Ohio Life

Songwriter Ernest Ball playing piano in 1952 (photo courtesy of Cleveland Public Library)

How Forgotten Songwriter Ernest Ball Rose to Fame

He isn’t a household name these days, but it’s estimated that the Cleveland native penned over a thousand songs, including Irish-themed standards that are still sung each Saint Patrick’s Day.

Adams County “Lemon Star” barn quilt (photo courtesy of Adams County Convention & Visitors Bureau)

How Ohio Launched America's Barn Quilt Phenomenon

The barn quilt phenomenon began in Adams County more than two decades ago. Today, there are driving tours across Ohio and far beyond that invite travelers to hit the road.

Rubble on Trumbull Street in Xenia after 1974 tornado hit (photo courtesy of Greene County Public Library)

The Fury and Aftermath of the 1974 Xenia Tornado

In April 1974, a tornado that was part of a string of deadly storms ripped through the Ohio community of Xenia. It left a trail of destruction that is still remembered in and associated with the city to this day.

William McKinley Monument outside Ohio Statehouse in Columbus (photo by Jaci Starkey)

See Ohio in a New Way at These Six Historic Sites

In celebration of Ohio Statehood Day on March 1, we share six places, artifacts and landmarks that illuminate history and help us see our shared heritage in new ways.

Lincoln’s Funeral Train Stops in Cleveland

On April 28, 1865, mourners gathered on the city’s Public Square to pay their final respects to President Abraham Lincoln.

More Ohio Life

Dining room table at Springfield’s Frank Lloyd Wright designed Westcott House (photo by Andrew Pielage)

How Springfield Saved Its Frank Lloyd Wright Home

The Westcott House went through modifications that marred the architect’s original vision and decades of dilapidation before a community effort brought it back to its original splendor. READ MORE >>

Dining in the Country article in the March 1982 issue of Ohio Magazine (photo by Rachael Jirousek)

Backstory: Dining Out in the Country

At these six spots you can have it all. Superb settings. Enchanting ambiance. First-rate food. READ MORE >>

Cleveland, Alan Freed and the World’s First Rock Concert

On March 21, 1952, thousands of people crowded into the Cleveland Arena for the Moondog Coronation Ball, which was expected to go on for hours. Instead, the show was shut down before the end of the first band’s set. READ MORE >>

Springfield’s Hartman Rock Garden is a Folk Art Masterpiece

During the Great Depression, Ben Hartman created a collection of interesting and idiosyncratic folk art sculptures at his southwest Ohio home. READ MORE >>

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