Our collective keepsakes
Art and artifacts. Rare books and cartoons alike. Minerals and all manner of memorabilia. These are but a few of the treasures Ohio State has amassed in its first century and a half. Here’s where you’ll find some of our favorites.
Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center
The Hale Center’s diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, photography and artifacts has been recognized as one of the top collections of African American art in the country for a university cultural center. Many artists represented hail from Columbus, such as Aminah Robinson, Pheoris West and Roman Johnson.
How to visit: Regular hours, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday, noon–8 p.m. Sunday; summer hours, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday; Hale Hall, 154 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, 614-292-4355
A beanie worn by Ohio State freshmen from a bygone era.
University Museum
A project of University Archives and Ohio Staters, Inc., the museum in University Hall features items salvaged from the original University Hall, constructed in 1873 as the first building on campus, and artifacts such as this beanie worn by freshmen of a bygone era.
How to visit: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall, Columbus
A button commemorating John Glenn circling the Earth
Page Hall
From the John Glenn Archives, explore a timeline showing Glenn’s life in context with world events and view childhood photos, his first pilot’s license, NASA artifacts and memorabilia from his U.S. Senate career and presidential run.
How to visit: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Page Hall, 1810 College Road, Columbus, 614-292-8696
Visitors can see Archie Griffin’s two Heisman trophies at the Hayes Athletic Center.
Woody Hayes Athletic Center
The center’s sunlit Ohio State trophy room allows visitors to bask in the glory of the program’s seven Heisman Trophies — including Archie Griffin’s history-making two Heismans — and eight National Championship trophies.
How to visit: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Woody Hayes Athletic Center, 2491 Olentangy River Road, Columbus
You’ll find an owl in the Museum of Biological Diversity.
Museum of Biological Diversity
Don’t miss the annual spring open house, which shows off the museum’s numerous research specimen collections, including insects, crayfish, freshwater fish and mussels, mites and tetrapods.
How to visit: The museum opens to the public just once a year. Watch for dates for the 2020 spring open house.
The Faculty Club features a wide range of art displays.
Faculty Club
Rotating art exhibits complement a permanent collection displayed throughout the building. Works span a range from acclaimed realist and former Ohio State student George Bellows to contemporary artist Dion Johnson.
How to visit: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Faculty Club, 181 Oval Drive South, Columbus, 614-292-2262
Ohio State alumnus Milt Caniff is featured prominently in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
Located in Sullivant Hall, the museum boasts the world’s largest collection of American printed cartoon art. Catch original comic art and artifacts such as the drawing table Chester Gould used to sketch Dick Tracy comics.
How to visit: 1–5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday, Sullivant Hall, 1813 N. High St., Columbus, 614-292-0538
University Archives houses all editions of Makio, the student yearbook.
University Archives
Since 1965, University Archives has served as the official memory of Ohio State. With more than 30,000 boxes of manuscript materials and 2 million images, the archives can help visitors find material on nearly any topic related to the university’s history.
How to visit: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday, University Archives, 2700 Kenny Road, Columbus, 614-292-2409
The Orton Geological Museum houses a wide range of fossils and skeletons.
Orton Geological Museum
A replica of the Early Jurassic carnivorous dinosaur Cryolophosaurus ellioti greets visitors to Orton Hall, which houses the museum. Browse a comprehensive collection of Ohio minerals, rocks, meteorites and oddities such as skeletons of a pterosaur and ground sloth.
How to visit: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Orton Hall, School of Earth Sciences, 155 S. Oval Mall, Columbus, 614-292-6896
This hat is one piece that’s part of the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection.
Historic Costume & Textiles Collection
The collection in Campbell Hall includes more than 11,500 textiles, clothing and accessories. Two recent exhibitions explored the evolution of swimwear and the intersection of sports and fashion.
How to visit: 175 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Ave., Columbus, 614-292-3090, visit costume.osu.edu for current hours
Maya Lin’s large-scale installation “Groundswell” is on display at the Wexner Center for the Arts.
Wexner Center for the Arts
While akin to a European kunsthalle, an arts space without a permanent collection, the Wex has a commissioned piece that’s always on view outside: Maya Lin’s large-scale installation “Groundswell,” made with 43 tons of shattered automobile safety glass.
How to visit: Noon–4 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon–7 p.m. Saturday, closed Monday, Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., Columbus, 614-292-3535
The Ohio Union has four life-sized statues of Brutus Buckeye.
Ohio Union
The union is home to a few striking sculptures, including “Circus Acrobats,” two flying figures by artist George Segal. You also can find four life-sized Brutus Buckeye statues, including one that’s game for selfies.
How to visit: 7 a.m.–midnight Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–1 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.–midnight Sunday (hours vary during academic breaks and summer), Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St., Columbus, 614-292-5200
