Arts, Culture & Literature
2026 celebration theme
America 250-Ohio Signature Programs
America 250-Ohio is proud to offer Ohioans the following “Signature Programs” to help you explore this theme. These carefully crafted experiences and programs shine a spotlight on Ohio’s many contributions to the American story over the past 250 years and beyond.
Take a journey through Ohio’s most imaginative spaces with Creativity Trails! Discover inspiring destinations where innovation, art, and expression come alive in every corner.
Murals Across Ohio is a multi-year commemoration inviting all 88 counties to help tell the story of our great state—past, present, and future.
Arts, Culture & Literature Events
May 2026
Worthington History Walk
Robert McCloskey: Season of Wonder Exhibition
America 250 Life on Lake Erie Photo Contest, “America’s Story — Lake Erie’s Legacy”
1776 – America’s Prize Winning Musical
June 2026
America 250: Lancaster, Ohio Patriotic Decorating Contest (Community Vote)
FOLK ART: Self-Taught Artists, Self-Told Stories
Partner Events
America 250-Ohio is proud to work with organizations around the state to elevate Ohio’s central role in the development of our nation. Below you will find key partner events that help us celebrate Ohio’s contributions within this particular theme.
From February 18, 2026 through February 18, 2027, Ohio will celebrate the life, literature, and legacy of Toni Morrison, Lorain, Ohio native and the first black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Join us as Momentum dancers return to the stage of the Davidson Theatre for the grand year-end performance.
On May 26 at 6:00 PM, join us at the historic Lincoln Theater in Columbus, OH at the book launch of Jack Marchbank’s literary release of “Art & Activism: Jazz Artists and Writers in the Civil Rights Vanguard”.
Arts, Culture & Literature Resources
Ohio is a destination for art lovers. World class museums and vibrant art scenes are found throughout the state.
Art in Ohio: Visual Arts
10 Reasons Ohio Inspires Creativity and Supports the Arts* (America 250-Ohio Blog)
The Ultimate Road Trip Through Ohio’s Creativity Trail* (America 250-Ohio Blog)
Murals Across Ohio* (America 250-Ohio Blog)
Ohio Arts Council YouTube Page
2025 Governor’s Awards for the Arts (Ohio Channel)
ARTLENS Digital Gallery (Cleveland Museum of Art)
Arts in Ohio (Ohio Arts Council)
Arts and Culture in Ohio (Ohio.gov)
Strokes of Color: Celebrating the Art of Toledo’s Latino Cultures (Midstory)
The Aminah Robinson Legacy Project (Columbus Museum of Art)
Lily Martin Spencer: The 19th Century’s Favorite Genre Painter (Ohio Memory)
Surveying the Artistic Landscape at the Western Reserve Historical Society (Western Reserve Historical Society)
A Tiger in Ohio: How Bill Watterson’s Hometown Inspired “Calvin and Hobbes” (Midstory)
Ohio is home to many celebrated storytellers. Through their words and illustrations, Ohioans create new worlds.
Literary Landscapes: Voices from the Buckeye State
Ohio Goes to the Movies Literary Trail* (OGTTM Resource)
The Ohio Literary Trail (Ohioana Library Trail)
List of Ohio Authors (Cleveland Public Library)
Lumen Magazine (Ohio Humanities)
Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison (Literary Cleveland)
Toni Morrison: Her Words Remain (Ohioana Library Blog)
Harriet Beecher Stowe Reading List (Harriet Beecher Stowe House)
Paradise Found? The Intriguing Saga of Cincinnati’s Mercantile Library (Midstory)
“He Sang of Life” – The Writing of Paul Laurence Dunbar (Ohio Memory)
Ohioana Library: Connecting Readers and Ohio Writers for 90 Years (Ohio Memory)
Children’s Authors Thriving in the Buckeye State (Midstory)
Meet R. L. Stine, Ohio’s Spooky Children’s Author (NewsDepth)
Ohio has a rich performing arts culture and history. From playhouses to orchestras, there’s something for everyone!
A Spotlight on the Performing Arts
Adella Prentiss Hughes: The Mother of The Cleveland Orchestra (The Cleveland Orchestra)
The Cleveland Orchestra Archives: More Than a Century’s Worth of Stories (The Cleveland Orchestra)
Hruby Conservatory of Music: From Czech Family Orchestra to Slavic Village Institution (Cleveland Historical)
Unorchestrated Podcast (Akron Symphony)
Echoes Extra: Downtown Cleveland’s Playhouse Square ‘Jewels’ (OHC)
The History of Karamu House (Karamu House)
Exploring the Historic Holland Theater in Bellefontaine: A Dutch-Inspired Architectural Gem (WOSU Public Media)
Touring Ohio Historic Theaters (WOSU Public Media)
Elizabeth Robins, 1862-1952: Actress, Novelist, Feminist (Book by Joanne E. Gates)
“Behind the Curtain” Series (CAPA)
The History of Playhouse Square (Playhouse Square)
Columbus’ First Radio Station (WOSU Public Media)
Ohio excels at showcasing our state’s commitment to preserving heritage through interpretive storytelling and cultural preservation.
Stepping Back in Time:
Cultural Heritage Sites
Historic Site Locator (Ohio History Connection)
Ohio Museum Guide (Ohio Museums Association)
Stepping Back in Time: Ohio Village – A Living History (WOSU Public Media)
Touring Historic Houses in Ohio (WOSU Public Media)
Ohio Village: A Living History (WOSU Public Media)
Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek in West Liberty, Ohio (WOSU Public Media)
Sauder Village Videos on YouTube
250 Years of History at Schoenbrunn Village (OHC Blog)
Historic Zoar Village – Where Separatists Came Together (OHC Blog)
Historic Sites at Heritage Village Museum, Cincinnati (Heritage Village Museum)
Explore media featured with our self-guided Ohio Creativity Trail!
Ohio "Creativity Trail" Resources
Explore Ohio’s pottery, ceramics, glass, carousel, quilting, painting, literature, and music history with these resources designed to accompany the Creativity Trail.
Partners
