Ohio’s Statehouse

Posted by Bill on Thursday, January 4, 2007   |   No Comments

December 16, 2004. I was visiting my mother at her nursing home’s annual Christmas party. A few of the family were there and talk inevitably turned to the obligatory Mystery Trip question. “Where you goin’ this year?” my sister asked.

Mind you, I rarely gave details about these annual trips because people proved early on they just couldn’t keep quiet. But it was Wednesday night, and we were due to leave early Saturday. Not likely that anyone would spill the beans in just two days. So I answered, “Columbus.”

My sister’s boyfriend paused his fork in mid-air, deftly balancing a chunk of cake. “Hmmpff,” he snorted. “What’s in Columbus?” Disdain singed the tone ever so slightly.

Now, I wanted to say, “More than you’ll ever know, Mr. Tunnel Vision.” But instead I answered as minimally as I could. “Lots.”

In fact, Columbus fit my criteria for a Mystery Trip destination city to a tea. Fine, central-city hotel and restaurants? Check. (Hyatt.) Shopping nearby? Check. (City Centre adjacent to hotel.) Notable attractions, especially performance venues, nearby? Check. (The spectacularly restored Ohio Theatre next door and the Ohio Statehouse across the street.). Yes, across the street.

The buildings of Capital Square and the 10 acres of grounds surrounding it are now a fitting centerpiece of downtown Columbus. Just a few short years ago they were a mess, to put it bluntly. Downright unsafe in some cases.

The Statehouse and other structures had fallen victim to round after round of remodeling. Or remuddling as the Old House Journal refers to such short-sighted modifications. Heating, cooling, wiring, emergency exit routes, fire protection systems, roofs. All had problems. Some were disasters, plain and simple. A Master Plan for restoration, unveiled in 1989, changed all of this, however.

Workers completed the restoration of the Senate Building and Atrium in 1993. Now there is a bustling Education & Visitors’ Center on the Atrium’s ground floor. It serves as the headquarters and staging area for the Capitol Square tours.

Upon completion of the Senate Building and Atrium and their reopening in 1993, swarms of workmen gave the once-proud Statehouse the full force of their collective effort. Today, free tours show visitors what they accomplished, and so far travelers from all 50 states and nearly 60 different nations have enjoyed the sights.

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