03/22/2024

Welcome Visitors with Open Doors – Sign Up to Be a Part of the Ohio Open Doors Event

Act Now to Be Part of this September Event

Become a host site for Ohio Open Doors–a 10 day event when Ohio historic buildings and landmarks open their doors for special tours and events. Create a special event for your neighbors: think of your event as an opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors inside your doors to share your site’s unique stories.

Ohio History Connection is excited to host Ohio Open Doors Sept. 6-15, 2024. Both in-person and virtual events will be accepted!

Co-sponsors of the event include the Ohio Travel Association, TourismOhio, Ohio Arts Council and Heritage Ohio.

Deadline for registering your event is Aug. 1, 2024.

If you are a DMO, share this opportunity with others in your community! Click here for the link to share with your area partners.

What Type of Experiences Can be Offered?

Events submitted must be free of charge, however, there are some stipends available (keep reading). Here are just some ideas of events you may want to submit:

• Open up buildings, rooms or spaces that are not usually open to the public
• Give special tours of your place, such as architectural and design tours
• Provide a place for conversation, such as a gathering with coffee to talk about your back-story or to hear first-hand from someone on your staff with a really unique job
• Provide behind-the-scenes tours

Two Grants are Available  

Stipends are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Organizations with an annual budget of $50,000 or less, or three or fewer paid staff, are considered eligible to request a basic costs stipend. Please complete the basic costs stipend request form and accompanying W9 form. Note: A signature is required on page 2 of the W9 form. Completed form should be emailed to tharrah@ohiohistory.org.

Arts-related stipends are also available. Sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council, to add an arts component to your event like live music, a storyteller or other performer, or enhanced graphics. Please complete the arts related stipend request form and accompanying W9 form. Note: A signature is required on page 2 of the W9 form. Completed form should be emailed to tharrah@ohiohistory.org.

Requesting a stipend is separate from submitting your Ohio Open Doors event, so make sure you complete all forms required.

How Do I Sign Up?

It’s easy! Please complete and submit the form on this site for each event you are hosting. Events will be posted to the calendar shortly after receipt. Promotional efforts by the Ohio History Connection have begun and will peak in late August 2024. If you have any questions please call the State Historic Preservation Office at 614.298.2000.