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Ohio Statehouse Museum

Exhibit Highlights

The "People's House" is the heart of Ohio's democratic government. Its offices and chambers have been the seat of Ohio governance and history since 1857, before the completion of the building in 1861. The building itself represents both the sovereign power of the state and the ideals of the people.

The Ohio Statehouse Museum celebrates the building and the symbolism behind its inspired architecture, highlights the historical events that have unfolded at the Capitol, illuminates the workings of state government today and empowers visitors with the knowledge so that they can be active participants in their government.

Great Ohioans Exhibit

The Great Ohioans exhibit presents recipients of the Great Ohioan award on a large touch screen monitor. A host of options are available for visitors to explore the life and accomplishments of each recipient. While countless Ohioans have performed great actions for their community and beyond, only a select few have been named a "Great Ohioan." This exhibit allows visitors to have a greater understanding of the recipients of the Great Ohioan award and discover how they affected local, national and world history. The exhibit uses video, photos, facts and web based technology to explore the life and legacy of each Great Ohioan.

Winners are selected annually after a state wide nomination process. The chosen winners are typically announced at the beginning of each calendar year. Every year, newly selected individuals will be added to the Great Ohioan exhibit. The exhibit will serve as a resource for school children to learn about important Ohioans and their accomplishments.

Since 2003, 16 Great Ohioans have been recognized with the award for the special roles they have played throughout history. Great Ohioans include: the Wright Brothers, inventors of powered flight; John Glenn, first American to orbit the earth; Neil Armstrong, first man to walk on the moon; Jesse Owens, Olympic track and field athlete; Thomas Edison, inventor; Harriet Beecher Stowe, author; James Thurber, journalist and author; Colonel Charles Young, military leader; Dr. George Crile, founder of the Cleveland Clinic; Catherine Nelson Black, health care humanitarian; Salmon P. Chase, Ohio Governor, Secretary of the Treasury and Supreme Court Chief Justice; Paul Laurence Dunbar, poet and author; Charles F. Kettering, inventor; Eddie Rickenbacker, World War I fighter ace; and Denton T. "Cy" Young, baseball legend.

Seat of Government Gallery

Hands-on interactive exhibits in the new Salmon P. Chase Education Center invites visitors to explore the workings of government by examining who serves, how they are elected to office and the roles they play in government. Visitors are introduced to the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government and how each contributes to the process of governing. Making the Laws, a three-dimensional chronology, invites visitors to follow the process of how a bill becomes a law from proposal to implementation. Visitors see first-hand how elections have changed over the years—the process has become more inclusive and influenced by technology. Visitors meet former Ohio governors and see what qualities they brought to the Statehouse or meet current and past legislators to understand the myriad of ways they serve their constituents.

Ohio Constitution Exhibit

Ohio is a diverse state, but each person, no matter where they are from has one thing in common – the Ohio Constitution. Within this introductory area of the Seat of Government Gallery, visitors are presented with replicas of the original 1802 and 1851 version of the Ohio Constitution. The Constitution governs each citizen today, as it has for more than 200 years. Within this exhibit, visitors can interact with the constitution in a way that was never before possible. The historical document comes alive and becomes a relevant marker in people's lives. Visitors leave this exhibit with a sense of how the Constitution came to be. Visitors are able to experience the what, who and why of the creation of this document. Through touchscreen and video, visitors are provided with a timeline of Ohio history and key constitutional moments. Visitors are able to take a practical look at how the constitution directly affects them by seeing how it has changed over time through an interactive process. In this exhibit area, visitors also learn about the judicial branch of state government as well as the Ohio's state seal.