Ohio's first constitution was approved by Congress, and then signed by President Thomas Jefferson on Feb. 19, 1803. By then, the January elections had been held, with the mild-mannered doctor and legislator Edward Tiffin - Thomas Worthington's brother-in-law - elected governor. Official "state" business was conducted for the first time on March 1, 1803, when Tiffin and members of the first Ohio General Assembly convened in Chillicothe.
In commemoration of Ohio's founding, the Ohio Historical Society joins a broad coalition of history advocates for its annual Statehood Day event at the Statehouse. The state's birthday serves as an appropriate time each year for history advocates to come together (on or near March 1) to help showcase the importance of Ohio's history and how history, historic preservation and the organizations that help provide access to Ohio's rich history benefit the Buckeye State. Statehood Day is a celebration of Ohio and its history, as well as a legislative advocacy event.
Statehood Day is a joint effort among the Ohio Historical Society, Heritage Ohio, the Ohio Academy of History, the Ohio Archaeological Council, the Ohio Local History Alliance, the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board, Preservation Ohio, the Ohio Genealogical Society, the Ohio Council for Social Studies, and the Society of Ohio Archivists.
Ohio native Erin Moriarty of CBS News is the keynote speaker at the event. State Senator Randy Gardner is honored and History Fund Grants are awarded to 10 recipients.