Visitor Education Center

The story of Ohio courts and the men and women who shaped them unfolds in the Visitor Education Center.

Opened in December 2005, it is the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award for Institutional Excellence from the Ohio Museum Association. The center is designed to provide both adult and student visitors with an understanding and appreciation of the history, role and responsibility of the Ohio court system. Exhibits feature engaging images, videos and histories that challenge visitors to become involved using true-to-life displays illustrating important rulings and constitutional issues that touch the lives of citizens.

Center exhibits include:

An interactive scale inviting visitors to try to balance the three branches of government

Mock courtrooms providing settings for visitors to role-play realistic cases through Ohio courts

Videos taking visitors behind the scenes and challenging them with television and movie myths about courts

Other features of the center include legal pioneers, mediation, the art and architecture of the Ohio Judicial Center and an exhibit on the Ohio Film Censorship Board — a now-defunct government office with strong ties to the building and the court system.

The Visitor Education Center, which is managed by the Civic Education Section staff, also provides a hands-on opportunity for educators to meet curriculum benchmarks for elementary and high school students. Key concepts, including the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions, separation of powers, checks and balances and the role of the judiciary, reinforce classroom lesson plans.

Visits are scheduled Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 614.387.9223 or e-mail courttours@sconet.state.oh.us. Please allow about one hour for your visit. School tours typically last 90 minutes.