STATEHOUSE NEWS

---

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation today mark the five year anniversary of the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center. The Museum—dedicated June 10, 2009 in a Statehouse ceremony— has in five short years welcomed over 375,000 students from all 88 Ohio counties.

“I am proud that the museum has been available to so many young people in the first five years. Our goal at the Ohio Statehouse is to inspire future leaders of Ohio. Through the Ohio Statehouse Museum we are able to engage schoolchildren in a learning environment that explores the Ohio General Assembly and the law making process, state budgeting, voting in Ohio and the separation of powers in three independent branches of government,” said William Carleton, CSRAB executive director.

The Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center offers interactive exhibits that encourage visitors to participate in state government and equips them to more fully exercise their political power as citizens of Ohio. The Museum explores the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches of government, the Ohio Constitution, Making Laws, Elections and Voting. Since the opening, new elements have been added: the Heart of Democracy, glass panels with inspirational quotes in 2010; seven different exhibits for Great Ohioans; and in 2013, the Governor Thomas Worthington Center.

“Our purpose throughout the development, construction and maintenance of the Statehouse Museum was to “Enrich the Experience” for all who visit this magnificent building. We are proud of the enhancements since the opening in 2009 and look forward to providing new exhibits and continuing our work with all of our stakeholders to make the Museum the finest of its kind in the United States,” said Charles R. Moses, Chairman of the Capitol Square Foundation. Since 2009, the Foundation has helped fund 70,000 student visits to the Ohio Statehouse. Additionally, the CSRAB has cleaned and restored the entire Ohio governor and lieutenant governor portrait collection with assistance provided by the Capitol Square Foundation.

Teachers and students utilize the museum as an educational resource. However, communication technology has advanced at breakneck speed with mobile and tablet innovation leading the way. The CSRAB and the Capitol Square Foundation, collaborating with stakeholders, will undertake a review of the Museum’s technological capabilities to maintain the Ohio Statehouse Museum as a tool educators can use, on site and in the classroom.

Yet as any museum professional will tell you, technology is not a panacea; teachers are the integral piece to a child succeeding in his or her academic career. With this in mind, the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center will again partner with the Creative Learning Factory to host a teacher training entitled “Using the Statehouse as Teaching Tool” Wednesday, July 23, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ohio Statehouse. This is one more resource that has been added in the first five years of the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center.

The Ohio Statehouse Museum is located on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m.; closed on state holidays. For more information about the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center and the Ohio Statehouse, please, visit www.ohiostatehouse.org.

# # #