Background

The Ohio Statehouse is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Ohio. It is located in downtown Columbus, on Capitol Square. The building is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public for tours.

The Statehouse was designed by Henry Walter and built from 1839 to 1861. It is an example of Greek Revival architecture. The building is 315 feet (96 m) long, 190 feet (58 m) wide, and 180 feet (55 m) tall. The dome is 285 feet (87 m) high.

The Statehouse is home to the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the offices of the Governor of Ohio. It also houses the Ohio State Library and the Ohio Historical Society.

The Statehouse has been the site of many important events in Ohio history. In 1861, it was the site of the first meeting of the Ohio Constitutional Convention. In 1933, it was the site of the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States.

The Statehouse is a popular tourist destination. It is estimated that over 1 million people visit the Statehouse each year.

Here is a timeline of the Ohio Statehouse’s history:

• 1839: The Ohio General Assembly passes a bill to construct a new statehouse.
• 1840: A design competition is held for the new statehouse. The winning design is submitted by Henry Walter.
• 1841: Construction on the new statehouse begins.
• 1844: The Ohio General Assembly meets in the new statehouse for the first time.
• 1861: The Ohio Statehouse is completed.
• 1865: The Ohio Statehouse is damaged by a fire.
• 1866: The Ohio Statehouse is restored.
• 1901: The Ohio Statehouse is renovated.
• 1933: The Ohio Statehouse is the site of the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States.
• 1972: The Ohio Statehouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1994: The Ohio Statehouse is renovated again.
• 2004: The Ohio Statehouse is reopened to the public after a major renovation.

The above background was sourced from Google Bard (beta).

Impression

The Ohio Statehouse is a magnificent piece of architecture and one place you may not think to visit. On those cold, rainy days where going outside may not be a good option or on those humid July/August summers – visiting Ohio’s capitol building is a great way to spend your time as well as get out of the poor elements.

You have a lot of access, meaning there is a lot to see and explore. You can visit the congressional chambers, the rotunda and the various wings of the building. In the cafeteria area, there is also a museum that will self guide you through the building and Ohio governmental history.

If you’ve never been ,you owe yourself the treat of visiting and taking in the craftsmanship of it all.

If you’ve not been in a while – refresh your memory and visit again.