Ohio's new Women's Monument adds another story to Capitol Square

Image: Archival Ohio Statehouse exterior photograph by Ɱ dated August 8, 2021; it predates and does not show the Ohio Women's Monument unveiled in October 2026.

Capitol Square gained a new public landmark on October 14, 2026, when the Ohio Women's Monument was unveiled at the Statehouse. Designed by Brenda Councill, the work honors women's contributions across generations while leaving a deliberate opening for the future.

The Statehouse's announcement describes bronze figures on three columns, with a fourth left open to represent stories still to be written. The project developed from an effort to commemorate women's suffrage into a broader recognition of leadership and contributions. Its making involved clay modeling, 3D printing, bronze casting and finishing.

The monument is on the Statehouse's South Plaza and is open to the public. A visit can pair the new work with a broader look at how Capitol Square commemorates people and events. Read the interpretive information and distinguish the artist's symbolism from the historical accounts that provide its context.

Free Statehouse tours offer another way to extend the outing. Regular weekday departures are hourly from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; weekend departures run noon–3 p.m., excluding state holidays. They begin in the Map Room, and groups of ten or more should arrange a guide at least two weeks ahead. Check current entry and access instructions before visiting this working government complex.

Sources and visit details

• Ohio Statehouse: October 14, 2026 monument unveiling, artist, symbolism and South Plaza location
• Ohio Statehouse: free guided tours, meeting point, entry and group arrangements

Photo: Ɱ / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; the site wordmark may be added in display.