Honoring Ohioans Exhibit Unveiled at the Ohio Statehouse

A large crowd turned out Monday morning for the unveiling of the “Honoring Ohioans” exhibit at the Ohio Statehouse. The permanent exhibit is the newest addition to the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center located in the Museum Gallery. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation, working with Dublin, Ohio based Roto design firm, have produced a moving exhibit that chronicles all Ohio Medal of Honor recipients and highlights their service to the United States.

At the heart of the new exhibit is the “Magic Book” interactive display. The magic book tells the unique stories of heroism and sacrifice to the visitor through the book’s pages—it’s a book that acts like a movie that the visitor controls. Perhaps the most striking piece of content in the exhibit is located on the first page of the Magic Book. On that first page, a Metal of Honor recipient from Ohio poignantly describes what the Metal of Honor signifies for him—sacrifice. Additional exhibit pieces include a presentation of two Medals of Honor and a searchable kiosk where visitors are able to search the Ohio Medal of Honor database by name, branch of service, conflict and county affiliation.

The exhibit has an online component as well. Through the Honoring Ohioans database, visitors will be able to access the same information that is housed in the Ohio Statehouse Museum display.

“The exhibit touches you on a personal level. I am humbled and honored to archive these stories of heroism here at the Ohio Statehouse,” said William Carleton, CSRAB executive director.

This project was made possible through a donation from Nationwide. The Honoring Ohioans exhibit will educate thousands of children as they visit the Ohio Statehouse and will further engrain the importance of Ohio’s Capitol to those who visit. This project is the definition of a public-private partnership—public institutions working with a private organization to enrich the lives of all Ohioans.

“The Honoring Ohioans exhibit unifies the Ohio Statehouse Museum Gallery as a singular educational space. For all parties involved—the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, Nationwide, Roto and the Capitol Square Foundation—this project has been a labor of love!” said Charles Moses, Capitol Square Foundation, chairman.

For additional event photos, click here.