By Randy McNutt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ohio's bicentennial is ending, but its legacy isn't.

Additional historical markers will continue to be erected around the state by the Ohio Historical Society.

"The marker program is one of our projects that won't end with the bicentennial," said Lee Yoakum, a spokesman for the Ohio Bicentennial Commission. "Over the last few years, the program has helped redefine what communities think of themselves. Earlier, they may have thought that what happened in their borders wasn't always worthy of recognition from the state, but now they're thinking that maybe it is.

"We have more than doubled the number of historical markers during the bicentennial."

The marker program started during the sesquicentennial celebration in 1953. From 1953 to 1998, 250 markers were erected. From 1998, when the marker effort started for the bicentennial, to the end of this year, the commission erected 501 markers.

Yoakum said 293 of the 501 originated locally, with financial help from the Longaberger basket company. Another 208 markers were installed strictly through the state.

"The 208 were what we called targeted markers," he said. "We went out and identified significant people, places and things that we may have missed. For example, we wanted markers for Woody Hayes, Ohio agriculture and the Underground Railroad."

History of the arts

Students at Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts have prepared two bicentennial projects that will be open today.

In the Museum of Natural History in the Museum Center at Union Terminal, design students have made a 200-year timeline highlighting the history of the arts in Cincinnati.

The display is interactive with students dressed in era costumes. They tell stories and participate in games and activities with visitors. The exhibit will be on display at the museum through Nov. 30.

"Hopefully, we will find a permanent home for it," said Elaine Eckstein, a dance teacher a co-chair of the school's bicentennial committee. "The State Board of Education would like to display it in the spring."

In conjunction, other SCPA students from dance, vocal music, music theater, jazz and piano will appear in a show in the Reakirt Auditorium at Union Terminal.

Students will perform songs and dances with Cincinnati heritage (composed by local people or people with local ties). Songs include "The Mickey Mouse Club March" and "Happy Trails" (originally by Cincinnati natives Jimmie Dodd and Roy Rogers) and the original "Cincinnati: The Only Place to Be."

Today's musical performance times are 1:30 and 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Members of the dance ensemble will be performing David McLain's choreography Ancient Airs and Dances. McClain presented the ballet in the late 1960s, when he took over the Cincinnati Ballet.

Boon to business

The Ohio Bicentennial has been a big boost to the Statehouse Museum Shop.

Managers say they've seen a 200 percent increase in business this year.

In addition, the 155-year-old McCoy Pottery Co. has come back strong with its bicentennial barn bank collection. The company has sold more than 5,000 banks.

The company is a well-known pottery manufacturer in Zanesville.

Bicentennial Notebook appears periodically. Send items to Randy McNutt, the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. E-mail: Rmcnutt@enquirer.com.