Ohio History Connection facts for kids
The Ohio History Connection is a special group that helps save and share the story of Ohio. It used to be called the Ohio Historical Society. This group started way back in 1885. Its main office is in Columbus, Ohio, at the Ohio History Center. The Ohio History Connection looks after more than 50 museums and historical places all over Ohio. They work to keep Ohio's past alive, from ancient times to today.
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A Look Back: How the Ohio History Connection Started
People in Ohio tried many times to create a history group. In 1822, a group called the Historical Society of Ohio was formed. Important leaders like Jeremiah Morrow were part of it. But this group only met once!
Another try happened in 1831. A new group, the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, started meeting in Columbus. However, after a money crisis in 1837, fewer people joined. So, in 1848, the group moved to Cincinnati. They hoped a bigger city would bring more interest. This move helped the group grow for a while.
In 1875, a new group called the Archaeological Society began. It started at the home of Brigadier General Roeliff Brinkerhoff in Mansfield, Ohio. General Brinkerhoff helped get money from the state. This money was used to create an exhibit for a big fair in Philadelphia in 1876. The society was active until 1883. It then stopped for a short time when its secretary passed away.
Two years later, in 1885, the group was restarted. The governor asked scholars and professors from all over Ohio to meet. On March 13, 1885, the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society officially began. Allen G. Thurman was its first president.
The state government started giving money to the group in 1888. This made the partnership stronger. The state could even choose some of the group's leaders. The group also began taking care of historical sites. One of the first was Fort Ancient State Memorial in 1891.
The main office of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society was first in the Ohio Statehouse. Later, it moved to Ohio State University in 1894. In 1914, they opened a large museum building near the university. The society stayed there until 1970.
In 1954, the group's name became shorter: Ohio Historical Society. Then, in 2014, it changed again to Ohio History Connection. This new name was chosen to sound more modern and welcoming. People felt the word "society" sounded old-fashioned. The change was also part of a trend across the country.
Since 2009, the Ohio History Connection has been working with Native American tribes. They want to include Native American stories and viewpoints. The group has many Native American items and remains. They work closely with tribes to return these items when possible. They follow a law called the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
As of 2014, the Ohio History Connection looks after 58 museums and historical places. These sites are in 40 of Ohio's 88 counties. They have about 1.6 million historical items. They also have many old records and images. More people joined the group between 2010 and 2014.
The Ohio History Center
The Ohio History Connection runs many historic sites. Its main building is the Ohio History Center in Columbus. This large building is made of concrete. It has many exhibits about Ohio's history. You can learn about everything from the Ice Age to today.
The Center also has state archives and a library. These are places where old records and books are kept. There's also a gift shop and rooms for learning. A guide from 1989 called it "probably the finest museum in America devoted to pre-European history."
The society's first permanent home was at Ohio State University. Later, their archives moved to another building. In 1965, people voted to build a new main building. The Ohio History Center was designed to be strong and unique. It still looks much like it did when it was built.
Ohio Village: A Step Back in Time
Ohio Village is a special place on the Ohio History Center campus. It's like a town from the 1890s that has been rebuilt. It's a "living museum." This means volunteers dress up and act like people from that time. They help history come alive!
In 2002, the Ohio Village closed for a while due to money cuts. It reopened in 2012. Now, volunteers help run it. They even buy their own costumes. The village is open to the public during summer and for special events. These events include All Hallows Eve and Dickens of a Christmas.
The village is also home to the Ohio Village Muffins. This is a baseball team that plays by old rules from the 1860s. They don't use gloves and pitch underhand! Their name "Muffins" comes from an old baseball term for a mistake. The Ohio Village also has a women's team called The Diamonds.
Learning with the Ohio History Connection
The Ohio History Connection offers many ways to learn. They have resources for schools and teachers. This includes field trips and programs that come to classrooms. They also have educational kits that teachers can borrow. You can even take online courses!
The group publishes Ohio History Central. This is a huge online encyclopedia about Ohio's history. It has over 3,000 articles about Ohio's nature, ancient times, and history. There are also nearly 2,000 pictures. You can search for topics or browse by time period. It also has fun features like "Ohio Quick Facts" and a timeline.
The Ohio History Connection also keeps an online library of Ohio History. This is a serious journal about history. It was first published in 1887.
Ohio History Sites by Region
The Ohio History Connection manages many historical, archaeological, and natural sites across Ohio. Members can visit these sites for free.
Northeast Ohio Sites
- Custer Memorial, New Rumley
- Fort Laurens, Bolivar
- McCook House, Carrollton
- Museum of Ceramics, East Liverpool
- Quaker Meeting House, Mount Pleasant
- Schoenbrunn Village, New Philadelphia
- Shaker Historical Museum, Shaker Heights
- Tallmadge Church, Tallmadge
- Youngstown Historical Center, Youngstown
- Zoar Village, Zoar
Northwest Ohio Sites
- Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Wapakoneta
- Cedar Bog, Urbana
- Cooke House, Sandusky
- Fallen Timbers, Toledo
- Fort Amanda, Lima
- Fort Meigs, Perrysburg
- Fort Recovery
- Glacial Grooves State Memorial, Kelleys Island
- Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont
- Indian Mill Museum, Upper Sandusky
- Inscription Rock, Kelleys Island
- Lockington Locks
- Piqua Historical Area
Central Ohio Sites
- Flint Ridge State Memorial
- Hanby House
- Harding Home
- Harding Tomb
- Logan Elm
- Newark Earthworks: Great Circle Earthworks
- Newark Earthworks: Octagon Earthworks
- Newark Earthworks: Wright Earthworks
- Ohio History Center
- Ohio Village
- Shrum Mound
- Wahkeena Preserve
Southwest Ohio Sites
- Adena Mansion
- Davis Memorial
- Dunbar House
- Fort Ancient
- Fort Jefferson
- Fort Hill State Memorial
- Grant Birthplace
- Grant Boyhood Home
- Grant Schoolhouse
- Harrison Tomb
- Miamisburg Mound
- National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center
- Rankin House
- Serpent Mound
- Story Mound
- Stowe House
Southeast Ohio Sites
- Big Bottom, Stockport
- Buckeye Furnace, Wellston
- Buffington Island
- Campus Martius, Marietta
- Leo Petroglyph
- McCook Monument
- National Road/Zane Grey Museum, New Concord
- Ohio River Museum, Marietta
- Our House
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