Chillicothe in Ross County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Site of Ohio's First Statehouse

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 21, 2008

1. Site of Ohio's First Statehouse Marker

Inscription. Ross County's first courthouse was Ohio's first statehouse. The courthouse was erected on the Public Square in 1801. Thomas Worthington, one of the building's superintendents, laid out the foundation. Chillicothe was the last capital of the Northwest Territory, and the final session of the territorial legislature met in the courthouse in 1801. Ohio's first constitution was written here in 1802. On March 1, 1803, Ohio's first General Assembly convened in the building, making it the statehouse. During a time of strained relations between Native Americans and settlers in Ohio, the great Shawnee leader Tecumseh delivered a speech here in 1807 to reassure citizens that the Indians would remain peaceful. The courthouse served as the statehouse from 1803 to 1810 and from 1812 to 1816. The building was razed in 1852 to make way for the present courthouse.

Erected 2000 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Chillicothe & Ross County 2003 Commission of Chillicothe's Bicentennial Commission, Ross County Historical Society, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 3-71.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1917.

Location. 39° 19.998′ N, 82° 58.938′ W. Marker is in Chillicothe, Ohio, in Ross County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 50) and Paint Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Marker is at southeast corner of courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chillicothe OH 45601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nathaniel Massie (a few steps from this marker); War Savings Stamps (a few steps from this marker); Court House Renovation (within shouting distance of this marker); A Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio (within shouting distance of this marker); Chillicothe (within shouting distance of this marker); The Carlisle (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Statehouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chillicothe.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 21, 2008

2. Site of Ohio's First Statehouse Marker

Ross County Courthouse in background.

Replica of Ohio's First Statehouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 21, 2008

3. Replica of Ohio's First Statehouse

The Chillicothe Gazette newspaper building across the street is a replica of the first statehouse.

Stone from Ohio's First Statehouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 21, 2008

4. Stone from Ohio's First Statehouse

Imbedded in the south wall of the Ross County Courthouse.

Chillicothe Corporate Limit Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 21, 2008

5. Chillicothe Corporate Limit Marker

Marker is located at 39.349614,-82.996983, on Ohio Route 104, 200 feet south of US 35 southbound exit ramp.

6. Site of Ohio's First Statehouse Marker

An additional marker at the statehouse from the Jonathan Williams Foundry catalog (American Art in Bronze and Iron, Jonathan Williams Foundry, Inc., v. 1: no. 1-7, 1902-1909, pg. 41).

Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,151 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on May 14, 2021, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 24, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on August 20, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.