Special exhibits, tours and events at Ohio Statehouse and Museum

The stunning Capitol Square complex sits in the middle of downtown Columbus, surrounded by Broad, High, State, and 3rd Streets. Capitol Square includes the Ohio Statehouse, Senate Building and Atrium.

The buildings are working government offices, and monuments to the people and the period during which Ohio’s democracy was founded and formed.

Besides the business side of day-to-day activity, there is plenty for the public to enjoy at the at the People’s House, our Ohio Statehouse, including events, tours, and more.

Ohio Statehouse Tours

Guided tours are offered Monday through Friday every hour on the hour with the first tour beginning at 10 a.m. and the last tour beginning at 3 p.m. Guided tours are available on on Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm – 3 pm. Meet in the Map Room on the hour for tours. 

Visitors may also take a self-guided tour. Start your tour using the self-guided tour brochure and the cell phone tour available in the Map Room, which is easily accessible from the Third Street entrance,

The House and Senate Chambers are kept locked, and are only available to be viewed during guided tours.

Cell phone tours

Learn about the people and places that the Ohio Statehouse monument collection pays tribute to.

Visitors can explore the 10 acres of Capitol Square and dial in on their cell phone to specific predetermined phone numbers and listen to descriptions about the monuments and sculpture. The cell phone audio tour is FREE, except for air-time minutes according to each visitor’s cell phone calling plan.

The Ohio Statehouse Monument Cell Phone Audio Tour begins with the outside monuments and gardens on Capitol Square. Inside the Ohio Statehouse, phone messages describe the rooms and artworks of the Capitol. This allows guests to tour in their own time. Pick up a paper brochure in the ground-floor Map Room.

Museum Education Center

Museum exhibits are closed for health and safety precautions until further notice. Follow along on Facebook to learn from home!

Shop at the Statehouse Museum Shop

The Museum Shop located on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse and is open to the public. The Shop accepts all Statehouse Market Place on-line orders, telephone orders and email requests.

The Shop specializes in unique gifts with an Ohio or political theme. Most gifts are made by Ohio artists or businesses, and many items are exclusive to the Museum Shop.

Gifts range from wine and pottery, to lapel pins, clothing and even those hard-to-find postcards. The Museum Shop has the perfect gift no matter what the occasion!

Hours are Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dining at the Statehouse

HouseTacos at the Capitol Café opened in December on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. 

Breakfast pastries and coffee are served from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for dine-in and carry-out tacos, salads and more.  Closed weekends. 

Head Chef Zach Martin suggests that customers pre-order and pay online to make service quick and efficient.  See the online menu for details.

Kiosk ordering is also available in the Café. Curbside pickup and delivery are available until 6:45 p.m. weekdays. 

Upcoming Annual Statehouse Events

Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center exhibits are now open to the public every day. Visitors are welcome!

Flags for 9-11 in 2022

September 7 – September 12, 2023. On Thursday, September 7, there is a short program at 5 pm to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks of 9/1. After the program, volunteers from across central Ohio will install the 2,977 flags that comprise the memorial.

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.

The memorial will be open to the public from 7 p.m. Thursday, September 7 until 12 p.m. Tuesday, September 12, 2023 on the West Lawn of the Ohio Statehouse. Details here.

Volunteers are welcome for installation.  Please contact Dayna Jalkanen, djalkanen@ohiostatehouse.org or 614-728-2697 to sign up for this event.    

Vintage Base Ball Game

September 26, 2023 from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Reminiscent of barnstorming tours of yesteryear, the match begins at 5:30 p.m., as the Capitol Cannons challenge the Ohio Village Muffins and Lady Diamonds in an exhibition game of vintage “base ball.”

The event is free and open to the public. Celebrate the Ohio Statehouse and take a step back to the 1800’s with an exhibition game as the Ohio Village Historical Muffins play the members of the Ohio General Assembly on the west lawn of Capitol Square.

Before and after the base ball game, stay and enjoy cannon firing demonstrations and history displays. Come early to choose your spot as concessions will be available. The 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A will provide cannon fire demonstrations as part of the event. Details. 

National Fossil Day Tour for Earth Sciences Week

October 11, 2023, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Explore fossils in the building stones of the Ohio Statehouse with special guests special guests Dale M. Gnidovec, Curator of the OSU Orton Geological Museum, and Mark Peter, Paleontologist, and Charles Salmons of the ODNR Division of Geological Survey.

Celebrate Earth Science Week with a public tour of the Ohio Statehouse. The tour is free and open to the public. Visitors will receive a free copy of the booklet, Statehouse Fossils: A Guide to Fossils of the Ohio Capitol, by Mark E. Peter. Details.

Haunted Ohio Statehouse Tours

October 13, 14, 20, and 21, 2023. Meet figures from the past as you follow conductors with lanterns through the darkened hallways and chambers of the Statehouse. Tickets go on sale Sept 11, and will sell out!

Read more the tours here

Veterans Parade Cannon Firing at the Ohio Statehouse

November 9, 2023 from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

The 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A will fire a Civil War cannon at 11:30, 11:45 a.m. and 12 p.m. to begin the 2023 Veterans parade in Columbus. After the cannon has been fired three times, the parade starts at noon. This is tentative; check calendar. 

The public is welcome to watch the cannon firing, and stay for the parade as it passes near the corner of Broad and High Streets. Details.

Ohio Statehouse Tree Lighting

Tentative for November 30, 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. The holiday season opens in Ohio with the annual holiday Statehouse event. Kickoff the holiday season with this family tradition.

Historical characters and modern dignitaries will be on hand to greet guests, including Santa and Mrs. Claus. Read more about here.

Ohio Statehouse Holiday Choir Performances

December 4-19, 2023. Get into the holiday spirit with FREE lunchtime holiday choir performances on weekdays by Ohio musical groups in the Museum Gallery at the Ohio Statehouse. The concerts are open to the public and will begin at noon. See schedule here.

Weddings and Celebrations

Your wedding, photo session or special event can be historic at the Ohio Statehouse. See details at the events tab or the weddings tab. Contact specialevents@ohiostatehouse.org or 614-466-2125.

Parking at Capitol Square

Parking is available at the facility’s underground parking garage for an hourly or daily fee. This convenient and affordable parking solution offers direct sheltered access to the Ohio Statehouse and Senate Building.

Enter garage via Broad St. until the completion of construction near State and Third Street entrances. You can also park at meters or other public parking in downtown Columbus. Remember, meters are FREE on Sundays in downtown Columbus!

The Ohio Statehouse
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on holidays; see website to verify closures.

Annual Events tba for 2023/2024

Red Carnation Day Exhibit

January 27 – January 30, 2023. Dayton, Ohio, native Lewis G. Reynolds founded the Carnation League of America in 1903. The League encouraged all Americans to wear a red carnation on William McKinley’s birthday, January 29. 

The observance will include a small exhibit in the Rotunda on the history of Carnation Day and the life and legacy of Ohio Governor and President William McKinley.

Wear red or a red carnation on January 27 and get a 20% off discount at The Statehouse Museum Shop. Some exclusions apply.

Sale at HouseTaco on Friday, Jan. 27. Order food online with the offer code “REDTACODAY” and receive 20% off your order placed online at House-Taco.com. Red Carnation Day hours for HouseTaco on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 are 9 a.m.-9 p.m.  

Grande Winter Ball

January 28, 2023. Hosted by Civil War re-enactors, 1^stOhio Light Artillery Battery A. All ages welcome. Dress in Civil War period attire or in your regular clothes and learn to reel or waltz (or just watch). 

February: Black History Month

The Ohio Statehouse celebrates Black History Month in February with free public events on Tuesday, February 14 and Tuesday, February 28, 2023.

Each program is 45 minutes and will start at noon, with a 15 minute Q&A session afterwards. All are welcome in the Atrium at noon. The performances will be livestreamed on OhioChannel.org.

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023
OF MEMORY AND HISTORY:  An Affrilachian Storyteller Speaks Again 
Performance by Lyn Ford, storyteller and author

Humor and heart are rooted in our family’s storytelling traditions. Affrilachian culture, stories and folktales are shared by one of Ohio’s Affrilachian storytellers and authors, Lyn Ford. Details. 

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023
MENTORING THE ARTS AND DRAWING COMICS 
Artist Bryan Moss is inspired by mentorship.  

In this talk, he’ll consider how mentorship played a role in his art career and how he utilizes mentorship in his own practice to help other artists further their careers. Details.

Capitol Cafe is Open for Statehouse Guests

In honor of the Black History Month presentations, HouseTaco at the Capitol Café will offer a discount on food orders on Tuesday, February 14 and Tuesday, February 28, 2023. HouseTaco is located on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. 

President’s Day at Ohio Statehouse

Closed on President’s Day.

Statehood Day – Happy Birthday, Ohio

March 1, 2023 from 12 – 1 pm. Happy Birthday!  Ohio became a state on March 1, 1803. Celebrate at the Governor Thomas Worthington Center. The Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. Details.

Student Art Exhibit

March 31 – April 28, 2023. The Ohio Statehouse will highlight works of art in this special exhibition featuring students K – 12 from Ohio’s public schools.

The student exhibition recognizes the talents, creativity and innovation of students who receive high quality arts education instruction as part of their academic experience in school.

Civil War Flag and Repose of Lincoln exhibits

April 21 – May 1, 2023. An historic thirty-six star flag that flew over Capitol Square during the repose of President Lincoln on April 29, 1865 will be displayed in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda.

The flag had been given to David Nevin Murray of Portsmouth, Ohio for his contributions to the war effort on behalf of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Details. 

Fossil Tour for Earth Day

Saturday, April 22, 2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Explore the building stones of Ohio’s Capitol with special guests Dale M. Gnidovec, Curator of the OSU Orton Geological Museum, and Mark Peter, paleontologist with the ODNR Division of Geological Survey.  

This special tour is free and open to the public.

See fossil specimens from the collection of Orton Geological Museum, and then find similar fossils in the limestone walls and steps of the Ohio Statehouse. Details.

Closed on June 19-20. The Ohio Statehouse is closed in honor of Juneteenth National Freedom Day on Sunday, June 19, 2022 and Monday, June 20, 2022.  

Closed on July 4. The Ohio Statehouse is closed on Monday, July 4, 2022 in honor of Independence Day.