Ohio Open Doors is sponsored by the Ohio History Connection and partner organizations, including America 250-Ohio, Heritage Ohio, Ohio Local History Alliance, Ohio Museums Association, Ohio Travel Association, and TourismOhio.
2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States! We want to host more than 250 Ohio Open Doors events in 2026 and have at least one in each of our state’s 88 counties. Ohio Open Doors 2026 is another opportunity for your community to be a part of America 250-Ohio.
The Ohio History Connection created Ohio Open Doors in 2016 to promote and inspire pride in Ohio’s heritage and to celebrate the National Historic Preservation Act.
Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Oct. 15, 1966, the Act has proven instrumental in transforming the face of communities from coast to coast, establishing the legal framework and incentives to preserve historic buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites. The Act drives economic revitalization by attracting investment, supporting small business, stabilizing neighborhoods and creating jobs.
“Ohio Open Doors shares stories of important landmarks and interesting places right in our communities, highlighting the history and unique nature of some of Ohio’s most treasured sites,” says Diana Welling, Director of the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office.
Many of the locations featured in Ohio Open Doors events are in the National Register of Historic Places, which the National Historic Preservation Act created. The State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection administers the National Historic Preservation Act in Ohio.
