As America marks 250 years, Heartland: The Stories of Ohio Through 250 Objects explores the state’s own rich history through a carefully curated selection of art, textiles, household objects, ephemera, and more. Ohio sits at the heart of the nation. This exhibition invites visitors to discover the people, ideas and moments that have defined the Buckeye State.

Each piece tells a story, collectively weaving together landmark events with lesser-known tales of people, places, and ideas that shaped Ohio’s spirit and helped define it as the heart of the nation. Spanning themes of resources, people, conflict, culture and change, the exhibition features artifacts that capture both Ohio’s familiar milestones and its lesser-known stories. From handcrafted works and industrial innovations to personal mementos that shaped everyday life, each object reveals a different facet of Ohio’s complex identity. Together, they tell a story of ingenuity, resilience and transformation – showing how Ohio’s communities have both reflected and influenced the nation’s journey. Heartland celebrates the shared experiences that continue to connect Ohioans to one another and to the country at large.

Ohio has represented the heart of change in America, even before statehood. As a microcosm of the nation, Ohio has long reflected alterations in the American landscape. The state’s history is the history of America, mapping all our highs and lows as a nation, charting the complex changes our country has undergone.

Change can be sweeping and sudden or slow and steady, but all the political, economic, and social shifts that have rippled across the country have reverberated here as well — civil rights, labor struggles, technological upheaval, and more. And not only is change still happening, but history is still happening as well! Even now, historical events are taking place while layers of the historical past are being revealed.

As we look forward to America’s triennial celebration, ask yourself what objects are worthy of inclusion and what stories we will want to tell?