Haunted Ohio Statehouse Tours

Haunted Ohio Statehouse Tours are back at the Ohio Statehouse this October, a Columbus fall tradition that walks history, hauntings, and Halloween through the state's 'people's house.' The tours run Friday and Saturday nights, October 16-17 and 23-24, with departures every half hour between 7 PM and 8:30 PM. Each group is limited to 35 people, so you'll want to book your slot early rather than waiting until the last minute.

On the tour, a conductor leads you by oil lantern light through the dimly lit limestone corridors and chambers of the Statehouse. It's a building with a heavy history: it once served as a Civil War hospital and now sits at the center of downtown's Capitol Square complex, alongside the Senate Building and the Atrium. Along the way, you'll hear the hauntings that have become part of the building's lore. The stories include Lincoln's ghost in an unfinished dance with Kate Chase, the daughter of former Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase; a weeping lady in grey; and a green, ghostly president felled by an assassin's bullet.

If you're bringing kids, keep in mind these tours are for ages 12 and up. For the younger ones, there's a separate, free Trick-or-Treat Tour on October 30 from 10 AM to 11 AM. Before or after your tour, the Statehouse Museum Shop on the ground floor carries seasonal treats and gifts by Ohio artists. The surrounding grounds host events year-round, from a 9/11 flag memorial to vintage baseball games and the annual holiday tree lighting.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students, plus a $2.50 processing fee per order. Tours depart every half hour from 7 PM to 8:30 PM on Friday and Saturday nights, October 16-17 and 23-24, at the Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215.