STATEHOUSE NEWS

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(COLUMBUS, Ohio) —In honor of the life and service of Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Nicholas P. Cayton, 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 Mahoning County, the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and the Rhodes State Office Tower today, and will remain until sunset on the day of his funeral.

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(Columbus, OH)- The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is excited to announce that for the first time ever they will host free Trick-or-Treat Tours from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and free Spooky Statehouse Tours from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Halloween Day, Friday, Oct. 31.

The free Trick-or-Treat Tours offer children the opportunity to explore the Ohio Statehouse in costume while listening to age-appropriate facts about the building and its different functions. On the various stops the guided tour will take, the children will receive a treat. Costumes are encouraged, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.


The Spooky Statehouse tours are guided tours filled with spooky stories about the Ohio Statehouse. Learn more about the building while hearing about ghostly tales, strange occurrences and eerie experiences from the past. Intertwining history and hauntings, this will be a tour you don’t want to miss! This free experience is recommended for teenagers and adults.


The tours will start in the Museum Gallery on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. RSVP to tours@ohiostatehouse.org by Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Please note all visitors will have to go through security, so any weapons as part of costumes will be confiscated.


The Statehouse will still offer standard guided tours starting in the Map Room, on the hour, every hour, starting at 10 a.m. with the last tour starting at 3 p.m.


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(COLUMBUS, OH) — Members of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) will meet Thursday, October 23, 2025 at the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus. The business meeting will be held in the State Room (room #108) and will begin at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is open to the public.

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The Ohio Statehouse will celebrate National Fossil Day on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, by offering a FREE fossil tour on Capitol Square. The special tour will take place Wednesday, Oct. 15 from noon until 1:30 p.m. Expert geologists will explore the limestone walls, stairs and columns that support the Ohio Statehouse. This fossil tour is a unique opportunity for anyone fascinated by geology and natural history.

The tour will be conducted by Dale M. Gnidovic, Curator of the OSU Orton Geological Museum and Mark Peter, Paleontologist at ODNR Division of Geological Survey.

While the event is free and public, participants are asked to RSVP to tours@ohiostatehouse.org at least two weeks in advance for groups of 10 or more.

National Fossil Day is an annual celebration of geology. It occurs during Earth Science Week, which is Oct. 12-18 this year. These celebrations encourage young people to explore careers in earth science and engage everyone in the importance of our resources and environment.

The Statehouse Museum Shop has gemstones, fossils and fossil related items available for purchase. They will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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In honor of the life and service of former U.S. Representative Mary Rose Oakar, Ohio Governor DeWine has ordered that the flags shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Cuyahoga County as well as the Ohio Statehouse, Riffe Center, and Rhodes Tower from sunrise to sunset on the day of her funeral, September 20, 2025.

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

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The Ohio Statehouse is excited to kick off National Arts and Humanities Month with Leslie Adams talk “People, Stories, and Art: A Portrait of My Life and Work” on Wednesday, October 1 from noon until 1:00 p.m. in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium.

Join artist Leslie Adams as she reveals the inspiration behind her portraits displayed at the Ohio Statehouse, contrasting the depiction of those and other distinguished leaders with the introspective nature of her monumental self-portraits. Experience her artistic journey—from her childhood at the Toledo Museum of Art to the influences shaping her work today—and discover the techniques that bring her portraits to life.

Adams is an internationally known artists, known for her figurative art and portraiture. Her work is featured on the walls of the Ohio Statehouse and the Ohio Supreme Court through her portraits of multiple Ohio civic leaders.

The event is free and open to the public. For groups of 10 or more, please email tours@ohiostatehouse.org at least two weeks in advance.

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(Columbus, OH)- The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is excited to invite the public to join in on two fun, family-friendly events, with all proceeds benefiting the community through the State of Ohio’s Combined Charitable Campaign (CCC).

The annual Wright Brothers Classic will again take place at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium on Sep. 17 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. For a recommended donation of $5, all participants can make a paper airplane and fly it for the chance to win prizes!

The CCC is the annual initiative that encourages State of Ohio employees to donate to one or more of 911 local, regional and international charitable organizations.

While visiting the Statehouse, don’t forget to stop by the Statehouse Museum Shop to try the Candy Jar Guessing Game! Running now until Oct. 14, correctly guess the amount of candy in the jar and the winner receives both the candy and a $25 gift card to the Statehouse Museum Shop. Proceeds benefit charity.


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(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Today Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered that, in accordance with the President of the United States of America, in honoring the life of Charlie Kirk 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 until 6 P.M. on September 14, 2025. Older Posts