FISCAL YEAR 2017 Annual Report A MESSAGE FROM THE A MESSAGE FROM THE Executive Director & CEO Board President Our mission is to spark the discovery of Ohio’s take field trips to our sites, and 20% of all As Ohio History Connection Board President, They helped me understand how history stories. Embrace the present, share the past fourth graders in Ohio are taught Ohio history I work to forward our mission to spark the nurtures our personal identity and showcases and transform the future. with our Ohio As America online textbook. discovery of Ohio’s stories. our place in the stories of our families, community and nation. The exploration of history provides a unique • Our historic site and museum system is My own discovery of history was sparked by a opportunity to draw us in to the life and times robust. We partner with local organizers series of books given to me while I was a junior This past year, I’ve been visiting each of our of another generation. When we immerse to operate more than 50 historic sites and in high school. Historical Collections of Ohio by more than 50 historic sites across the state ourselves in the stories of our past, we can museums across Ohio and this year we were Henry Howe is essentially an encyclopedia of where local history thrives. Thousands of understand different perspectives and gain honored to add the John and Annie Glenn Ohio stories. school children visit our historic sites each year home in New Concord, Ohio. and gain an understanding of their importance valuable insight into our world today. This Henry Howe traveled all over the state in the in our shared understanding of the past–at the perspective helps us relate directly to the plight • Like most museums, a mere fraction of 19th century interviewing Ohioans, making National Afro-American Museum and Cultural of the soldier, the toils of a suffragist or the collections and archival items are easily sketches of the landscape and gathering Center in Wilberforce they learn about Colonel struggles of a refugee. available to the public. However, we believe information about this unique place and its Charles Young, the trailblazing soldier and History gives us grounding; it provides a firm that Ohio’s treasures should be accessible to people. He collected oral histories from the civil rights leader. At Serpent Mound in Adams place and understanding of who we are and everyone. We’ve made it our goal to make early Ohio settlers who struck out on their own County they hear about the ancient American where we came from. It helps us gain an 95% of our objects available to all Ohioans in and made their lives here. Indians who built the spectacular effigy mound appreciation for the contributions and the the next five years. These volumes were originally given to my that’s recognized worldwide. sacrifices of those who came before us. By On behalf of everyone who has helped in these great grandfather, who was a teacher, and These historic places immerse you in the stories preserving and sharing those authentic and and all successes or who have been touched passed down to me. They were a point of pride of our shared past and build a foundation for an engaging stories, we create a strong footing this year by some aspect of Ohio History, thank for me even then, and I immediately signed my appreciation of history among future generations. for future citizens to stand on and succeed. you. A special thanks to Gov. John R. Kasich, name inside the cover, just like my grandfather This past year, the Ohio History Connection the Ohio General Assembly, our members, had done before me. I’m honored to continue this work of sparking worked tirelessly to preserve and share the donors and volunteers across Ohio. discovery of Ohio’s stories in the year to come. I’m from Belmont County, an area rich in history stories of Ohio: The future of Ohio History is bright. I hope and one of Ohio’s earliest counties. Howe’s Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and • Our historic preservation efforts are nationally you’ll join me in preserving Ohio’s stories entries about my corner of the state drew all Ohioans. now and in the year to come. recognized; in 2016 Ohio led the nation in me in–those sections always had bookmarks Sincerely, completed federal tax credit projects and Sincerely, and tabbed pages. These books got so much we’re currently third in the nation for listings use over the years that I even had to get the to the National Register of Historic Places. bindings replaced. • Our educational experiences are preparing These stories allowed me to discover where leaders for tomorrow; thousands of students I came from and my place in my community. Robert W. Lucas participate annually in Ohio History Day and Burt Logan 2 • Ohio History Connection FY2017 Annual Report • 3 OUR MISSION Embrace the present, share the past and transform the future. Your public history organization dedicated to preserving and CORE VALUES sharing Ohio’s stories. RELEVANCE Addressing and communicating the significance WHAT WE DO of history with Ohio’s diverse people • Manage more than 50 historic sites and AUTHENTICITY museums across Ohio. Valuing artifacts and true stories of history • Care for our state’s collections and archives INCLUSIVITY and share the stories of Ohio and Ohioans. Appealing to all Ohioans, • Administer the state historic preservation especially underserved audiences office that helps preserve historic places STEWARDSHIP in Ohio. Protecting the evidence of Ohio history • Provide education and outreach services WORKING TOGETHER that support students, teachers, local history Pursuing teamwork and sharing groups and communities in Ohio. authority and responsibility 4 • Ohio History Connection FY2017 Annual Report • 5 HISTORIC SITES & MUSEUMS STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE CONGRATS, FEDERAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS Zoar Village! Preserve the Fabric One of the 20 best Our historic site in Tuscarawas County was recognized as a National Historic Landmark this year. of Ohio’s Communities small towns This designation identifies Zoar Village as a place that possesses exceptional value and quality in illustrating Ohio is #1 in the nation for the number of successfully completed Federal Historic Tax to visit and interpreting the heritage of the United States. Credit projects. In fiscal year 2016 (October 2015–September 2016) Ohio saw 103 projects Only around 2,500 sites in the nation share this premier – SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE – completed with this national program. status. In addition to being added to this prestigious national list, Zoar was also named one of the 20 best Administered by the National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service in partnership with our State Historic Preservation small towns to visit in 2017 by Smithsonian Magazine. Office, the Federal Historic Tax Credit is instrumental in preserving the historic places that give cities, towns and rural areas their special character. Zoar Village was founded in 1817 by German Separatists seeking religious Federal Historic Tax Credits provide immense positive economic impact on the cities and towns that take advantage of them. freedom. The settlers of Zoar established an almost entirely self-sufficient utopian community that existed until 1898. Today, Zoar Village provides an Since the inception of the program, 2.3 million jobs have been created nationally. In Ohio, each combined federal and state authentic 19th-century experience for visitors all over Ohio. historic tax credit project on average results in 93 new permanent jobs and 78 construction jobs. Just a few years ago, the future of this historic community was threatened In addition to economic growth, historic preservation contributes to local pride and provides a better understanding of as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considered removing a levee that where we are as a community today. Our historic places enable us to discover our own place in the stories of our families, protected the site from flooding. Thanks to local and national advocacy and communities and nation. support for Zoar Village, plans to remove the levee were set aside and the Ohio’s achievement shows a statewide dedication to preserving these historic places and a commitment to investing in conversation changed from “Save Zoar” to “Preserve Zoar.” preservation now and for years to come. We see this historic site thriving on a national stage and look forward to what the future brings. Mitchell’s Ice Cream in Ohio City received historic preservation tax credits in their renovation of the historic Rialto Theater. 6 • Ohio History Connection FY2017 Annual Report • 7 OUTREACH EDUCATION & OUTREACH OHIO’S RICH PARTNER TRIBES WITH BHUTANESE–NEPALI HISTORIC TIES TO OHIO: American Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma Citizen Potawatomi Nation "We want to Neighbors Indian History Delaware Nation get visitors Delaware Tribe of Indians An exhibit that opened May 5, 2017 at the Ohio History At the Ohio History Connection, we continue to do Center explores the story of Ohio’s largest current-day looking at work that reveals the histories of the many modern-day Eastern Shawnee refugee community–about 20,000 Bhutanese-Nepalis federally-recognized tribes connected to Ohio. Tribe of Oklahoma the refugees who now live in central Ohio after leaving their native Forest County Potawatomi in these Bhutan and living for as long as 20 years in temporary There are 44 federally-recognized native tribes who are connected to Ohio camps in Nepal. through homelands, sites and treaties. The majority of tribes were forcibly Miami Tribe of Oklahoma removed from the state in the mid-19th century under Indian Removal portraits to Bhutanese-Nepali Neighbors: Photographs by Tariq Tarey showcases policies, but their impact on our shared history is significant today and Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma 30 photographs of members of the Bhutanese-Nepali community.