STATEHOUSE NEWS

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Red Carnation Day highlights the state flower of Ohio and the birthday of Ohio Governor and U.S. President William McKinley. The Ohio Statehouse will celebrate Red Carnation Day, January 29, in several ways. The public is welcome to enjoy a virtual tour of the Ohio Statehouse, a birthday exhibit and a sale at the Statehouse Museum Shop.

Virtual Tour Online

The staff of the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center will offer a free online tour on Red Carnation Day live at 12:00 p.m. The virtual tour of the Ohio Statehouse will talk about architecture, art, history, and state government throughout the building. President William McKinley and his important roles in Ohio and the United States will be featured during the noon tour on January 29. The Facebook Live event is open to the public online, even if you are not a member of Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/events/247421600105850

Rotunda Exhibit

The 2021 observance of Red Carnation Day will include a small exhibit about the life and legacy of Ohio Governor and President William McKinley. The exhibit will be on display in the Rotunda January 29-31.

Sale at the Statehouse Museum Shop

The Statehouse Museum Shop recognizes Red Carnation Day with a special sale. Save 20% off your entire purchase at the Statehouse Museum Shop on Friday, January 29, 2021, if you are wearing a red carnation or dressed in scarlet. The Shop is in the Map Room on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse.

This sale excludes postage, wine, food, nylon flags, consignment items, wooden Statehouse Cutout, dated Statehouse ornaments, and the books, “Art and Artistry of the Ohio Statehouse” and “From Cornerstone to Cupola.” Discount applies to in-stock items only, and cannot be combined with any other discount.

History of Red Carnation Day

All Americans were encouraged by the Carnation League of America to wear a red carnation on January 29, William McKinley’s birthday. The League was founded by Dayton, Ohio, native Lewis G. Reynolds in 1903, two years after President William McKinley was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Red Carnation Day memorializes the life and legacy of Ohio Governor and President William McKinley. McKinley’s favorite flower was said to be the carnation.


About the Ohio Statehouse
The Ohio Statehouse is where history happens! The Ohio Statehouse is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed holidays.

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In honor of the life and service of Toledo Police Officer Brandon Stalker, flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Lucas County and at the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Office Tower until sunset on the day of Officer Stalker's funeral. Update: The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

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In accordance with the orders issued by the President of the United States of America, in honoring the life and service of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, and all Capitol Police Officers and law enforcement across this great Nation, Governor Mike DeWine proclaims the flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio until sunset on January 13, 2021.

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In honor of the lives lost on December 7, 1941 in the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. and Ohio flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Ohio from midnight to midnight on December 7, 2020.

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The Capitol Square Foundation presents

Capitol Conversations with David Brooks: "Patriotism, Nationalism and the Idea of America"


Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 11:30 a.m.

Join us for an enthralling and insightful virtual presentation by this acclaimed American political and cultural commentator. In addition to his current writing for The New York Times,
David Brooks has worked as a film critic for The Washington Times, a reporter and op-ed editor for The Wall Street Journal, a senior editor at The Weekly Standard, a contributing editor at Newsweek, and The Atlantic Monthly, and a commentator on NPR and the PBS NewsHour.

"Patriotism, Nationalism and the Idea of America" will take place on Tuesday, December 1 from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Following the most turbulent election season in recent history, David Brooks will reflect on where we are and where we are going as Americans. Tickets are $25 per person to attend the virtual presentation; $60 per person for the presentation plus a signed copy of The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/david-brooks-on-patriotism-nationalism-and-the-idea-of-america-tickets-127468352273. For questions about sponsorships and tickets, contact Lori Overmyer at 614-301-4492.

All proceeds from this fundraising event support the work of the Capitol Square Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded to increase awareness of and involve citizens in the history and significance of the Ohio Statehouse. Thanks to our Capitol Conversations title sponsor, American Electric Power

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Celebrate the holidays with the Ohio Statehouse this season, with tons of great, free online content. The live broadcast of the Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. Unfortunately, there will be no in-person event this year as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

The online event marks the beginning of the holiday season on Capitol Square and throughout Central Ohio. The Ohio Statehouse is proud to share its impressive historically decorated tree and lights displays to those who won’t have the chance to observe them in person this year.

Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted will make special video appearances. Santa and Mrs. Claus will light the tree in the Statehouse Atrium. Online content available during, and after, the broadcast includes performances by OhioDance, video Holiday Greetings from Ohio’s Historic Sites, and Holiday Concerts by Ohio choirs. All videos and broadcasts will be available through The Ohio Channel after the live stream.

Kick off your holiday season in good health by watching this magical Ohio Statehouse night online with your friends and family!

All in-person activities are cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

The live event will be viewable December 3 at 5:30 p.m. at http://www.ohiochannel.org/live/special-events

or through the Ohio Channel Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/TheOhioChannel.

Afterward, a recorded video of the entire occasion will be available from the Ohio Channel at: http://www.ohiochannel.org/video/statehouse-holiday-festival-2020

Thank you to our sponsor, the Capitol Square Foundation.

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Click here to watch the video, "Haunted Tales of the Ohio Statehouse."


The Ohio Statehouse has haunted tales to tell. The Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center worked with the Ohio Channel to produce online versions of the haunted stories from Ohio’s Capitol. The historical but scary video can be seen by the public on YouTube. https://youtu.be/jw0jsFmYg5w


Although the annual Haunted Statehouse Tours were canceled in 2020 due to an abundance of caution, the Ohio Statehouse is open to visitors. Masks are encouraged, along with social distancing and hand washing. Guided tours are suspended, but individuals are welcome to explore the Ohio Statehouse. Self-guided tour brochures and cell phone tours are available in the Map Room near the Statehouse Museum Shop.

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In honor of the life and service of Hamilton County Sheriff Corporal Adam McMillan, the flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Hamilton County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes Tower until sunset on the day of his interment. All other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the flags at half-staff at their discretion for the same time period.

Update, 10-28-2020:
The funeral for Hamilton County Sheriff Corporal Adam McMillan will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Flags may be raised back to full staff at sunset on Saturday. Older Posts