Ohio Life

"Hang On Sloopy" record and concert poster

How ‘Hang On Sloopy’ Became Ohio’s Anthem

The McCoys’ 1965 hit is our state’s official rock song and a staple of halftime shows and sports-arena singalongs. Here’s how in the O-H-I-O that all happened.

Roadside Ohio: Bizzare Homes

Explore some of our state’s most unique abodes, from a 1924 ore freighter turned ship house on South Bass Island to a whimsical mushroom-shaped home in Cincinnati.

Benjamin Clarence "Bull Moose" Jackson (seated lower right) posing with King Records founder Syd Nathan (center with glasses) (photo courtesy of Steve Halper)

The Legacy of Cincinnati’s King Records

Syd Nathan’s legendary label signed James Brown and released music from a lineup of groundbreaking Black artists. Today, the city and a local foundation are working to revive the building it once called home.

People standing by a snowmobile pulling a toboggan

The Worst Winter Storm in Ohio’s History: The Blizzard of 1978

A late-January snowstorm hit the Ohio Valley in a weather event that has been remembered ever since for its ferocity.

Woman petting kidney transplant recipient Oden on hospital floor (photo courtesy of the Ohio State University)

Ohio’s First Canine Kidney Transplant

In 1986, the Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital in Columbus performed the procedure to save the life of an 18-month-old dog named Oden.

More Ohio Life

Roadside Ohio: Gravesites, Memorials and Monuments

From Cincinnati’s Passenger Pigeon Memorial to Alan Freed’s grave, visit these spots that honor legendary figures, community spirit and pivotal moments in Ohio history. READ MORE >>

Exterior of Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Wilberforce (photo by Tom Engberg / National Park Service)

Explore a Legendary Life at the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument

The National Park Service site in Wilberforce, which shares the story of an inspiring and groundbreaking man, is now open after a two-year restoration. READ MORE >>

Antique wood engraving of Cincinnati’s John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge wood engraving (Library of Congress)

John A. Roebling and Cincinnati’s Famous Bridge

In 1856, the inventor began work on an Ohio River crossing that he saw as both a work of art and a monument to engineering. READ MORE >>

The Food, Drink and Furry Mythical Creatures of Cleveland Kurentovanje

This winter festival aimed at warding off winter and ushering in spring celebrates the city’s Slovenian heritage with an annual parade and party. READ MORE >>

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