Ohio Statehouse — Attraction in Columbus

Ohio Statehouse is located at the heart of Columbus on Capitol Square. You have to go through security screening at any entrance. It was quick and we walked straight to the tour desk at the map room. Walk-in tours start on the hour, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. The guided tour was very informative. The guide explained about the history of the building. Lots of rich history to take in.

This magnificent Greek Revival structure was started in 1839 and completed in 1861. It is situated on a 10 acre land that was donated by four prominent landholders. The building is limestone that was taken from a quarry on the west banks of the Scioto River. Prison labors from the Ohio Penitentiary were used to construct the building. The history is intriguing.

The Capitol Square complex includes the Ohio Statehouse, Senate Building and Atrium. The Capitol Atrium acts as a connector between the Statehouse and the Senate Building. The grand Rotunda or the center piece of this beautiful capitol building has a stained glass seal of Ohio on top. Its 125 feet from the floor to the top of the Rotunda.

Ohio is often referred as "Mother of Presidents" as eight United States Presidents were born in Ohio. The Ohio Statehouse has named six House and two Senate hearing rooms in honor of Ohio's eight presidents. In each of the presidential hearing room, there are artifacts that are associated with each of the president. These artifacts reside in a secure case and its on display for the pubic to see.

There is also a very interactive Ohio State House Museum that highlights Ohio's government history. It houses modern displays of new government as well as the original Ohio declaration. The museum itself was pretty large covering most of the basement. There were some kid friendly interactive exhibits as well as interesting reading for adults. It also has a touch screen and video which traces Ohio's history and key constitutional moments.

Map Room is in the basement of the structure that connects the senate Building and the state house. The state of Ohio is comprised of 88 counties as diverse as the state itself. The map room has beautiful county map of Ohio that is laid out on the floor.

There is a gift shop right across the map room that features unique gifts and artwork from Ohio artists. The Capitol Cafe is open weekdays with delicious food. There is so much to discover here just by simply walking around. Worth checking out, It's great for all ages! We parked in the facility's underground parking garage, it...

The Ohio Statehouse, with its imposing architecture and historic significance, should be a beacon of democracy and transparency. However, behind its grand columns and majestic dome, a darker narrative unfolds. Recent revelations expose a pattern of financial mismanagement, with taxpayer dollars squandered on dubious projects and extravagant expenditures.Moreover, concerns arise about the integrity of the Statehouse's operations, as whispers of corruption echo through its halls. Reports of backroom deals and cronyism cast a shadow over the institution, eroding public trust and confidence in our elected officials.Perhaps most troubling is the alleged manipulation of public perception within the confines of the Statehouse's basement. Rumors abound of clandestine gatherings where propaganda is disseminated, dissent stifled, and dissenting voices silenced. Such tactics undermine the very foundations of democracy, turning a once-hallowed institution into a breeding ground for deceit and manipulation.As citizens, we must demand greater accountability and transparency from our leaders. The Ohio Statehouse belongs to the people, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that it serves the interests of all Ohioans, rather than a select few. Only through vigilant oversight and active engagement can we reclaim the integrity and dignity of our democratic institutions.

This is all a joke and nothing to worry about.

Thank you...

“The Statehouse is built in the Greek Revival style, a type of design based on the buildings of ancient Greece and very popular in the U.S. during the early and mid 1800s. Because ancient Greece is the birthplace of democracy, the style had great meaning in the young American nation. Greek Revival was simple and straightforward and looked nothing at all like the Gothic Revival buildings popular in Europe at the same period. The broad horizontal mass of the building and the even and regular rows of columns resemble such buildings as the Parthenon in Athens. The Ohio Statehouse is a masonry building, consisting largely of Columbus limestone.

The limestone was taken from a quarry on the west banks of the Scioto River. The stone of the Statehouse foundation is more than 18 feet deep. During the course of the Statehouse's construction, 22 years would pass, but it would not be a period of non-stop work. Construction would cease during the harsh winter months, and as the project would exceed its budget, there would often be halts in construction as new funding was arranged. The longest gap in construction came about when the legislation making Columbus the state capitol was due to expire. There was a eight-year lapse in the building of the Statehouse from 1840-1848. The completed basement and foundations were actually filled in with soil and Capitol Square was used...