The current Ohio Statehouse took 22 years to complete, using more than 55,000 tons of locally quarried stone. Between laying its cornerstone in 1839 and finishing construction in 1861, Ohio endured two decades of political infighting, financial crises, and deadly epidemics. However, that period also ushered in many industrial and engineering advancements.

In 1838, the Ohio General Assembly authorized a new Statehouse, the fourth in its history. The building, located near the intersection of Broad and High Streets in Columbus, features Ohio-sourced limestone.

The foundation’s 15-foot-thick walls are rough-cut limestone faced with brick. Much of the foundation’s limestone came from the former Sullivant’s Limestone quarry outside Columbus. The State of Ohio purchased the 50-acre quarry in 1845, and it became known as the State Quarry. The so-called Columbus Limestone dates back to the Devonian Period. Though now dormant, many important Columbus-area structures feature the quarry’s limestone.

The extensive Capitol construction project required enough Columbus Limestone to fill thousands of railcars and honored the original building commission’s decision to use long-lasting, locally derived building stone. The skills of countless stonemasons and prison laborers produced a uniquely grand building that showcases Ohio’s geological history.

To learn more about the history of Ohio’s Capitol buildings, click here.

Reference

Wolfe, M.E., 2011, Building Stones of the Ohio Capitols: Columbus, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey Educational Leaflet 19.