Ohio Open Doors Is Unlocking Places Around Columbus You Normally Cannot Explore
Ohio Open Doors continues through September 20, offering free tours and special access to historic buildings, archives, museums, churches, and landmarks throughout Central Ohio.
There are buildings around Central Ohio that most of us drive past without ever knowing what is behind the front door.
Maybe you have admired the Art Deco exterior of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Maybe you have passed the Abbey Mausoleum on Greenlawn Avenue and wondered who is buried inside.
Maybe you have driven through Westerville, Granville, Worthington, or Marysville without realizing how much local history is sitting right in front of you.
This week, some of those doors are opening.
Ohio Open Doors, a statewide program organized by the Ohio History Connection, gives the public free access to historic buildings and spaces that are not always open for regular tours.
The 2026 event runs through Sunday, September 20, with dozens of experiences around Columbus and within about an hour’s drive.
And yes, every official Ohio Open Doors event is free.
What Is Ohio Open Doors?
Every other September, historic buildings and organizations across the state invite people inside for free tours, programs, and special access.
Some locations are museums that normally charge admission.
Others are churches, government buildings, private organizations, archives, or landmarks that rarely open certain areas to the public.
The goal is simple: help Ohioans experience the places that tell our communities’ stories.
According to Columbus Navigator, the 2026 schedule includes 42 free experiences in Columbus and the surrounding region.
Some events have already taken place, but there are still several opportunities available through September 20.
Start With the Supreme Court of Ohio
One of the most impressive remaining experiences is at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center, home of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
The building was completed in 1933 and originally housed multiple state departments. After a major renovation, it became the home of Ohio’s judiciary in 2004.
Its interior combines Art Deco and Beaux-Arts design with original artwork, murals, fixtures, and architectural details from the 1930s.
Special guided tours are scheduled for September 15 at 5:15 and 6:30 p.m.
Admission is free, but space is limited and advance registration is required. Check the official Supreme Court tour listing before heading downtown.
Take a Different Statehouse Tour Each Day
The Ohio Statehouse is offering a different specialty tour at noon each weekday through September 18.
These approximately 75-minute tours explore subjects and spaces that are not typically included in the standard public tour.
Topics include the Capitol Square grounds and women who helped shape Ohio government.
Tours begin in the Map Room and involve considerable walking and standing. They are recommended for ages 10 and older.
Even if you have visited the Statehouse before, this is an opportunity to see it from a different perspective.
Honor Veterans and Help Preserve Their Stories
This one is especially meaningful to me.
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum will offer a free guided experience on Friday, September 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A member of the museum’s education team will lead visitors through permanent and rotating exhibition spaces. Guests can also participate in service activities and learn how to preserve a veteran’s story through the museum’s Story Collection.
The museum honors veterans from every branch and every era of military service, during both wartime and peacetime.
All ages are welcome, and the museum provides accessible entrances, elevators, and wheelchairs upon request. Full details are available through the Ohio History Connection event listing.
Go Behind the Labels at Wyandotte Winery
Central Ohio’s first winery is opening its cellar and sharing 50 years of history on Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wyandotte Winery began producing wine in 1977, when its building served as both the winery and the owners’ home.
Visitors can learn about the property, meet current and former owners, see historical displays, and view original watercolors connected to AmeriFlora 1992 that still appear on some wine labels.
Everyone will also receive a vintage Wyandotte postcard.
This is the kind of local history that can easily disappear if people do not make an effort to preserve and share it.
Explore a Westerville Landmark
The Blendon Masonic Temple, located at 130 South State Street in Westerville, will be open Saturday, September 19, from noon to 3 p.m.
Blendon Lodge No. 339 has been part of Westerville since 1862. Members have met in the current three-story Colonial-style building since 1932.
Tours will cover the building’s architecture, its construction during the Great Depression, and the organization’s role in the community.
The lodge also raises money for Westerville Special Olympics through its fish fry, adding another layer to the story of how an old building can remain part of a modern community.
Step Inside The Abbey Mausoleum
If you prefer your history with a little mystery, add The Abbey Mausoleum and Gardens to your list.
Located at 700 Greenlawn Avenue in Columbus, The Abbey will be open on Saturday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The people entombed there represent a fascinating cross-section of Columbus history, including members of the Sells circus family, magician Howard Thurston, the Swisher cigar family, and former Columbus Mayor George J. Karb.
Docents will be available to answer questions inside a landmark that rarely opens to the public.
Make a Day of It in Granville
Granville makes it easy to turn Ohio Open Doors into a full Saturday outing.
On September 19, visitors can explore:
The Granville Historical Society Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church from noon to 2 p.m.
The Robbins Hunter Museum from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Granville Historical Society Museum will feature local collections, including a Revolutionary War drum and special programming connected to America’s 250th anniversary.
St. Luke’s, consecrated in 1837, retains historic box pews and rare lighting fixtures.
The Robbins Hunter Museum is housed in the 1842 Avery-Downer House, known for its Greek Revival architecture and striking Ionic columns.
Add lunch or coffee along Broadway, and you have an easy Central Ohio day trip.
There Are More Options Outside Columbus
Several additional Open Doors events are within approximately an hour of Columbus.
Depending on your interests, you could explore:
Rock Mill near Lancaster
The Flatwoods One-Room School in West Mansfield
The Champaign Aviation Museum in Urbana
Historic churches and a nearly 200-year-old log cabin near Marysville
Radnor Township Hall
The Union County Historical Society Museum
The Mead-Needham House in Pataskala
Because dates, hours, accessibility, capacity, and registration requirements vary, check the official event listing before making the drive.
Why Historic Buildings Matter to Real Estate
As a Realtor and home stager, I am fascinated by the way buildings tell stories.
A staircase can show how people lived.
Original woodwork can reveal a level of craftsmanship that is difficult to reproduce today.
A repurposed government building can show how a community preserved something meaningful while giving it a new purpose.
Historic preservation does not mean every old building must remain frozen in time.
Buildings have to function.
Communities change.
Properties need updates, repairs, and sometimes entirely new uses.
But once original character is removed, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to recreate.
That is why thoughtful preservation matters.
It protects the details that help one community feel different from another.
You Are Not Simply Touring a Building
When you walk through one of these spaces, you are seeing more than architecture.
You are learning:
Who built the community
What people valued
How they worked and worshipped
How government and civic life developed
Which stories were preserved
Which stories still need to be told
These places add personality to Central Ohio.
They are part of what makes Worthington feel different from Granville, Westerville, Marysville, or downtown Columbus.
That sense of place matters when people decide where they want to live.
You can compare square footage, school districts, taxes, and commute times online.
You cannot fully understand a community until you experience its buildings, traditions, gathering places, and stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Ohio Open Doors end in 2026?
The 2026 Ohio Open Doors program continues through Sunday, September 20.
Are Ohio Open Doors events free?
Yes. Official host locations are required to offer their Ohio Open Doors programs free of charge.
Do I need reservations?
Most events do not require reservations, but some have limited capacity or require advance registration. The Supreme Court of Ohio tours, for example, require preregistration.
Are the events appropriate for children?
Many are family-friendly, but the experience varies by location. Some tours involve stairs, extended walking, historic spaces, or fragile exhibits. Review the individual listing before visiting with younger children.
Are all buildings accessible?
No. Accessibility varies because many participating properties are historic. Check the specific location’s information or contact the host before attending.
When will Ohio Open Doors return?
The statewide event is expected to return in 2028.
Go Open a Door
One of my favorite things about Central Ohio is that there is always something interesting to discover, often closer than we realize.
Ohio Open Doors gives us permission to be curious.
Walk into the building you have passed a hundred times.
Ask questions.
Study the craftsmanship.
Listen to the stories.
And take a closer look at the history that shaped the communities we call home.
Before leaving, verify the latest schedule, registration requirements, and accessibility information through the Ohio Open Doors listings.
For more local events, development news, real estate insights, and ideas for living well around Columbus, bookmark my Central Ohio Blog Insights page at LivingInCentralOhio.com.
This content is provided for informational purposes only. Event dates, times, availability, and requirements may change. Confirm all details with the event host before attending. Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan, REALTOR®, Collins Lassiter Group, Red 1 Realty.
