Ohio Statehouse

A Greek Revival capitol crowned by a flat-topped drum cupola instead of a dome.

It was built between 1839 and 1861 in the Greek Revival style, and it is one of the oldest working statehouses in the country. Unlike many American capitols, it has no tall dome. Instead it is crowned by a flat-topped drum, a cylinder-shaped cupola. The building holds the ceremonial offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer and state auditor. It is a National Historic Landmark and welcomes about 500,000 visitors a year.

Why Columbus?

Chillicothe was Ohio's first state capital, from 1803. After political fighting, the legislature moved to Zanesville in 1810, and in 1812 Chillicothe became the temporary capital again. Leaders were under pressure to place the capital closer to the centre of the state, so a committee studied the options. The legislature was asked to choose a place nearer the middle of the state, which is why the capital moved.

Where did the site come from?

Four landowners from the Franklinton area offered a largely empty tract of land across the river for the new capital city. That land became the city of Columbus. The grounds now include two other buildings, the Judiciary Annex or Senate Building, and the Atrium, and all three together are called the Ohio Statehouse. The building took about 22 years to finish, from 1839 to 1861.

On the globe

The model shows a Greek Revival capitol crowned by a flat-topped drum instead of a dome. Look at the round cupola on top.