Ohio State University Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near Ohio State University (OSU)
Why Walk Ohio State University Campus
Ohio State's Columbus campus is one of the largest in the country, with over 60,000 students and 485 buildings across 1,665 acres. The Oval, a large elliptical green space lined with mature trees, is the historic heart of campus, surrounded by original buildings including University Hall (rebuilt in 1976 replicating the 1873 original) and Orton Hall, an 1893 Romanesque geology building with a tower containing geological strata in its stonework. Ohio Stadium (the 'Horseshoe'), seating over 102,000, is the home of Buckeye football and one of the largest stadiums in the world. The Thompson Library, renovated in 2009 with a modern glass addition, combines the 1913 Italian Renaissance original with contemporary spaces. The Wexner Center for the Arts, designed by Peter Eisenman, is a deconstructivist landmark.
About Ohio State University
Founded
1870 (chartered as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College; renamed The Ohio State University in 1878).
Type
Public land-grant research university; flagship of the state university system, member of the Big Ten Conference and the Association of American Universities.
Setting
Urban campus on roughly 1,700+ acres in Columbus, Ohio, along the Olentangy River, a few miles north of downtown. The main commercial strip is High Street, which forms the campus's eastern edge.
Enrollment
Roughly 60,000 students on the Columbus campus, with around 65,000 across all campuses, making it one of the largest single-campus universities in the United States.
Mascot
Brutus Buckeye, an anthropomorphic buckeye nut introduced in 1965. Athletic teams are the Buckeyes; school colors are scarlet and gray.
Free Ohio State University Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Ohio State University campus tour with audio narration. Explore Ohio Stadium (the Horseshoe), The Oval, Wexner Center for the Arts, plus hidden spots like Orton Hall and Mirror Lake Hollow, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at Ohio State University
- •Ohio Stadium (the Horseshoe) — a 102,000-seat stadium opened in 1922, home to one of college football's most passionate fan bases
- •The Oval — the historic campus green ringed by early university buildings and mature trees, the symbolic center of OSU
- •Wexner Center for the Arts — Peter Eisenman's 1989 deconstructivist arts center with a fragmented white grid facade
- •Thompson Library — the 1913 Renaissance Revival library renovated with a modern glass atrium and grand reading room
Signature Architecture
- •Ohio Stadium ('The Horseshoe') — Opened 1922, designed by Howard Dwight Smith in a horseshoe shape; double-deck concrete bowl, a National Historic Landmark, with a capacity of about 102,000.
- •Thompson Library — Original building dedicated 1913 (William Oxley Thompson Library); a major glass-and-stone expansion and renovation reopened in 2009. Sits at the head of the Oval.
- •Orton Hall — Completed 1893 in Richardsonian Romanesque style, built from Ohio rock layered in geologic order; houses the geology library and Orton Geological Museum, topped by a bell tower.
- •University Hall — The current building is a 1976 reconstruction of the original 1873 first building of the university, anchoring the west end of the Oval.
- •Wexner Center for the Arts — Opened 1989, designed by Peter Eisenman; an early landmark of deconstructivist architecture with its white gridded scaffolding facade.
Hidden Corners of Ohio State University
- •Orton Hall — an 1893 Romanesque building whose tower stonework is arranged in geological stratigraphic order, housing the geology museum
- •Mirror Lake Hollow — a small lake and green space at the north edge of the Oval, a scenic gathering spot for students
Notable Alumni
- •Jack Nicklaus — professional golfer, 18 major championships
- •Jesse Owens — track athlete, four-time 1936 Olympic gold medalist
- •R.L. Stine — author of the Goosebumps series
- •Roy Lichtenstein — pop artist (earned BFA and MFA at Ohio State)
- •Eddie George — Heisman Trophy-winning running back, NFL player
Campus Traditions
- •Script Ohio — the marching band spells out 'Ohio' in cursive, with a sousaphone player 'dotting the i' at the climax
- •Carmen Ohio — the alma mater, sung after football games with arms linked
- •The 'O-H! / I-O!' call-and-response chant heard across campus
- •Mirror Lake jump — students historically jumped into Mirror Lake during the week of the Michigan game (later curtailed by the university for safety)
- •Beating 'That Team Up North' — the annual rivalry game against the University of Michigan, often the season's marquee event
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Buckeye Donuts on High Street — open 24 hours, a longtime late-night spot near campus
- •Thurman Cafe in nearby German Village — known for oversized burgers
- •Raising Cane's on the South Campus stretch of High Street near the student union
- •Hot Chicken Takeover at the North Market downtown — Nashville-style hot chicken
- •Schmidt's Sausage Haus in German Village — German fare and cream puffs, a short drive from campus
Did you know? The buckeye, the school's namesake, is the nut of the Ohio buckeye tree and is mildly toxic if eaten raw — so the mascot is named after a nut you are not supposed to eat. The candy 'buckeyes' (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate to resemble the nut) are an unrelated, edible Ohio treat.
Visiting Ohio State University
Prospective students book official visits through Undergraduate Admissions: campus tours and information sessions typically run on weekdays (and some Saturdays) and should be reserved online in advance. Self-guided walking tours of the Oval and central campus are open to the public anytime. Visitor parking is available in campus garages such as the Ohio Union South Garage and the Tuttle Park Place Garage (paid by the hour); street parking near High Street is limited and metered. Football game days draw 100,000+ people and make parking and traffic far more difficult — avoid casual visits on home-game Saturdays.
Walking Tip
The campus is very large — focus on the Oval area and Ohio Stadium. The CABS bus system connects distant parts of campus. High Street borders the east side with restaurants and shops.
Best Time to Visit
Fall for football Saturdays — game days transform campus. Spring for blooming trees on the Oval. The campus is most vibrant during the academic year (September-May).
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