STATEHOUSE NEWS

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The Ohio Statehouse will celebrate Women’s History Month, March 1 – 31, 2013, with tours of the Ladies’ Gallery and a special exhibit on Mrs. Warren G. Harding.

After ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, women gained the right to vote. Florence Harding was the first woman who was legally able to cast a vote for her husband, presidential candidate Warren G. Harding. The exhibit showcases personal effects owned by Florence Harding. The display also features a silent video of historic footage showing a suffragette parade, Florence and Warren G. Harding campaigning, as well as the couple voting in 1920. The exhibit will be on view in the Ohio Statehouse Map Room on the ground floor throughout March.

Tours of the Ladies’ Gallery will be offered to Statehouse visitors throughout March. The Ladies’ Gallery is a place of honor and learning in the Ohio Statehouse. The Ladies’ Gallery pays homage to Ohio’s first six women legislators who paved the way for women in government. The room also honors all women who have served in the Ohio General Assembly.

Women’s History Month is the perfect time to visit www.OhioLadiesGallery.org. The website further enhances the educational efforts of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and is designed to provide valuable information to legislators, educators, history buffs and media outlets. It features an attractive design, easy to use navigation, photo and video gallery and a database of every woman to serve in the Ohio General Assembly.

About the Ladies’ Gallery
Six capable and determined women were elected to the 85th Ohio General Assembly in 1923. Serving in the Ohio House of Representatives were Nettie McKenzie Clapp, Cuyahoga County; Lulu Thomas Gleason, Lucas County; Adelaide Sterling Ott, Mahoning County; and May Martin Van Wye, Hamilton County. Serving in the Ohio Senate were Nettie Bromley Loughead, Hamilton County; and Maude Comstock Waitt, Cuyahoga County.

The view this press release and others, visit www.ohiostatehouse.org.

The Ohio Statehouse is more than a monument to our past; it's where history happens! The Ohio Statehouse is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed holidays. The Ohio Statehouse Museum is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends from noon to 4 p.m.; closed holidays. Admission is free. Free guided tours are offered weekdays on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and weekends from noon to 3 p.m. Tours depart from the Map Room easily accessible from the Third Street entrance. Groups of 10 or more are requested to call in advance to ensure a guide is available. Contact 888/OHIO-123 for more information or to schedule a group tour. For more information about the Ohio Statehouse visit www.ohiostatehouse.org.

The Ohio Statehouse is handicapped accessible and senior friendly. The Capitol Square complex was restored to allow for greater access by individuals living with disabilities. Ohio Statehouse public programs and events are held in accessible and barrier free areas of the building so that everyone can participate. Ohio Statehouse visitors needing disability-related accommodations in order to fully participate in an event may contact the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board at statehouse@csrab.state.oh.us or 614/752-9777 to communicate special needs. Please allow three weeks for arrangements to be completed.

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is responsible for maintaining the historic character of the Statehouse and Capitol Square while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in or visit the complex. The Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center coordinates tours of Capitol Square and provides information about the buildings, their history and Ohio's government.

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Calendar Listing:

Women’s History Month at the Ohio Statehouse
March 1 - 31, 2013
Ohio Statehouse
Broad & High Streets; downtown Columbus
www.ohiostatehouse.org; 614/752-9777
Free!

The Ohio Statehouse will celebrate and honor important women in the history of Ohio during Women’s History Month, March 1 - 31. Special tours of the Ladies’ Gallery and a small exhibit in the Ohio Statehouse Map Room will focus on women who are important to Ohio history.