COLUMBUS – As part of the fiscal 2025-26 state capital budget bill, the Ohio History Connection has received $63.75 million to fund projects, sites and initiatives outlined in its 10-year strategic plan.

House Bill 2, which included budget appropriations totaling $3.5 billion, was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on June 28.

“We are deeply grateful to the governor, the House of Representatives and the Senate for advancing this budget process and meeting the needs of our organization through this latest state capital budget,” said Charles R. Moses, president of the Ohio History Connection board of trustees. “Their trust in the Ohio History Connection is evident and much appreciated, and we will be proud to serve Ohioans by using these funds efficiently and effectively to preserve state history in a multitude of ways.”

The capital funds will be used for a variety of projects listed in the Ohio History Connection’s recently updated strategic plan, including renovation and preservation of the Ohio History Center and Ohio Village in Columbus and the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center in Wilberforce; construction of a new Ohio River Museum in Marietta; development of the Poindexter Village Museum & Cultural Center in Columbus; and interpretive and site improvements at the three Ohio History Connection-managed locations in the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks.

“We will approach these projects in our strategic plan with gratitude for this historic state capital budget appropriation,” said Megan Wood, Ohio History Connection Executive Director and CEO. “Implementation of our strategic plan is critical to preserving Ohio’s history for generations to come. We are thankful to Gov. DeWine and the leaders and legislators in the General Assembly for their commitment to sharing the state’s history and their trust in the Ohio History Connection to do it in innovative and effective ways.”

For more information about the Ohio History Connection and its strategic plan, go to ohiohistory.org/about-us/. For information about the capital budget bill, a fact sheet is available on governor.ohio.gov.

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About the Ohio History Connection:

The Ohio History Connection is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history. This includes housing the State Historic Preservation Office and the official state archives and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio. For more information, go to ohiohistory.org. The Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation provide support for Ohio History Connection programs.

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