Experience the History & Traditions of Ohio State University

Exploring Ohio State University's rich history is an adventure you won't want to miss on your trip to Ohio's capital city.

Farm-Raised: OSU's Origins

OSU was established as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College in 19th century Columbus when its first class of 24 students gathered to learn mechanical arts and farming techniques. In 1878, the college curriculum expanded to include liberal arts, and the school's official name became Ohio State University. Agriculture remains a large part of OSU’s course offerings with nearly two dozen majors offered in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Agriculture & Arts

Experience the flawless merging of agriculture and liberal arts on campus at the Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens. The gardens host students of literature, landscape design, agriculture and art. Spend an afternoon meandering through the innovative displays on a self-guided tour using the arboretum’s app. Get your selfie-stick ready—there’s a 15-foot-tall praying mantis named Annabelle lurking in the foliage of the Phenology Research Garden.

What's in a Name: The Buckeyes

OSU is the home of the Buckeye sports teams. If you don’t know the history of the Buckeye name, it's in reference to the aesculus glabra tree, which is commonly known as a "buckeye tree." It bears a dark brown nut with a light tan patch that looks similar to a deer’s eye. With an abundance of these trees in Ohio, settlers were able to carve the soft wood into dinnerware, cradles, troughs and even artificial limbs. But, don’t eat real buckeye nuts—they’re toxic! Instead, enjoy locally made peanut butter Buckeyes at Anthony-Thomas Candy Shoppes, and then take the tour to see how they're made.

Where it All Began: University Hall

University Hall was the first building to be constructed on campus in 1874, and sections of the original building remain today. Much of it was torn down in 1971 and rebuilt to look exactly like the original, only fully modernized. The original red brick clock tower, pillars and entrance blend into the newer structure to create a seamless mix of modernity and tradition. Check out what life was like for the earliest students at the University Museumon the hall’s first floor. Blackboards, teardrop lights and bricks from the original building are just a few of the relics the museum displays. Check out how Brutus Buckeye came to be the university’s mascot and how drum major Tubby Essington changed the face of bandleading.

Primitive Roots: Orton Hall

You can't miss the bell tower chimes that ring on the hour and the quarter hour. Follow the sound to its source at Orton Hall, the castle-like home of all things geological on campus. Sandstone reptiles and dinosaurs peer down from the bell tower, daring you to enter and explore the fossils and geologic wonders that lie within the hall's native stone walls. Venture into the Orton Geological Museum and snap a selfie with Jeff, short for megalonyx jeffersonii, the giant sloth that lived nearby more than 13,000 years ago. You’re sure to be fascinated by fossils and little-known geology facts. For example—did you know Ohio used to lie south of the Equator?

Circling the Square: The Oval and the Long Walk

Campus lore says if you take the Long Walk from Thompson Library to College Street while holding hands with your significant other, you’ll remain in love forever. Long-married alumni testify to the tradition as truth—but you must kiss at the Great Seal of Ohio to seal the deal. The Long Walk cuts straight through the length of The Oval, the grassy campus icon crisscrossed by paths that provide interesting diversions to the journey. Bring a picnic and a blanket and sprawl out on the lush lawn as college life passes by. In autumn you'll experience a treat for the senses as you’re surrounded by the technicolor foliage that ranges from yellows and oranges to reds and purples.

Comfortable Ol' Shoe: Ohio Stadium

Without a doubt the Horseshoe or Shoe—as Ohio Stadium is known—is the most recognizable landmark on Ohio State University campus. The 1922 stadium was the country’s first horseshoe-shaped venue and is still the ideal place to join with the screaming football fans. If you’re lucky enough to be there during a game, wear scarlet and gray and arrive early—the all-out pageantry of the home team’s entrance is something you’ll remember for years. Schedule a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium at least two weeks in advance. The 1.5-hour tour takes you through the Steinbrenner Band Center, Yassenoff Recruit Center, collegiate press boxes and Huntington Club suites.

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