OHS Sites and Services to Close Temporarily
State-Funding Reductions Make Site Operation Costs Unaffordable

In an unprecedented cost-cutting move, OHS will close 14 key historical sites and museums, its Archives-Library operations in Youngstown and Columbus and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office for a week in late March and early April.

The society hopes the measure will save operating and payroll costs to help counterbalance more than 10-percent in state funding cuts and a revenue shortfall for the 2009 fiscal year.

Sites to Close March 28-April 3
Adena Mansion & Gardens in Chillicothe, Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Campus Martius Museum in Marietta, Dunbar House in Dayton, Fort Ancient near Oregonia, Fort Meigs in Perrysburg, Harding Home in Marion, Ohio Historical Center and Ohio Village in Columbus, National Afro-American Museum in Wilberforce, Piqua Historical Area in Piqua, Wahkeena near Lancaster, Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor in Youngstown and Zoar Village all will be closed March 28–April 3. Several of the sites routinely close during the winter, but would have opened for the summer season March 28.

The Society's Archives-Library operations in the Youngstown and Columbus also will be closed March 28–April 3. The Ohio Historic Preservation Office in Columbus will close March 30–April 5.

"OHS is temporarily closing facilities that directly serve the public only after identifying and implementing cost-cutting measures in several other operational areas," says OHS Executive Director and CEO William K. Laidlaw, Jr. "Unfortunately, we must take more aggressive measures to reduce expenses." Laidlaw also stresses that if the Society's financial situation worsens due to additional state budget cuts or the growing economic crisis then further cost-saving measures may be taken that affect services.

Only 14 of the Ohio Historical Society's 58 historic sites and museums will be affected, according to Laidlaw. Sites that open later in the season, do not require staffing or are managed by OHS partners are not affected. Before visiting, please check www.ohiohistory.org/places for a specific site's 2009 schedule.

The sites that are closed March 28–April 3 are currently scheduled to follow their regular summer-season hours, once reopened. We regret any inconvenience to the public during the site closures and encourage you to help avoid longer-term closings by sharing your concerns with legislators, making a contribution, purchasing a membership and visiting our historic sites and museums.