STATEHOUSE NEWS

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The Ohio Statehouse is excited to kick off National Arts and Humanities Month with Leslie Adams talk “People, Stories, and Art: A Portrait of My Life and Work” on Wednesday, October 1 from noon until 1:00 p.m. in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium.

Join artist Leslie Adams as she reveals the inspiration behind her portraits displayed at the Ohio Statehouse, contrasting the depiction of those and other distinguished leaders with the introspective nature of her monumental self-portraits. Experience her artistic journey—from her childhood at the Toledo Museum of Art to the influences shaping her work today—and discover the techniques that bring her portraits to life.

Adams is an internationally known artists, known for her figurative art and portraiture. Her work is featured on the walls of the Ohio Statehouse and the Ohio Supreme Court through her portraits of multiple Ohio civic leaders.

The event is free and open to the public. For groups of 10 or more, please email tours@ohiostatehouse.org at least two weeks in advance.

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(Columbus, OH)- The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is excited to invite the public to join in on two fun, family-friendly events, with all proceeds benefiting the community through the State of Ohio’s Combined Charitable Campaign (CCC).

The annual Wright Brothers Classic will again take place at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium on Sep. 17 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. For a recommended donation of $5, all participants can make a paper airplane and fly it for the chance to win prizes!

The CCC is the annual initiative that encourages State of Ohio employees to donate to one or more of 911 local, regional and international charitable organizations.

While visiting the Statehouse, don’t forget to stop by the Statehouse Museum Shop to try the Candy Jar Guessing Game! Running now until Oct. 14, correctly guess the amount of candy in the jar and the winner receives both the candy and a $25 gift card to the Statehouse Museum Shop. Proceeds benefit charity.


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(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Today Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered that, in accordance with the President of the United States of America, in honoring the life of Charlie Kirk that the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state of Ohio until 6 P.M. on September 14, 2025.

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(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—In honor of those killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Governor Mike DeWine has ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio to be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Ohio from sunrise to sunset on September 11, 2025.

Governor DeWine asks that all Ohioans observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. to honor the innocent lives lost as a result of the terrorist attacks.

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(Columbus, OH)—The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation (CSF) are pleased to announce that 81 schools will be awarded Transportation Grants for the 2025-2026 academic year. The online application will open on Monday, Sept. 15, at 9 a.m. and remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

The grants will help schools defray bus transportation costs for field trips to the Ohio Statehouse and its museum. Each grant’s amount will be based on one-way mileage from the visiting school to the Ohio Statehouse.

Since the creation of CSF’s program in 2009, tens of thousands of students from all 88 counties in Ohio have visited the Ohio Statehouse through the assistance of these grants. “Thanks to Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.'s generous support, students can visit the Ohio Statehouse, providing them with a firsthand experience of how state government works.” said Charles Moses, CSF Chair, “It’s an opportunity in furthering their civic education in a way a textbook cannot.”

27 grants will be awarded in each of three mileage categories:
1 to 50 miles ($200)
51 to 100 miles ($300)
101+ miles ($400)

This year, teachers and administrators will have eight days to submit applications. CSRAB will use a random number generator to choose 27 schools from each mileage category.

“We are excited to welcome students from around the state to experience history and government at The Ohio Statehouse,” said Megan Wycuff, CSRAB Executive Director. “We are so grateful for the Capitol Square Foundation’s continued support in making this educational opportunity available to Ohio schools.”

The Transportation Grants will be available to any school in Ohio that receives state funding. Grants are limited to students in the 4th through 12th grades during the 2025-2026 academic year. Only one Transportation Grant will be awarded to each school, regardless of the number of buses or students visiting the Ohio Statehouse. Additionally, schools must have a minimum of 20 students on their field trip in order to be eligible for a grant, and recipients must schedule and attend a guided tour of the Statehouse in order to receive their funds. Please contact Dayna Jalkanen at tours@ohiostatehouse.org with questions or for additional information.

Only online applications will be accepted and must be submitted by an authorized teacher or school administrator. Applications will be accepted for eight days, from Sept. 15-22. Grant recipients will be notified of their status by Sept. 24, 2025.

Detailed information about the program is available, and the online application will be posted on the website: https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/visit/school-and-group-tours/school-bus-transportation-grant-program.


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Columbus, OH—Tickets for the Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tours are on sale. The historical tours will take place Friday, Oct. 17; Saturday, Oct. 18; Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 at the state Capitol.

TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT MUST BE PRE-ORDERED.

Ticket prices are $16 for adults ages 18 and older and $8 for students ages 12 to 17. The tours through the darkened halls of the building depart every half hour between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Affordable event parking will be available in the Statehouse Underground Garage.

Tickets may be purchased in three ways:
· Online at statehouseshop.com
· In-person at the Statehouse Museum Shop on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse
· Over the phone by calling 614-728-9234

Participants who dare to embark on an adventure through the dark chambers and haunted hallways of the Statehouse will hear spooky tales from Ohio’s past combining history with legend. Guides with lanterns will lead visitors through one of the country’s oldest functioning capitol buildings to create an eerie environment that is most appropriate for ages 12 and older.

Arrive early or stay late to shop at the Statehouse Museum Shop until 8:30 p.m. or take part in a craft table that honors R.L. Stine, the Ohio author of the Goosebumps book series. Get goosebumps in Columbus this October!

A few eerie ongoing exhibits at the Ohio Statehouse are open to the public. Learn about the Mystery of the Origin of the Headless Horseman, and about Camp Chase, the Civil War prisoner of war camp in Columbus.

Pictures from previous years are available at ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/haunted-tours-photos.

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(Columbus, OH) – The Capitol Café will have a grand opening tomorrow, Wednesday, September 3 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse.

Online ordering is available here and under our “Quick Links” section at Ohiostatehouse.org

The Capitol Café is open at the Ohio Statehouse Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.


See below for a message from our partners at L.A. Catering and LifeCare Alliance.

Capitol Café isn’t just about great coffee (Yes, we’re proudly serving Crimson Cup Coffee!) and delicious, locally sourced food, it’s a social enterprise with heart. Every bite and sip you enjoy helps power the mission of LifeCare Alliance, a local human services nonprofit dedicated to helping senior adults and individuals facing medical challenges or disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes.

The café will offer a vibrant menu of fresh, seasonal items, quick grab-and-go options, and warm, welcoming service. Even better? Online ordering is on the way, making it easier than ever to grab your favorites on the fly - stay tuned for details!

We’re counting down the days to opening and can’t wait to share our menu and grand opening celebration.

Mark your calendars for September 3 - we’ll see you at the Capitol Café!

About LifeCare Alliance
Founded in 1898 in Columbus, Ohio, LifeCare Alliance is dedicated to helping people live on their own terms with dignity and independence. LifeCare Alliance is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization providing basic-needs and healthcare services to individuals facing challenges stemming from medical conditions, disabilities, or aging in place. We help people live with more dignity and independence through three key focus areas: Nutrition, Health, and Support services.

About L.A. Catering
L.A. Catering is a proud division of LifeCare Alliance that has served the local community with outstanding nutrition and health programs since 1898. All profits from L.A. Catering are invested back into our community through LifeCare Alliance programs and services to support older adults, medically challenged and disabled individuals in Central Ohio. This means that birthday parties, boxed lunches, cookouts, graduations, holiday parties, reunions, and weddings catered by L.A. Catering make a difference our community.

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UPDATE-- See new 2025 photos of the installation on our website, https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/flags-for-9-11-in-2025
PHOTOS
(Columbus, OH)— The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) will commemorate the 24th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, with a memorial flag display on the west lawn of the Ohio Statehouse. A short program will begin Monday, September 8 at 5:15 p.m. on the west steps of the Ohio Statehouse and will feature remarks from state officials. After the program, volunteers from across central Ohio will install the 2,977 flags that comprise the memorial beginning at 5:45 p.m.

The Ohio Statehouse has been the venue for the annual 9/11 memorial from 2002 through 2025, only missing 2020 due to the pandemic. The flags represent the 2,977 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93. When seen from above, the design represents the World Trade Center towers, with a space in the shape of the Pentagon and an open strip representing the field in Pennsylvania. Located on the West Lawn of the Ohio Statehouse, the memorial will be open to the public from 7 p.m. Monday, September 8 until 12 p.m. Friday, September 12.

The September 8 program will include brief remarks by several dignitaries from the state government in Ohio including:

• Representative Michael Dovilla, Ohio House District 17


• Senator Hearcel Craig, Ohio Senate District 15, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board


• Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and


• Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon.

The flag display is a memorable and moving scene on the Ohio Statehouse lawn. The volunteers installing the flags include individuals from across the State of Ohio. The flags will be checked daily by staff and volunteers. Deinstalling the flags will take place on Friday, September 12 at noon.

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