Discover the Buckeye State: Top 22 Fun Facts About Ohio You Can't Miss!

1. Ancient Yet Spry Miami University

Feeling ancient yet spry, Miami University in Ohio would have been a hip freshman during George Washington's final year of presidency: The academic institution, founded in 1809, stands as the second-oldest university in Ohio and the 10th oldest public university across the United States—with its main plot in Oxford and regional extended limbs in Hamilton, Middletown, and West Chester, as well as a globetrotting boarder in Differdange, Luxembourg.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Superman's Cleveland Birthplace

In a cornfield by the Cuyahoga River, where men wore capes and women swooned: Cleveland, Ohio is the birthplace of Superman, created in 1933 by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in their Glenville neighborhood. Siegel's former house has since been restored, and Shuster's apartment site now features an enlarged version of their first comic along a fence corner.
Source => noblemania.com

Did you know that Vermont played a crucial role in the innovation and development of U.S. postage stamps in the 1800s? Discover how this state transformed stamp-making with its pioneering techniques, making postal history! 📬🌟

=> Fun Facts about Vermont

3. Serpent Mound Giant Snake Effigy

Slithering its way into Ohio history like a snake in the grass, the Great Serpent Mound isn't just your average prehistoric earthwork: This monumental masterpiece, stretching 1,348 feet long and standing three feet tall, is the largest serpent effigy in the world, constructed around 2,100-2,300 years ago by the ancient Adena people, then revived by the Fort Ancient people 900 years ago, leaving us with a breathtaking relic complete with an oval 120-foot-long feature, possibly symbolizing the sun—or perhaps a really big frog.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Brutus Buckeye's Path to Mascot Fame

Before the nutty Brutus Buckeye stole the hearts of Ohio State fans, the school was wandering like a mascot-less soul in a sports world: Brutus was born in 1965, crafted initially out of papier-mâché and later revamped to a fiberglass design, now attending over 500 events annually and even scoring a spot in the prestigious Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007.
Source => ohiostatebuckeyes.com

5. Racing Dachshunds at Oktoberfest

In a race that would make ketchup and mustard envious, Ohio's Oktoberfest Zinzinnati opens the gate for a band of hot dog-cosplaying dachshunds eager to relish their victory and become top wiener: The annual "Running of the Wieners" race in Cincinnati allows purebred and mixed dachshunds to compete in a 75-foot race, dressed in hot dog bun costumes. During the 2021 event, Leo the dachshund won with a speedy 3.07 seconds, while Maple and Frankie followed closely behind. The delightful display has become a popular highlight at the festival, which held the record as the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the world for 2021.
Source => wlwt.com

6. Oberlin College Pioneers Gender Equality

Move over, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Ohio's Oberlin College was way ahead of the curve in breaking gender barriers. In 1837, Oberlin became the first college in the United States to admit women, and even admitted women of color just four years later. This progressive move laid the groundwork for institutions like Franklin College, Hillsdale College, and Otterbein University to follow suit, opening doors for women and people of color in the world of higher education.
Source => bookbrowse.com

7. Ohio's Great Lakes Shoreline Surprise

Ohio, where the rubber meets the road... and the waves! Despite not being as beach bodacious as some Great Lakes neighbors, Ohio still rocks the boat with over 312 miles of Lake Erie shoreline: This surprising fact places Ohio as the state with the fourth-longest Great Lakes shoreline, following Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Source => upsupply.co

8. Backyard Visits from Ohio's State Bird

Ohio: where the birds have an open-door policy and are always down for some backyard gossip! These real-life Angry Birds, known as Northern cardinals, have a knack for thriving in urban jungles and spicing up gardens with their fiery feathers: As Ohio's state bird, these fearless and adaptable city slickers are more than happy to visit backyard bird feeders, chirping up a storm and painting the town red.
Source => fox8.com

9. Versatile Buckeye Nut's Influence

You know you're a true Ohioan when you can spot the deer-eyed wonder in the nearest buckeye tree: The Buckeye State owes its nickname and symbols to the versatile buckeye nut, which has played historical roles ranging from children's toys to log cabin building materials, and now serves as the proud mascot for the Ohio State University sports teams.
Source => cincinnati.com

10. Wright Brothers' Dayton Roots

If the Wright brothers had a dollar for every time they "cycled" their way through a failed flying contraption, they'd probably have enough to buy themselves a shiny new bicycle: In Dayton, Ohio, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park showcases the world's first powered, controllable, heavier-than-air machine born from the very spot where the Wright brothers ran their printing press and bicycle shop combo before taking to the skies.
Source => nps.gov

11. Ohio's Presidential Production Power

If you're ever playing Presidential Bingo and need a "safe bet" state, look no further than the one that rolls in presidents like a factory conveyor belt: Ohio has produced a whopping seven native-born U.S. presidents – Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding – and an eighth, William Henry Harrison, who called Ohio home for most of his adult life.
Source => wvxu.org

12. Inventions Galore in Ohio

Ohio: the assembly line of ingenuity where bright ideas don't just grow on trees – they come in traffic lights, airborne contraptions, and luminous wonders! The serious reveal: This inventive state boasts the birth of traffic signals by Garrett Morgan, the light bulb by Thomas Edison, and the airplane, a brainchild of the Wright Brothers.
Source => dispatch.com

13. Cincinnati's Unique Chili Scene

Hold on to your taste buds, folks, because Cincinnati is taking you on a wild chili ride, with Mediterranean twists and turns that come together quicker than you can say "Cheese-covered spaghetti": Over 200 chili parlors in Cincinnati serve their special Cincinnati chili, created by Greek and Macedonian immigrants in the early 1900s, which features Mediterranean spices like cinnamon and allspice mixed with traditional chili ingredients, and is often ladled over spaghetti and topped with finely grated cheddar cheese and diced onions.
Source => simplyrecipes.com

14. Thrill-Packed Sandusky Rectangle

If you thought the Bermuda Triangle was mysterious, try sampling the Sandusky Square of Ohio, where screams of excitement and the pungent smell of sunscreen conduct a hypnotic dance: Cedar Point amusement park boasts not only a plethora of thrilling rides, but also a mile-long sandy beach with a history dating back over 150 years, featuring family attractions, adrenaline-pumping coasters, a drenching Waterpark, and live shows to ensure there's never a dull moment in this bewitchingly thrilling rectangle!
Source => cedarpoint.com

15. Wilmington's Banana Split Festival

Who needs luxury cars when you can experience a "split-tastic" event amidst bananas and ice cream? Welcome to Ohio's sweetest rivalry and your passport to sugar rush paradise: Wilmington, Ohio hosts the annual Banana Split Festival, honoring the dessert's disputed history, with Ernest R. Hazard's restaurant claiming the fruity invention to draw college students. However, David Strickler of Latrobe, Pennsylvania officially holds the title as the banana split's creator in 1904. Unfazed, the Wilmington festival indulges attendees with craft and food vendors, a car show, and an exclusive DIY banana split station!
Source => ohiohistorycentral.org

16. Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

From rocking chairs to rocking tunes: Cleveland, Ohio was crowned the sweet home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after local bigwigs plucked a cool $65 million from their public piggy bank to bass-boost its construction in 1986. This chart-topping choice was all thanks to the city's ear-popping rock legacy, featuring WJW hit-maker Alan Freed, who jived the phrase "rock and roll" itself, and played DJ royalty at the Moondog Coronation Ball - the first headliner gig that sent rock's riff ripples across the world - and WMMS radio, the groovy godparent of musical megastars like David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Roxy Music, and Rush back in the 70s and 80s.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

17. Serpent Mound Impact Crater History

You know the saying, "it's not the end of the world"? Well, Ohio begs to differ. That's because millions of years ago, it played an unwitting role in a real-life Armageddon: In southern Ohio, the Serpent Mound Impact Crater is one of only 28 confirmed impact sites in the United States. Caused by a gigantic asteroid or comet around 256 and 330 million years ago, the blast left behind a 5-to-9-mile wide hole, annihilated life within a 58-square-mile area, and created a colossal cone of earth. You can embark on an Ohio Department of Natural Resources-guided tour to step back in time and witness the remarkable relics of this prehistoric cataclysm.
Source => mymiamicounty.com

18. Early Street Lighting in Cleveland

Forget Edison's bright idea for a second: in Ohio, streets had a party of their own when Charles F. Brush brought his dynamo arc light to town in 1879. It's lit: the first-ever public demonstration of outdoor electrical lighting in the United States happened in Cleveland's Public Square on April 29, 1879, when Brush dazzled spectators with 12 towers flaunting 2,000-candlepower lamps, setting the stage for the electric street lighting revolution.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

19. Shawshank Redemption Prison Location

From confronting your claustrophobic nightmares to crawling through Shawshank's sewage pipes, one Ohio prison knows how to give you the ultimate cinematic shivers: The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield served as the filming location for "The Shawshank Redemption," offering guided tours of cell blocks and iconic spots like the treasure-burying tree from the movie.
Source => travelchannel.com

20. Fixing the Wright Flyer License Plate

Who needs auto-correct when you've got the Wright stuff? Before, Ohio license plates embarrassingly misinterpreted their aviation ingenuity: The Wright Flyer was mistakenly depicted flying backward on the plates, which were meant to honor the state's contributions to the field. Quick to fix the error, though, the Ohio Department of Public Safety released the revised "Sunrise in Ohio" design last week, ensuring that the birthplace of aviation is now correctly represented.
Source => nzherald.co.nz

21. Hocking Hills State Park's Beauty

If Hocking Hills State Park were a dating profile, it'd be the adventurous outdoorsy type, making every hiking enthusiast swipe right: Encompassing six jaw-dropping regions like Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave, Conkles Hollow, Rock House, and Cantwell Cliffs, this Ohio gem boasts a 1.8-mile trail through stunning landscapes filled with deep valleys, majestic cliffs, dramatic gorges, and fantastical rock formations, giving even Kentucky's Red River Gorge a run for its money.
Source => onlyinyourstate.com

22. Cryptid Hunting Adventures in Ohio

From chasing bigfoot to getting amphibiously acquainted: Ohio boasts a wild menagerie of cryptid celebrities, from the famous Loveland Frogman hopping since 1955 to the colossal Lake Erie Bessie splashing about since 1793. Keep an eye out for Mansfield's Orange Eyes – a furrier version of E.T. or a sasquatch cousin – who was forced into the limelight after their pad was disrupted by nosy construction. Budding cryptozoologists can unleash their inner zoologist while exploring the tranquil terrains of Salt Fork State Park or Cedar Bog Nature Preserve.
Source => ohio.org