Host an Ohio Open Doors Event

September 6–15, 2024

Help Ohioans discover your community’s amazing heritage. 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.

Benefits

  • Stimulate tourists’ and citizens’ interest in landmarks and architecture in your community.
  • Create a time for members of your community to connect with you and each other.
  • Promote, educate and inspire pride in Ohio’s amazing heritage.
  • Create an event that out-of-town tourists and community members will love.

Event Requirements

  1. Hold an event between September 6–15, 2024.
  2. Event(s) must be free, open to the public and abide by all laws and local ordinances concerning safety and access. ​
  3. ​ All in-person events must follow county public health and CDC guidelines.
  4. Event submissions are subject to review and approval by Ohio Open Doors before inclusion on the event calendar.

Event Ideas

  • In-person tours and workshops
  • Live virtual talks or tours

Host registration is now open. Deadline for Event entry is August 1, 2024.

History

Ohio Open Doors was created in 2016 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. Passed by Congress and signed into law in 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act made preserving historic, architectural and archaeological resources whenever possible a policy of the federal government. Ohio continues to rank among our nation’s leading states in preserving historic places.

Stipends

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 marketing costs stipend. Please complete the marketing costs stipend request form and accompanying W9 form. Note: A signature is required on page 2 of the W9 form. 

Note: Arts-related stipends sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council are no longer available.

Requesting a stipend is separate from submitting your Ohio Open Doors event. You must first submit your event to Ohio Open Doors. Then you must submit your stipend request.

We’ll Help Make Your Event a Success!

As the sponsoring organization, Ohio History Connection will support qualifying, participating sites as a part of the Ohio Open Doors events, scheduled September 6-15. In addition to small-dollar stipends available, you will also have access to:

  • Online kit of useful materials for promotion
  • Use of the Ohio Open Doors logo

Sample press release: a fillable Word document in which to add your event details

Tips for writing a successful event listing: Here's some of our advice on how to write an engaging event listing for your website or email communications

Sample social media posts: Here's sample posts for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

2024 Event Registration is Closed!

Events submitted for the 2024 Ohio Open Doors season have been posted to our website. Please visit the Events & Experiences page or our Ohio Open Doors map to see a full listing of events.

2024 events have been posted to the calendar and 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.