Description: Design of the Ohio state flag created by architect John Eisenmann in 1901. Prior to 1901, Ohio did not have an official flag. This particular design attracted the attention of Ohio's House of Representatives. In 1901, a bill was enacted and by May 9, 1902 the design was signed into law as the state flag. The swallow-tailed pennant is steeped with Ohio symbolism. Triangles formed by the main lines represent Ohio's hills and valleys, while the stripes represent Ohio's roads and waterways. The stars indicate the thirteen original states of the Union and are grouped around a circle or O, which symbolizes the Northwest Territory. The four stars on the other side of the O denote that Ohio was the fourth new state to enter the Union. Added together, the seventeen stars signify that Ohio was the seventeenth state in the Union. The white circle with its red center represents the initial letter of Ohio and suggests a buckeye, since Ohio is known as the "Buckeye State." Text at top reads "THE OHIO STATE FLAG DESIGNED BY JOHN EISENMANN ARCHITECT & ENGINEER FOR THE OHIO STATE COMMISSIONERS TO THE PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3243_4435154_001
Subjects: Ohio Government; State flags (United States); Architects; Eisenmann, John (American architect, 1851-1924); Ohio state symbols
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: These photographs document Ohio's state mammal, the white-tailed deer. The first three photographs show a young deer, or fawn. The last three photographs show a male deer, or buck. Adult females, or does, average 90 to 200 pounds, while bucks can grow to reach 300 pounds. The photographs are 3" x 3" (7.62 x 7.62 cm). The white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, is now found in all of Ohio's 88 counties, although they were extirpated (extinct in Ohio but found in other places) by 1904. The extirpation was caused by over-hunting and destruction of habitat by white settlers. Deer were a significant source of food and clothing and were used for ceremonial purposes. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3133_3742243_001
Subjects: Ohio Government; Plants and Animals; Deer; Ohio state symbols
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Front of Curt Teich postcard No. 33, featuring the Ohio State Capitol and McKinley Memorial in Columbus, the seal of Ohio, red carnation, cardinal, buckeye, and Ohio flag. The postcard was sold at the variety store of W. E. Ayres on 1049 Livingston Ave. in Columbus and was sent from Frances E. Gauger of Columbus to Lillian Netick of Almont, Colorado, 1946. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05441
Subjects: Ohio History; Ohio state symbols; Correspondence
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio);
 

Description: Back of Curt Teich postcard No. 33, featuring the Ohio State Capitol and McKinley Memorial in Columbus, the seal of Ohio, red carnation, cardinal, buckeye, and Ohio flag. The postcard was sold at the variety store of W. E. Ayres on 1049 Livingston Ave. in Columbus and was sent from Frances E. Gauger of Columbus to Lillian Netick of Almont, Colorado, 1946. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05442
Subjects: Ohio History; Ohio state symbols; Correspondence
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio);
 

Description: Ohio flag flying over the base camp of soldier Jim Lundgard in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, 1969. Lundgard wrote to Governor James Rhodes requesting an Ohio flag. The flag is part of the Ohio History Connection museum collections, catalog number H 82022. Lundgard served in Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division Company B, 3rd battalion, 47 Infantry Division. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01058
Subjects: Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975; Ohio History--Military Ohio; Ohio state symbols; Flags;
Places: Mekong Delta (Vietnam)
 

Description: Flint is Ohio's official gemstone and Flint Ridge flint is renowned for its color and beauty. These samples shown here include one stone with crystals measuring 14" x 11" x 6" (35.6 x 27.9 x 15.2cm) and two polished stones measuring 2" x 3" x 2" (5.1 x 7.6 x 5.1cm) each. Flint is silicon dioxide (SiO2)--the same chemical formula as the quartz crystals that are visible on the first image. Small specks of other minerals included in the crystal give it its varied appearance. In prehistoric times, the flint was used by American Indians for tools including knives and spear points; today, the polished stone is valued in jewelry making. The most famous deposit of flint in Ohio is an area in eastern Licking and western Muskingum Counties known as Flint Ridge. Flint Ridge Flint became Ohio's official gemstone in 1965. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1404_1535090_001
Subjects: Geography and Natural Resources; Rocks; Minerals; Crystals; Ohio state symbols
Places: Licking County (Ohio); Muskingum County (Ohio)
 

Description: Two images show a human effigy pipe created by the prehistoric Adena culture, who lived in the Ohio Valley between 800 B.C. and 100 A.D. The second image, taken during excavation of Burial 21 of the Adena Mound in Ross County in 1901, shows the pipe in the ground, partially covered. In the first image, the details of the tube pipe are visible. Made from pipestone, this large, anthropomorphic tube pipe is in the form of a man standing upright, wearing a patterned loincloth, earspools and a feather bustle. He has a swelling on his throat that may represent a goiter. His head and torso are large in comparison to his legs, suggesting to some that he represents a dwarf, although this may only reflect artistic convention. The mouthpiece has a small hole in a semicircular projection at the top of the head. The bowl of the pipe is located between the figure's feet. The front, or ventral face, is light yellowish brown and much of the back, or dorsal face, is yellowish red. The pipe, which is also called Adena Man or the Adena Pipe, measures 1.97 by 2.60 by 7.87 inches (5 by 6.6 by 20 cm) and is held in the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Collection. As of 2013, it is recognized as the state artifact of Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1289_793634_001
Subjects: American Indians in Ohio; Adena culture; Adena Mound; Archaeology; Ohio state symbols; Hopewell culture--Ohio
Places: Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Three images showing a human effigy pipe created by the prehistoric Adena culture, who lived in the Ohio Valley between 800 B.C. and 100 A.D. Made from pipestone, this large, anthropomorphic tube pipe is in the form of a man standing upright, wearing a patterned loincloth, earspools and a feather bustle. He has a swelling on his throat that may represent a goiter. His head and torso are large in comparison to his legs, suggesting to some that he represents a dwarf, although this may only reflect artistic convention. The mouthpiece has a small hole in a semicircular projection at the top of the head. The bowl of the pipe is located between the figure's feet. The front, or ventral face, is light yellowish brown and much of the back, or dorsal face, is yellowish red. The pipe, which is also called Adena Man or the Adena Pipe, measures 1.97 by 2.60 by 7.87 inches (5 by 6.6 by 20 cm) and is held in the Ohio History Connection Archaeology Collection. As of 2013, it is recognized as the state artifact of Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: A1200_10_AP_01
Subjects: American Indians in Ohio; Adena culture; Adena Mound; Archaeology; Ohio state symbols; Hopewell culture--Ohio
Places: Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows white trillium flowers in bloom at the Fort Hill nature preserve in Highland County, Ohio, 1932. The hilltop earthworks were constructed by the prehistoric Hopewell people, 100 B.C.-A.D. 500. Fort Hill became a state memorial in 1932 when 330 acres were purchased. Between 1937 and 1953 more acreage was added until the site was 1,200 acres. The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed park structures in the 1930s and the museum opened in 1968. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01017
Subjects: Highland County (Ohio); Ohio state symbols; Wildflowers--Ohio; Nature photography
Places: Highland County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows a hot-air balloon on exhibit at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, ca. 1963-1983. The balloon bears the image of a cardinal, the state bird of Ohio since 1933. Text on the base of the balloon reads: “State of Ohio” and “Your passport to Ohio.” Visible in the photograph’s bottom is a sign titled “State of Ohio” that lists the name of the governor (James A. Rhodes). Passersby are stopping to look at the balloon. A woman appears to be sitting inside an enclosure surrounding the base of the balloon. The origins of the Ohio State Fair date back to the 1840s. In 1846 the Board of Agriculture was formed. The first state fair was scheduled for 1849, but it was delayed for a year by an outbreak of cholera. After another year-long delay, the fair was held in Cincinnati. Originally the fair was held in a different location every year, due to the difficulty in traveling long distances. In 1874, Columbus was chosen as the state fair’s permanent site because transportation around the state had become much easier. Only rarely has the fair been cancelled (the only examples being a few years during World War II, when the fairgrounds was being used by the U.S. military). After 1945, the state fair resumed its annual schedule. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06669
Subjects: Hot air balloons; Ohio State Fair (Columbus, Ohio); Birds--Ohio; Cardinals (Birds); Tourism; Ohio state symbols
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: The white trillium, Trillium grandiflorum, was named Ohio's state wildflower in 1987. It is found in all of Ohio's 88 counties, and produces large white blooms in April and May. Its flowers consist of three white petals that turn pink with age. The trillium grows in forested areas where sufficient light reaches the forest floor. The three photographs shown here measure 3" x 3" (7.62 x 7.62 cm). View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om3229_4435125_001
Subjects: Ohio Government; Plants and Animals; Flowers; Ohio state symbols
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Soldier Jim Lundgard displaying the Ohio flag that he requested from Governor James Rhodes while serving in Vietnam, 1969. The flag is part of the Ohio History Connection museum collections, catalog number H 82022. Lundgard served in Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division Company B, 3rd battalion, 47 Infantry Division. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01057
Subjects: Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975; Ohio History--Military Ohio; Ohio state symbols; Flags; Military service;
Places: Mekong Delta (Vietnam)