STATEHOUSE NEWS

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The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) will commemorate the Repose of President Abraham Lincoln in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda on Tuesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This day marks the anniversary of the day in 1865 when around 50,000 mourners passed by Lincoln’s coffin in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse.

The day will include Civil War reenactors, a historic 36-star flag, artifacts, cannon firings, videos, music and a replica coffin. The event is free, and the public is encouraged to join!

On the front lawn of the Statehouse, Civil War medical displays and an Artillery camp will be set up for guests to see. Visitors can meet General William Tecumseh Sherman, James A. Garfield and his wife, and other reenactors from the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A and the 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company B. Additionally, The Ladies Aid Society will host a tent with interactive activities while the Ohio Statehouse cannons fire on the hour to entertain spectators. Guests will enjoy historical music from the Song Sparrow, Diane Virostko and Steve Ball.

The Statehouse Rotunda will host a replica of President Lincoln’s coffin will be on display, along with a historic 36-star flag. The flag flew over Capitol Square during the Repose of President Lincoln on April 29, 1865.

The Governor Thomas Worthington Center will feature a video about the 5th U.S. Colored Troops who mustered into the Union Army at Camp Delaware, courtesy of Community Arts Network.
The Statehouse Museum Shop, on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse, offers copies of Lincoln’s Gettysburg and Second Inaugural Addresses, small statues of President Lincoln and Lincoln’s hat and a beard attachment. Mini cannons, replica Civil War firearms, and other Civil War memorabilia are also available.

The Capitol Café will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for visitors to grab food and beverages.

Contact mrupert@ohiostatehouse.org for more information. For groups of ten or more we ask that you schedule a tour inside the Ohio Statehouse by emailing tours@ohiostatehouse.org by April 16 to ensure your group can be accommodated.

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Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board continues the ongoing elevator modernization project. Please be aware of these planned elevator closures:

• · On April 15-18, elevator 6 in the South Light Court will be closed for painting. Please use elevator 5 in the North Light Court or other elevators.

• · On April 21-25, elevator 5 in the North Light Court will be closed for painting. Please use elevator 6 in the South Light Court or other elevators.

Thank you for your patience during this ongoing project. If you have questions, please contact the CSRAB office at 614-752-9777.

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The Ohio Statehouse invites families and friends to a FREE fossil tour on Saturday, April 19 from noon until 1:30 p.m. During this special tour, visitors will see fossil specimens, and then find similar fossils in the limestone walls and floors of the Ohio Statehouse.

The tour starts in the Worthington Center on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. Fossils will be displayed by Dale M. Gnidovec, Curator of the OSU Orton Geological Museum. Mark Peter, Paleontologist at ODNR Division of Geological Survey, will lead the group inside and outside the Ohio Statehouse.

Each visitor will receive a free copy of the booklet, Statehouse Fossils: A Guide to Fossils of the Ohio Capitol, by Mark E. Peter. The booklet is provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year to encourage global conservation efforts and environmental protection. These events inspire young learners to explore the natural world and engage the public in efforts to care for our planet.

Photos are available on the Ohio Statehouse website: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/geology-fossil-tour

This special tour is free and open to the public. Visitors may meet in the Worthington Center on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. Registration is not required, but individuals or organizations that want to schedule a group to attend the tour should contact Ariana Glaser at 614-728-3726 or ariana.glaser@ohiostatehouse.org.

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Tuesdays, March 25, Women's History Month performance has been postponed due to illness. We thank you for your patience and understanding. Please continue to check our website and social media for updates regarding rescheduling this event!

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(Columbus, OH)- The Ohio Statehouse is excited to celebrate Women’s History Month with free and public events in the Atrium the last three Tuesdays in March from noon to 1 p.m.! Join us as we welcome our three presenters.

March 11: The History of Women’s Basketball in Columbus, presented by the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
Columbus has a storied history with women’s basketball, from its earliest days to the brief tenure of the Columbus Quest. Join Local History & Genealogy Librarian Megan Sheeran as she shares the triumphs and heartbreaks of the girls and women who fought to play the game.

March 18: Florence Harding: First Lady of Consequence, presented by Sherry Hall from the Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites.
Florence Kling Harding took part in the first U.S. presidential election where women could vote. As First Lady, she transformed the White House into a platform for showcasing talented women—scientists, athletes, musicians, journalists and artists. Intelligent, politically astute and endlessly curious, Mrs. Harding’s complex story reveals how a small-town Ohio girl left her mark on the nation's most famous residence.
All three events are free and open to the public and are planned to be video recorded on OhioChannel.org. They are 45-minute-long events, with an additional 15 minutes for Q&A.

No reservations are required, but if you have a group larger than 10 and would like to attend, please contact Ariana Glaser at 614-728-3726 or ariana.glaser@ohiostatehouse.org.

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Due to History Day student projects, guided tours of the Statehouse will not be available on Saturday, March 8. Some areas of the building will not be available to the public.

Due to to the State of the State address and other building events, guided tours of the Statehouse will not be available on Wednesday, March 12.

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(Columbus, Ohio) The Eyes of Freedom – Lima Company Memorial exhibit will be on view to the public in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda from March 10 until March 25. This traveling tribute depicts the fallen of Columbus Ohio-based Lima Company 3/25, one of the most heavily engaged and hardest hit units of US combat operations in the middle east. These 23 life-size portraits are displayed in communities across the nation, rallying those who attend honoring the service and sacrifice of all those who answer our nation’s call.

"As the 20th anniversary of the loss of the men of Lima Co approaches, we are grateful to honor them once again at the Ohio Statehouse, where we first unveiled the portraits in 2008,” said Anita Miller, the artist and creator of the exhibit, “The stories of their lives are still being told through the Eyes of Freedom.”

Over the years the Eyes of Freedom mission has grown to include the fight against Veteran suicide and post-traumatic stress issues.

In 2018, artist/creator Anita Miller completed an addition to the exhibit. A central bronze sculpture entitled “Silent Battle” depicts a service member sitting in solitude after a combat mission, looking at the dog tags and mourning the loss of a fallen comrade. Although we will always proudly honor ALL military service and those who sacrifice for our freedoms, the addition of the bronze sculpture brought the mental health portion of our mission to center stage. The Eyes of Freedom strives to connect struggling Veterans with resources, partner organizations, and other struggling Veterans to unite in the battle against the hidden wounds of war.

“We invite everyone to come, honor and remember Lima Company’s sacrifices and their gift of service. Help us show their families and the world that we will not forget them or the gift they gave,” said Sean Flaharty, Eyes of Freedom Director of Operations, "Artist Anita Miller created the Eyes of Freedom and Silent Battle to honor and remember Lima Company and to recognize service and sacrifice of all who have served. We welcome everyone to come and see the power of the Eyes of Freedom and to learn the history and accomplishments of a dynamic company of service members”

The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial was created as a result of Anita Miller’s vision, in which she saw the finished memorial and felt she was being asked to create it. With the help of the families of the fallen and the returned Marines of L3/25, the work was created and unveiled in the Ohio State House Rotunda in 2008, as the vision foretold.

Although the paintings in this Memorial specifically depict the 23 fallen Marines from Lima 3/25, it has become much more; The Eyes of Freedom honors all who have answered the call to service. Behind each portrait we feel the honor and sacrifice of the thousands of men and women who have served our country, in every branch of the armed forces.

About the Eyes of Freedom Organization

Eyes of Freedom is a nonprofit organization centered in Columbus, Ohio. Its purpose is to display the artwork exhibit as a memorial to military sacrifice.

The Eyes of Freedom Memorial’s exclusive transportation provider is R+L Carriers, Inc. based in Wilmington, Ohio. R+L is a leading less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation company, providing guaranteed, day-definite regional and transcontinental service through a network of more than 100 service centers in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

For more images and more information about The Eyes on Freedom: Lima Company Memorial exhibit, visit www.EyesOfFreedom.org.

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

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The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial Contact:
Sean Flaharty: 614-218-6087
Director of Operations, Eyes of Freedom
rememberlima@gmail.com
EyesofFreedom.org
BACKGROUND VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX3zSzY9K1U

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The southwest elevator leading to and from the parking garage sliding doors will be closed for painting Thursday and Friday, February 27-28, 2025.

Those who require elevator access may use the northwest elevator near the revolving doors to and from the parking garage. Visitors in the garage without ID badges may use the intercom to call the Ohio State Highway Patrol for security check and entrance to the Ohio Statehouse.

If you have questions, please contact the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board office at 614-752-9777.


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