The Songs of the Fifty States: Ohio

Winter Evening in Lawnfield (c.1887) by Ohio artist De Scott Evans, depicting
Ohioan President James Garfield at home at his Ohio home.

Ohio!

Size: 116,096 km² (34^th)

2018 Population: 11,689,442 (7^th)

Population Density (new!): 109/km² (10^th)

Statehood: 1803 (17^th), although due to a procedural error Ohio's statehood wasn't formally ratified until 1953.  No, really!

American Human Development Index: 4.78 (36^th)

Art Mecca:

I have been in Ohio only three times, never for more than ninety minutes at a stretch, and all three times with the explicit goal of being able to say I had "been in Ohio."  In all three trips, I stopped at a convenience store at least once to make a purchase and thereby really, truly establish that I had been in Ohio, but still I don't feel like I've experienced everything the Buckeye State has to offer.  It is easily my most superficially experienced state.

Meanwhile, we've got longtime friend of the blog Christine M smack dab in the center of the state in Columbus, doing artsy things and working in an artsy job, so I naturally figured the best way to research the Ohio arts scene would be to ask her.  Here's what she said:

I would say the top art museums are the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Toledo Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum somewhat behind, but nonetheless quite good. Our museum in Columbus is nice, but was not the recipient of robber baron largesse since we had no robber barons at the time. We have Les Wexner now, so we're good with the contemporary art.

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Michael 5000's Ohio

First Visited: July 10th, 2005 (45^th)
Most Recently Visited: September 9, 2019 (12^th)

First Run In: n/a
Best Run: n/a.

Raced In: No.

Have Admired the Visual Arts In: No.
Have Slept Overnight In: No.

Counties Visited: 6/88 (tied for 47^th)
% Complete: 6.8% (50^th)

Mrs. 5000's Counties Visited: 18/88 (tied for 23^rd)
% Complete: 20.5% (39^th)
Mrs.5000 First Visited: 1966 (order unclear)
Mrs.5000 Most Recently Visited: August 1990 (approx. 40^th)

Atlas of All Roads Traveled

Plans and Aspirations

Obviously at some point I need to get out there and wallow in some Ohioness.

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The Fifty States Index