.

INSIDE THE FAMOUS ENDINGS MUSEUM IN DOVER | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

The Famous Endings Museum is remarkable, and it doesn’t even rank as the most-essential stop in Dover. That distinction belongs to the Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens, a beautiful estate honoring the life and work of Ernest “Mooney” Warther, the “World’s Master Carver.” A self-taught artist who gained fame for whittling perfect representations of trains and steam engines (trains are big around here), Warther crafted remarkable, detailed creations from wood — including ornate trees made up of hundreds of tiny wooden pliers, a tool that Warther could whittle in seconds.

Dover — also home to the Lynn Drive-In, the second-oldest continuously operating drive-in movie theater in the world — is about 15 minutes from Sugarcreek, and it’s one of the many small towns and sites that make up Ohio’s Amish Country. Sugarcreek is a good base of operations for exploring the region; you’ll amble from town to town on lazy country roads alongside picturesque farmland, passing more cows than cars.

This collection of quaint towns, and the tourists it draws, also helps to support a wealth of nighttime entertainment. The Ohio Star Theater packs its calendar with live musicals, tribute acts and touring musicians, with a focus on country and gospel performers. The Performance Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas presents theater, dance, music and more. And the Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County, a 73-year-old community theater, presents delightful plays and musicals around the calendar; it’s the sort of plucky performance space that will leave you smiling.

Of course, there’s a surfeit of breweries, wineries, antiques and curiosities shops and furniture stores. (Bring a pickup if you’re in the market for Amish-made furniture.) And there’s plenty of cheese. Swiss cheese is big business here; there’s even a statue of a traditional cheesemaker in Sugarcreek. You can’t miss it; it’s right next to the cuckoo clock.

Where to Stay in Sugarcreek, Ohio

At the Sugarcreek Village Inn, you can opt to stay in the main building … or a train car. Who wouldn’t pick the train car? Don’t picture sweating in a hot caboose, however, as the recently updated rooms are cool and cozy; you’ll relax in a comfortable king bed and completely forget that your room could theoretically be hauled behind a locomotive.

The Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek, part of the comfort-and-charm-focused Dutchman Hospitality line of heartland lodgings, is part of a hilltop campus that includes gift shops, the Ohio Star Theater and the Dutch Valley restaurant (see below). The motel-style, Mennonite-owned Dutch Host Inn offers rooms with fireplaces. There are innumerable bed-and-breakfast options throughout Amish Country, so whatever you do, don’t settle for a standard hotel chain.

Where to Eat in Sugarcreek, Ohio

A very satisfying (and thoroughly stuffed) day in Sugarcreek can be had in three stops. When you wake up, head for Amish Country Donuts & Cafe for a range of delectable pastries and energizing coffee drinks; there are healthy options, but do indulge.

In between stops, grab a quick hot dog or hamburger at the Loose Caboose, which also offers a variety of ice cream. For dinner, head to the Dutch Valley restaurant, where traditional dishes are made with care — and plenty of flavor. The smothered grilled chicken breast is topped with mushrooms, bacon and locally made Swiss cheese (a point of pride in the region; the annual Ohio Swiss Festival was originally the Swiss Cheese Festival).

For a more modern meal, make the short drive to 63 Corks in nearby Strasburg; with a farm-to-fork ethos, the restaurant team prepares hearty, thoughtful dishes and pairs them with a very solid wine list. Opt for the chef’s table seating, and you’ll not only watch your dinner being made but also chat with chefs about each dish.

When to Go to Sugarcreek, Ohio

The weather is best in spring and autumn, as the winters in the region are cold and the summers (also peak tourist season) can get hot.

The annual Ohio Swiss Festival is an excellent time to visit — particularly if you want to learn a lot about traditional cheesemaking (and get plenty of samples). This year’s festival is scheduled for Sept. 25-27. Harvest season also means there’ll be more great food to bring home.