School Tours

Welcome

Welcome to Capitol Square, a complex that includes the Ohio Statehouse, Senate Building and Atrium. The buildings are not only working government offices but a magnificent monument to the people and the period during which Ohio's democracy was founded and formed. The Statehouse is handicapped accessible.

Schedule Your Tour

Walk across Ohio in 20 seconds in the Map Room. Meet your state legislator. Stand on the spot where President Lincoln's body lay in state nearly 150 years ago. See the Chamber where the Legislature voted that 18-year-old citizens merited the right to vote. It's all possible at the Ohio Statehouse!

Tens of thousands of school children visit the Statehouse every year because it is educational, impressive and it's fun. A Statehouse field trip also gives educators the opportunity to bring lesson plans to life on such subjects as history, civics, architecture and other topics. The Statehouse Education and Visitors Center provides guided tours geared to a school group's grade level and curriculum. Tours are approximately 45-60 minutes in length. Also compiled on this Web site are teacher resources that you may download to prepare you and your students for your Statehouse visit. These materials have also been designed to be used as a follow up to your visit.

Reservations

School groups of 10 or more are asked to make advance reservations to ensure a tour guide is available. Larger groups are urged to make reservations as far in advance as possible to assure that you receive your first choice in dates.

Call Barry Hayden at 614/728-2695 or 1-888/OHIO-123 to schedule your tour today. The phone is staffed from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The Ohio Statehouse is closed on all state holidays. You may leave a voice mail message with your contact information during other times.

Delays and Cancellations

Please remember to contact Barry Hayden as soon as possible at 614/728-2695 or 1-888/OHIO-123 to notify him of a cancellation or delay in arrival. This will help to ensure that a tour guide is made available for a later arrival.

Where to Meet

All groups should meet in the Map Room accessible from the Third Street entrance to link with their assigned tour guide(s). Tours are approximately 45-60 minutes long.

Where to Eat

The Capitol Cafe at the Ohio Statehouse offers school lunches for $5 per person that consist of a sandwich, fresh fruit, cookie and white or chocolate milk. Lunches must be ordered one week in advance. Download the Lunch Order Form

School children may also bring bagged lunches and eat picnic-style on the Statehouse lawn in warm weather.

Shop at the Statehouse Museum Shop

Children are invited to visit and shop at the Statehouse Museum Shop. Please allow more than 15 minutes for their visit and at least one chaperone for every 10 students.

Teachers/PTAs may pre-order gift bags ranging from $1 to $5 per bag that contain Ohio and Statehouse items. See Statehouse Museum Shop under Teacher Resources.