STATEHOUSE NEWS

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(Columbus, OH)- The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) will celebrate Black History Month with four 60-minute programs. These programs will be presented every Tuesday, starting on February 4 and ending on February 25, in the Statehouse Atrium at noon. Melvin Barnes with Ohio Humanities will introduce the documentary “The Lincoln School Story;” storyteller and poet Lyn Ford will share works created by African American narrative artists while discussing her own Black Appalachian heritage; Columbus Metropolitan Library will talk about the Columbus, Black-owned newspaper Call & Post; and the National Park Services will give a presentation on Brigadier General Charles Young, the first African American national park superintendent.

All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required, but groups and schools should save their seats by calling Ariana Glaser at 614-728-3726.


Scheduled noon presentations include:

Feb. 4 - “The Lincoln School Story” with Melvin Barnes of Ohio Humanities
“The Lincoln School Story” is a short film that highlights the fight of African American mothers in Hillsboro, Ohio for school integration in 1954 following the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Despite facing severe backlash, they persisted in one of the longest civil rights protests in American history. After the screening, Dr. Melvin Barnes Jr. will lead a Q&A session to discuss the impact of their struggle.

Feb. 11 - FROM THE HEART, SO MUCH TO DISCOVER: The Heritage of Ohio's Black Voices presented by Lyn Ford
There are many lesser-known treasures of stories and poetry developed by African American narrative artists in the past and contemporary literary arts. Storyteller and poet Lyn Ford will recognize and honor a few of them as she shares from her research, her poetry, and her own Black Appalachian heritage.

Feb. 18 - The History of the Columbus Call & Post presented by the Columbus Metropolitan Library
Join us as we explore the King Arts Complex Collection’s photos from the Columbus Call & Post, an African American newspaper published from 1962 to 1990 by the late publisher, Amos Lynch.

Feb. 25 - Life and Legacy of Brigadier General Charles Young presented by the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Join a National Parks Ranger for a presentation on the life and legacy of Brigadier General Charles Young. Young was a trailblazer who became the first African American national park superintendent, Colonel in the U.S. Army and military attaché. He also served as a mentor to many, including students at Wilberforce University and future Army leaders like Benjamin O. Davis Sr.

Each program will be live-streamed and recorded by OhioChannel.org.
Located on the ground floor, the Capitol Café will be open 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., and the Statehouse Museum Shop will be open Feb. 18 and 25.

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UPDATED 2-3-2025 CSRAB
The Statehouse Museum Shop will be closed starting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, for mechanical component updates in the ceiling for the ongoing HVAC project and the annual store inventory for two weeks or more. The store will reopen after President’s Day.

The online Shop will remain open during this time at https://statehouseshop.com.

For questions regarding store operations, please contact the store manager Lee Anne Back at 614-728-9234.

For questions regarding construction, please contact Assistant Director, Phil Miller at 614-644-2022.

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In honor of the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered that the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio to be raised to full-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state of Ohio on January 20, 2025. The flags shall be lowered back to half-staff in honor of former President James Earl Carter, Jr., on January 21, 2025, and shall remain lowered until sunset on January 28, 2025.

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In honor of the life and service of former State Senator Ben Espy, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered that the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio to be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Franklin County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Riffe Center, and Rhodes Tower from sunrise to sunset on the day of his funeral, January 13, 2025.

All other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the flags at half-staff at their discretion for the same time period.

Learn more about State Senator Ben Espy on OhioStatehouse.org.

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(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—In accordance with the orders issued by the President of the United States of America, in honor of the life and service of former President James Earl Carter, Jr., Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered 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 for a period of 30 days from the day of his death. The flags shall remain lowered until sunset on January 28, 2025.

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(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—In honor of the life and service of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Officer Andrew Lansing, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered 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 Ross County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes Tower as well as at all Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction facilities now until sunset on the day of his funeral

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(Columbus, Ohio) – The Capitol Square Foundation (CSF) is thrilled to announce an extraordinary $1,000,000 anonymous gift to support the construction of the Ohio Women’s Monument, set to grace the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse. The gift is given in tribute to late Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, the trailblazing first female Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, who passed away earlier this year.

“This transformational gift not only makes the Ohio Women’s Monument possible but ensures that Speaker Davidson’s remarkable legacy is etched into Ohio’s history forever,” said Charles Moses, Chair of the Capitol Square Foundation. “We are profoundly humbled by the donor’s generosity and proud to play a part in recognizing the vital contributions of women to our State and Nation.”

The project, approved last month by the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB), gained momentum with a recent fundraising event featuring Presidential Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. The monument, designed by acclaimed sculptor Brenda Councill, is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026—a fitting tribute as Ohio commemorates its historical milestones and the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Laura Battocletti, Executive Director of CSRAB, celebrated the gift as a pivotal moment for the project. “This gift is a profound honor for a woman who dedicated her life to advancing opportunities for women in Ohio’s political and business arenas,” Battocletti shared. “The Ohio Women’s Monument will stand as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come, particularly for the thousands of schoolchildren who visit the Statehouse every year. It’s a lasting tribute to the determination and vision of women shaping history.”

Spearheaded by the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Monument Commission, chaired by Senator Stephanie Kunze, the initiative seeks to celebrate all women who have made lasting contributions to Ohio and beyond. Senator Kunze shared, “This project honors the collective spirit and achievements of women throughout history. This generous gift underscores the importance of recognizing those contributions and inspires us to continue the journey toward equality and opportunity.”

As Ohioans prepare to celebrate the unveiling of this monumental work, the Capitol Square Foundation invites all to join in honoring the extraordinary contributions of Speaker Davidson and countless other women whose courage and vision have paved the way for progress.

For additional information and to donate, visit https://ohcapitolsquarefoundation.org/about-the-statehouse/ohio-womens-suffrage-monument/.

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In honor of the lives lost on December 7, 1941 in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and in accordance with orders from the President of the United States, Governor Mike DeWine has ordered that the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state of Ohio from midnight to midnight on December 7, 2024. Older Posts