The Ohio Statehouse will turn 150 years old on November 15th. I would like to invite everyone in Clinton, Highland and Pike counties to visit the Statehouse and join in the day-long celebration of one of the state’s most historic buildings.

Throughout the day, people from all over Ohio are welcome to take part in a public cake-cutting ceremony, special Statehouse tours and the Capitol Artists Fair. Portraits of Ohio’s Civil War governors also will be unveiled in the rotunda. The day’s activities run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

An interesting component of the artists fair is that the gallery will display works of Ohio from artists all across the state. Guests will be able to walk around and not only look at the art pieces, but also talk to the artists themselves. Besides viewing the artwork, the artists fair will also offer a variety of food samples, as well as wine-tasting in the afternoon.

Construction of the Statehouse began July 4, 1839 and took 22 years to complete. Since 1861, it has been the symbol of state government in Ohio. If you have never had the opportunity to take a tour of the Statehouse, or to at least visit it on your own, I strongly recommend doing so. It is a beautiful, historic building. Even though 150 years have passed since its grand opening, it is still easy to envision what the building was like in the 1800s.

The Sesquicentennial of the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday, November 15th is a great opportunity for all Ohioans to visit the state capital and celebrate an important part of Ohio history. For more information about the event or for directions to the Statehouse, please do not hesitate to contact my office. You can also visit the official Statehouse website at www.ohiostatehouse.org.