Ohio Holds 212th Birthday Celebration At Statehouse

Ohio is celebrating its 212th birthday with special events at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Those attending the celebration on Sunday can participate in creative art projects, a special Statehouse tour featuring Ohio's symbols and a scavenger hunt. They also can explore the Statehouse Museum. A birthday cake will be served at the celebration, which is free and open to the public. Ohio's first constitution was approved by Congress and signed by President Thomas Jefferson on Feb. 19, 1803. Official "state" business was conducted for the first time on March 1, 1803, when the Gov. Edward Tiffin and members of the first Ohio General Assembly convened in Chillicothe. The Ohio Capitol in Columbus was completed in 1816. The current Ohio Statehouse has housed state government since 1857.