The Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery presented Age of Optimism: Ohio Builds a Statehouse from August 15 through October 26, 1996. The exhibition explores Ohio during the time the Statehouse was designed and shows how economic, social and cultural forces shaped the construction of the building.

Organized by Jeff Darbee and Nancy Recchie, historic preservation consultants based in Columbus, Age of Optimism strives to place the Statehouse in context. The exhibition examines our nation from the late 1830s to the eve of the Civil War. It explores the trends in art, architecture, fashion and the decorative arts that shaped the Statehouse's design. The exhibition includes representative objects and images from the period between 1838 and 1861.

By the eve of the Civil War Ohio had undergone a dramatic transformation. Its population had grown from about one million in 1830 to nearly three million. It was firmly tied to the nation's growing railroad network. Its industrial base had been established and was growing rapidly. All of the principal cities had been established and were developing rapidly as centers of industry, education, government and agriculture. The rural hinterland was quickly filling up. In many ways Ohio had become allied with and was an equal of the established eastern states, while it had been considered a frontier region less than 30 years earlier.

The Ohio Statehouse was a symbol of the optimism Ohioans felt and the expectation that the future held great promise for their state. No other state had dared to undertake such a large project at so early a date. The building represents an era of optimism, in Ohio and our nation. Items in the exhibition were selected to provide a snapshot of that era and to create a new level of appreciation for our remarkable Statehouse and the people who built it.

The Riffe Gallery, operated by the Ohio Arts Council, showcases the work of Ohio's artists and the collections of the state's museums and galleries. The gallery is in the Vern Riffe Center for the Government and the Arts, State and High Streets, Columbus, OH. Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday and Friday 11a.m.-7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 12 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. For information or to schedule a tour call the Riffe Gallery at 614/644-9624.

The Ohio Arts Council, a state agency established in 1965, is committed to the economic, educational and cultural development of the state. The Council believes the arts should be shared by the people of Ohio. The arts arise from public, individual and organizational efforts. The OAC supports and encourages those efforts.

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