Ohio Statehood Awards Luncheon

the Ohio Statehood Day Awards Luncheon photographed Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium sponsored by the Ohio Museums Association.

The Ohio Museums Association was proud to be a partner for Statehood Day 2018.

Fellow history advocates gathered at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus for the annual Statehood Day advocacy event on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

They met with state legislators, networked with fellow history professionals and found out which local history organizations were awarded Ohio History Fund grants to support their local, regional and statewide projects, programs and events related to the state’s history.

This year’s event featured Christopher W. Wilson, Director, Experience and Program Design and Director, Program in African-American History and Culture at the National Museum of American History, as the keynote speaker at lunchtime. Attendees were encouraged to schedule a meeting that morning with their state representative and/or state senator to discuss public policy issues relating to history and historic preservation.

The Ohio History Connection also announced its 2018 History Fund grant awards, funded through income tax donations from Ohioans. Licking County elected leaders were recognized with the Ohio History Leadership Award, presented annually to elected officials who have “gone above and beyond” in promoting Ohio history.

Statehood Day was sponsored by Ohio History Connection, Heritage Ohio, the Ohio Archaeological Council, the Ohio Local History Alliance, Ohio Humanities, the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board, Preservation Ohio, the Ohio Travel Association, the Ohio Museums Association, the Ohio Academy of History, the Ohio Council for Social Studies and the Society of Ohio Archivists.