What to do in Ross County to celebrate Statehood Day

CHILLICOTHE — As the month of March begins the state will be celebrating Statehood Day to commemorate the day Ohio officially became a state in 1803. Many locations in Ross County will be celebrating this historic moment.

Kiwanis Club of Chillicothe

The Kiwanis Club of Chillicothe along with the Ross County Ministerial Association are hosting the Annual Statehood Day Prayer Breakfast on March 2, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 13 Mead Drive in Chillicothe. Doors open at 8 a.m., breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. and the program starts at 9 a.m. The Keynote Speaker this year will be Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney.

Each year Chillicothe Kiwanis Club recognizes an outstanding area resident that best represents the “Spirit of Ohio". The citizen is someone who has advanced the ideals of the brotherhood of mankind, community service endeavors, love of family and youth, concern for the beauty of the region and spiritual growth of the soul. This year Bill and Linda Herrnstein will be recognized.

The breakfast buffet will be catered by the Pour House at Machinery Hall serving. The cost is $15 per person. You may get your tickets from a local Kiwanian, The Ministerial Association, or the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Adena Mansion and Gardens

Step back in time to 1803 as you visit Thomas Worthington's house and watch as he and Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair debate Ohio's statehood and what path should be taken.

Admission to this event is free as part of Statehood Day. The grounds and museum will be open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. March 2. The “Debate over Statehood” times are 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Mansion tours will take place every half-hour beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m.

Ross County Historical Society

The Ross County Historical Society Heritage Center, located at 45 West Fifth Street, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. March 2 and feature a special one-day exhibit of Ohio statehood documents from the society’s archives including Thomas Worthington’s original draft of the Ohio Enabling Act and the table where the Ohio’s Constitution was signed in November 1802.

David Nickens Heritage Center

The David Nickens Heritage Center, 71 West Fourth Street, Chillicothe, will be open 1 to 4 p.m. March 2. Featured will be fascinating exhibits on local, regional, and national African American history and culture, including “Freedom’s Journey: The Underground Railroad,” “African American Women in the 19th Century,” “The Black Church in America,” and “African Americans in the Military.” Visitors will also have the opportunity to view the acclaimed video about the Underground Railroad titled “Flight to Freedom” and learn about the center’s African American genealogical resources.

Lucy Hayes Heritage Center

The Lucy Hayes Heritage Center, 90 West Sixth Street, Chillicothe, birthplace of Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of 19th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2. Featured will be tours of the home where visitors will be treated to special exhibits of Hayes family artifacts, documents, and memorabilia, and mid-19th century home furnishings and decorative arts representing the period when Lucy Webb lived in the house. Refreshment will beserved.

Ross County Genealogical Society

The Ross County Genealogical Society, 303 South Paint Street, Chillicothe, will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2.The public is invited to stop in and learn about the large number of resources available for anyone interested in researching their family tree.

Chillicothe’s annual Statehood Day Open Houses are free and open to the public and provides an enjoyable opportunity to learn about the community’s many historical resources and treasures. For more information, please call (740) 772-1936

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: What you need to know about Statehood Day events