STATEHOUSE NEWS

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The Ohio Statehouse will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with a special display, free historical performance each Tuesday at noon and special tours of the George Washington Williams Room.

The 2015 Rosa Parks Children’s Art Exhibit, “The Power of One,” is a K-third grade student art exhibit sponsored by COTA. The exhibit is the students’ artistic expression of how they would change things for the better. Rosa Parks is honored because through her act of courage, she helped make America a better place for all people. Students were asked what would you do if you had a chance… To do a brave thing? A courageous thing? A kind thing? If nothing stood in your way, what would you do to change America and make it a better place for all people?

Living history programs will be presented each Tuesday at noon throughout February in the Museum Gallery on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. Visitors will meet first-person interpreters who portray prominent African Americans in U.S. history. Each 45-minute vignette will focus on African-American history as part of Black History Month at the Ohio Statehouse. Each performance is rich with history, drama and adventure. The programs are presented by “We’ve Known Rivers,” which is a partnership of dynamic storytellers with a passion for history and education. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information about We’ve Known Rivers, visit www.facebook.com/weveknownrivers. The programs will be streamed live at www.ohiochannel.org.

Scheduled living history performances include:

February 3: Tuskegee Airmen: Courage in the Skies, portrayed by Anthony Gibbs.
Presented in the Museum Gallery on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse


February 10: Henry “Box” Brown, presented by Rory Rennick.
Presented in the Museum Gallery on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse

February 17: Bessie Stringfield, presented by Sandra Quick.
Presented in the Museum Gallery on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse

February 24: Coretta Scott King, presented by Annette Jefferson.
Presented in the Museum Gallery on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse

A special soul food menu will be offered in the Capitol Cafe each Tuesday in February. The Capitol Cafe, operated by Milo’s Catering and Banquet Services, will offer a variety of reasonably priced soul food options each Thursday.

Tours will visit the George Washington Williams Memorial Room throughout February. The George Washington Williams Memorial Room is a tribute to Ohio’s first African-American legislator. George Washington Williams was the first African American elected to the Ohio General Assembly. Williams was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican legislator from Hamilton County in 1879 at the age of 30. Williams was a Civil War soldier, pastor, journalist, lawyer, politician, freewill ambassador, author and historian. This room exhibits furnishings representing styles popular in the United States in the late 1800’s. The furniture includes period antiques, reproduction pieces and art work that help visitors experience history.
High resolution images are available at: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/media/black-history-month-the-freedom-riders-2.


Watch a living history presentation at:http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/media/black-history-month-living-history-presentation-george-washington-williams.


To view this press release and others, visit www.ohiostatehouse.org.



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Calendar Listing:

Black History Month at the Ohio Statehouse

Time
February 1 - February 28

Location
The Ohio Statehouse 1 Capitol Square Columbus, OH 43215



The Ohio Statehouse will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with a special display and free historical performances each Tuesday at noon. Visitors can also enjoy a special soul food menu at the Capitol Cafe each Thursday in February.

We’ve Known Rivers!
Each Tuesday 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.; February 3, 10, 17, 24, 2015
Ohio Statehouse Museum Gallery, 1 Capitol Square; downtown Columbus
614/752-9777
Free!

• February 3 - Tuskegee Airmen: Courage in the Skies, presented by Anthony Gibbs


• February 10: Henry “Box” Brown, presented by Rory Rennick


• February 17: Bessie Stringfield, presented by Sandra Quick


• February 24 Coretta Scott King, presented by Annette Jefferson

Living history programs featuring interpreters portraying prominent historical African Americans each Tuesday in February.