1. In 1837, the Ohio State Legislature authorized the construction of the state's first two railroads. One of these railroads, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, became the oldest railroad in Ohio when it was completed in 1849.

2. On March 3, 1865, the Ohio State Legislature passed a bill that abolished slavery in the state. This legislation came two months before the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery throughout the entire country.

3. In 1873, the Ohio State Legislature established the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, which later became The Ohio State University. The college opened its doors to students on September 17, 1873, and had an initial enrollment of 25 students.

4. On March 3, 1913, the Ohio State Legislature passed the Workmen's Compensation Act, which provided injured workers with financial compensation for lost wages and medical expenses. This legislation was the first of its kind in the United States and served as a model for other states.

5. In 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail into law. The trail commemorates the War of 1812 and the writing of the national anthem, which occurred during the defense of Baltimore in 1814. The trail passes through Ohio, where several important events of the War of 1812 occurred.