Uptown District in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Ohio Statehouse ⎯⎯⎯ Lincoln at the Statehouse
Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 12, 2008
1. The Ohio Statehouse Side of Marker
Inscription.
The Ohio Statehouse, also, Lincoln at the Statehouse. . In 1812, the Ohio legislature designated Columbus as the state capital, with local landowners contributing land and resources for a capitol building and penitentiary. The first Columbus statehouse, a Federal-style structure completed in 1816, stood on the northeast corner of State and High streets. By the 1830s, the need for a more substantial structure was apparent. Cincinnati architect Thomas Walter won the 1838 capitol design contest, though the final design incorporated several designers’ ideas, including prominent Hudson River School artist Thomas Cole. Construction proceeded slowly between 1839 and 1861, weathering political fights, prison labor disputes, and a cholera epidemic. Interior work was sufficiently complete by January 1857 for the legislature to hold its first session in the new capitol. A National Historic Landmark, the Ohio Statehouse stands as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in America. , Lincoln at the Statehouse.“This slavery element is a durable element of discord among us... we shall probably not have perfect peace in this country with it until it either masters the free principle in our government, or is mastered by the free principle.” , On September 16, 1859, Abraham Lincoln addressed a small crowd from the east terrace of the Statehouse. In his first Ohio speech, Lincoln repeated his conviction that “a house divided against itself cannot stand” and took issue with Democrat Stephen Douglas’ concept of “popular sovereignty.” Published and widely circulated as an addendum to the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Lincoln’s Columbus speech helped stake a firm position for the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential campaign that followed. Lincoln twice returned to Columbus: once on February 13, 1861 to address a joint session of the legislature prior to his inauguration, and one last time, on April 29, 1865. From 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Lincoln’s body lay in state in the Rotunda as 50,000 mourners filed through the Statehouse to pay their respects.
In 1812, the Ohio legislature designated Columbus as the state capital,
with local landowners contributing land and resources for a capitol
building and penitentiary. The first Columbus statehouse, a Federal-style structure completed in 1816, stood on the northeast corner of
State and High streets. By the 1830s, the need for a more
substantial structure was apparent. Cincinnati architect Thomas
Walter won the 1838 capitol design contest, though the final design
incorporated several designers’ ideas, including prominent Hudson
River School artist Thomas Cole. Construction proceeded slowly
between 1839 and 1861, weathering political fights, prison labor
disputes, and a cholera epidemic. Interior work was sufficiently
complete by January 1857 for the legislature to hold its first
session in the new capitol. A National Historic Landmark, the
Ohio Statehouse stands as one of the finest examples of Greek
Revival architecture in America.
Lincoln at the Statehouse.“This slavery element is a durable element of discord among us... we shall probably not have perfect peace in this country with it until it either masters
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the free principle in our government, or is mastered by the free principle.”
On September 16, 1859, Abraham Lincoln addressed a small crowd
from the east terrace of the Statehouse. In his first Ohio speech,
Lincoln repeated his conviction that “a house divided against itself
cannot stand” and took issue with Democrat Stephen Douglas’ concept
of “popular sovereignty.” Published and widely circulated as an
addendum to the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Lincoln’s Columbus speech helped stake a firm position for the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential campaign that followed. Lincoln twice returned to Columbus: once on February 13, 1861 to address a joint session of the legislature prior to his inauguration, and one last time, on April 29, 1865. From 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Lincoln’s body lay in state in the Rotunda as 50,000 mourners filed through the Statehouse to pay their respects.
Erected 2003 by The Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Capital Square Review and Advisory Baord, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 79-25.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil
Location. 39° 57.734′ N, 82° 59.938′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in the Uptown District. It is on Broad Street (U.S. 40) east of High Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Columbus OH 43215, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Scioto Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Photographed by Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, circa March 2, 1861
5. The Presidential Journey - reception of the President in the hall of the Legislature…
The Presidential Journey - reception of the President in the hall of the Legislature of Columbus, Ohio- the Senate and Legislature in joint session. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress. (Click on picture to enlarge.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,453 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 5, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5. submitted on November 29, 2014.
