The Ohio History Center is the headquarters of the Ohio History Connection, which also operates dozens of state historic sites across Ohio. Extensive exhibits cover Ohio's history from the
Ice Age to the present. The Center includes state archives and library spaces, a gift shop, and administrative and educational facilities. The 1989
Smithsonian Guide to Historic America described the center as "probably the finest museum in America devoted to pre-European history."
Architecture Site and exterior The museum is located in a highly visible site on
Interstate 71, a major north–south highway constructed just before the center was, and connecting the museum directly to Ohio's three largest cities. The highway's southbound side approaches the museum's north and east facades, revealing it at a distance before passing directly by its east side. The museum site is wide and open, with the free-standing structure appearing as a monument in its center. The building is in the
Brutalist architecture style, featuring a monumental scale, exposed concrete (
béton brut), and simple use of other materials. Although some of the building's concrete is smooth, most at eye-level is board form concrete, where lumber is used to form its shape. When removed, the boards leave wood grain impressions in the concrete. Other materials used include Ohio-made silo tiles, dark-stained oak, terrazzo, and glass. The building's innovative architecture led it to being the cover feature of the
Architectural Record in July 1971.
Layout and interior The building has of floor space. Its first floor has a triangular plan, with
concave, gently curving sides. Each corner of the triangles were originally used to house specialties of the museum: history, archaeology, and natural history. The plan utilized platforms and sunken spaces, allowing objects to be displayed without cases. Most of the original system has been removed to make the museum more accessible to mobility-impaired guests. Remaining space on the first floor included offices and workshops on the perimeter of the triangle, and collections storage rooms in close proximity to their display spaces. ==History==