While touring the Ohio Statehouse, I already had "crossed" Lake Erie and each of Ohio's 88 counties set in various colors of marble on the floor of the Map Room, which acts as the reception area for the Statehouse Education and Visitors Center.

Retracing my steps I found my destination easily.

Tours of the Statehouse have grown up. There are still a multitude of school visits, but more families and adult groups are enjoying general, seasonal and specialty tours.

Renovations in the 1990s restored the beauty of the building and introduced modern technology. Today, a proud group of volunteer guides entertain visitors with stories as well as historical facts as they lead tourists through the Statehouse "crypt." There you can see the thick supporting walls that were built by prison labor.

Many tour groups opt to extend their stay with visits to nearby neighborhoods, including historic German Village and arty Short North.