Ohio+State+House


 * Name:** The Ohio Statehouse
 * Location:** Columbus, Ohio



**History** The Ohio Statehouse began when Columbus was recognized as the capital of Ohio in the year of 1812. Four men, John Kerr, Lyne Starling, John Johnston, and Alexander McLaughlin, donated their private land to the state for the grounds to construct the new Ohio Statehouse. Its construction began with a contest between 50 to 60 architects. From the 50 to 60 contestant applications, three designs for the new Statehouse were chosen by a committee. The first place winner was Henry Walter from Cincinnati, second place went to Martin E. Thompson from New York, and third went to Thomas Cole who was not even an architect by trade but rather a landscape painter. These men all submitted similar designs which included porticos, balanced wings, and domes. They were so similar and equally impressive that the committee informed the architectural consultant Alexander Jackson Davis that any of the three would be acceptable to build. Instead of choosing one design however, Davis combined the three designs with an emphasis on Cole’s colonnaded façade. Ultimately Davis chose to remove the pediment and dome from the original design done by Thomas Cole.

The construction of the Statehouse began in 1839 but took 22 years to complete because of constant lack of funding, political wrangling, and a cholera epidemic. The final design changed many times throughout its construction and there were many times when construction slowed or stopped completely, like in 1840 when building ceased for eight years.

Isaiah Rogers was a well-known Cincinnati architect that was employed to oversee the Statehouse's final stages of construction. During these final stages he decided to revert to and older design done by William Russell West and J.O. Sawyer from 1848. The design was one that did not include a dome atop the building, unlike many of the other designs, but instead a Cupola. Finally, in 1861, the Ohio Statehouse construction was completed, making it one of America's greatest pieces of Greek Revival architecture.

**Inspiration** During the early 1800s when the Ohio Statehouse was built, America was still a newly independent country. People were patriotic, the Industrial Revolution was occurring across the sea, and democracy filled the air. This Greek Revival style was chosen by the voting committee and designed by the architects because of America’s new independence and feel for democracy. Since Greece was the birthplace for democracy, it seemed only appropriate to try and recreate it in this new country founded on similar grounds. The Greek style is very straightforward and powerful in its minimalism, very much the opposite of Gothic Revival buildings that were being constructed in Europe at the same time.

** Critique ** The Ohio Statehouse does a very good job in using parts of Greek architecture. The Greek order it imitates is the Doric order, one of simplicity and majesty. Unlike the ornate Ionic order, these simple, plain columns are that of the typical Greek Doric style. The building contains the obvious triglyph and metope pattern with the gutta border that is common in the Doric order. Meanwhile, the columns portray the typical echinus and abacus top and lack of base. Finally the symmetric, rectangular shape and the simplicity of the low cornice, top off the look of this Greek Revival building. However, since this building was not constructed to replicate, but simply imitate Greek order, there are obvious differences. The lack of continuation in columns around the entire building makes it look less ancient-Greece and more maturing-America. The most obvious difference in the building is the two-story Copula atop the Statehouse. Because of the heavy marble used to construct buildings in ancient Greece, such designs were unheard of. The Copula is similar to a dome in that it has a cylindrical shape, however the roof is much lower and not arched or domed. Since the Romans created cement which allowed arches and domes to be built, creating a Copula seemed to be more appropriate for a Greek Revival building and looked more accurate than a large dome. Though the Ohio Statehouse is not an exact replica of an ancient Greek building, it does a great job being inspired by the ancient architecture and ratifying vital aspects of its Doric order. It is easy to see how the Ohio Statehouse is said to be one of America’s greatest pieces of Greek Revival architecture.

__** Bibliography **__ Works Cited // Front of Ohio Statehouse //. 2007. Photograph. Ohio Statehouse Photo Archive. //Ohio Statehouse//. By Ohio Channel. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. . Howe, Jeffery. "Greek Revival Architecture in America." //Boston College//. 1996. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. . Kasson, Chris. //Ohio Statehouse Evening//. Photograph. The Ohio Statehouse Photo Archive, Ohio Department of Development. //Ohio Statehouse//. Ohio Statehouse Photo Archive. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. . The Ohio Statehouse. "Education: Capitol Timeline." //Ohio Statehouse//. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. . The Ohio Statehouse. "Education: Statehouse." //Ohio Statehouse//. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. . The Ohio Statehouse. "Education: The Cupola." //Ohio Statehouse//. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. . Radford University. "Greek Architecture and the Evolution of the Temple." //Radford University: School of Athens//. Radford University. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. .