Description: Street scene in Chillicothe depicting decorations for the celebration of the Ohio centennial, 1903. In 1802, as Ohio moved toward statehood, Chillicothe hosted the Ohio Constitutional Convention. When Ohio became a state in 1803, Chillicothe was named its capital, in part due to its central location as well as the prominent political figures, like Edward Tiffin and Thomas Worthington, who resided there. The city served as Ohio's capital until 1810, when state government moved to Zanesville. The capital returned to Chillicothe two years later, only to move to Columbus, 45 miles to the north, in 1816. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01153
Subjects: Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; Horse-drawn vehicles -- Ohio; Centennial celebrations; Capitals; Ohio--Politics and government
Places: Chillicothe (Ohio); Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: This street scene in Chillicothe, Ohio, depicts decorations for the celebration of the Ohio centennial, which occurred in 1903. In 1802, as Ohio moved toward statehood, Chillicothe hosted the Ohio Constitutional Convention. When Ohio became a state in 1803, Chillicothe was named its capital, in part due to its central location as well as the prominent political figures, like Edward Tiffin and Thomas Worthington, who resided there. The city served as Ohio's capital until 1810, when state government moved to Zanesville. The capital returned to Chillicothe two years later, only to move to Columbus, 45 miles to the north, in 1816. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03309
Subjects: Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; Horse-drawn vehicles -- Ohio; Centennial celebrations; Capitals; Ohio--Politics and government
Places: Chillicothe (Ohio); Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Plat of Ohio's capital city, titled "A plat of the town of Columbus, laid off by order of the Assembly, for the seat of Government of the state of Ohio, 1817." Text at the bottom reads "Returned to the Assembly sitting in Chillicothe in the 12th month A.D. 1812 by Joel Wright Commissioner." This is a photostatic copy of the 1825 map which is a facsimilie of Wright's original 1812 map. This early plat of Columbus shows the Scioto River joined by the "Whetstone Branch," now the Olentangy River. West of the river is Franklinton, and "Prairies containing about 150 acres." Notable locations east of the river include the Public Square (location of the Ohio Statehouse) and the Ohio Penitentiary. The city was first laid out in 1812 and incorporated in 1816. Columbus was not the original capital, but the state legislature chose to move the state government there after its location for a short time at both Chillicothe and Zanesville. Columbus was chosen as the site for the new capital because of its central location within the state and access by way of major transportation routes (primarily rivers) at that time. Prior to the state legislature's decision in 1812, Columbus did not exist. The city was designed from the first as the state's capital, preparing itself for its role in Ohio's political, economic, and social life. In the years between first groundbreaking and the actual movement of the capital in 1816, Columbus grew significantly. The town was surveyed, and various city lots were put up for sale. By 1813, a penitentiary had been built, and by the following year the first church, school, and newspaper had been established. Construction on the statehouse began in 1814 as well. Columbus grew quickly in its first few years, having a population of seven hundred people by 1815. It officially became the county seat in 1824, and by 1834, the population of Columbus was four thousand people, officially elevating it to "city" status. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MAP_VFM_0109_2
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History--19th century; Ohio Statehouse (Columbus, Ohio); Capitals; Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph is an elevated view of a crowd gathered on the street in Chillicothe, Ohio, after the parade celebrating the Ohio Centennial on May 21, 1903. On the stand reviewing the parade are Senator Marcus Hanna and Governor George K. Nash. In 1802, as Ohio moved toward statehood, Chillicothe hosted the Ohio Constitutional Convention. When Ohio became a state in 1803, Chillicothe was named its capital, in part due to its central location as well as the prominent political figures, like Edward Tiffin and Thomas Worthington, who resided there. The city served as Ohio's capital until 1810, when state government moved to Zanesville. The capital returned to Chillicothe two years later, only to move to Columbus, 45 miles to the north, in 1816. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02636
Subjects: Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; Centennial celebrations; Capitals; Ohio--Politics and government
Places: Chillicothe (Ohio); Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Map of Columbus titled "City of Columbus Franklin County Ohio," 1856. Beneath the title is "Surveyed & Published by Hart & Mapother, Civil Engineers. N.W. cor. of Trinity Pl. & Thames St. N.Y." Inset illustrations include the Ohio Statehouse, the residence of W.A. Gill, Franklin County courts and offices, the residence of Dr. J.W. Baker, Starling Medical College, and the Esther Institute. Other notable Columbus locations include the Ohio Institution for the Blind, Goodale Park, the Ohio Penitentiary, the Ohio Lunatic Asylum, the Franklin County Infirmary, the Capitol, and the State Fairground (southwest of Franklinton). Five separate "ward" are also identified by color around the central part of the city. Wards are subdivisions of a city or other locality, often designated for electoral purposes. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: VFM0112_2_1
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio)--History--19th century; Maps--Ohio; Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; Capitals;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)