Happy 221st Birthday, Ohio!
Interestingly enough, there are two relevant dates to consider when discussing Ohio’s statehood:
February 19, 1803: This is the date when Congress passed an act “to provide for the execution of the laws of the United States within the State of Ohio,” effectively admitting it as the 17th state.
March 1, 1803: This is the date the Ohio state legislature first met. In 1953, the U.S. Congress retroactively designated this date as Ohio’s official statehood day.
The Ohio state flag, standing out from the crowd, features a unique swallowtail shape. This distinctive design, nicknamed a “burgee”, is the only one of its kind among U.S. state flags. The flag has three red and two white stripes representing the roads and waterways of the state. It also has a blue triangle with a red circle superimposed upon a white “O”, along with 17 stars representing Ohio’s place as the 17th state.
Here are a few fun facts to celebrate the Buckeye State:
- Did you know Ohio is home to the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, honoring aviation pioneers and innovators?
- The Wright Brothers made their historic first flight in 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, but they lived and conducted most of their experiments in Dayton, Ohio.
- Sometimes called the “Mother of Presidents”, Ohio boasts seven presidential births, including those of Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding. ️
Let’s raise a glass (of delicious Buckeye ice cream, perhaps) to Ohio’s rich history, innovative spirit, and the incredible people who call it home!