On Aug. 7, 1953, Ohio was formally admitted to the Union by a joint resolution of Congress.

Ohio's lawmakers had first conducted business on March 1, 1803. And Congress approved the Ohio Constitution that year - in effect recognizing that a government had been formed. President Jefferson signed off on the Ohio Constitution on Feb. 19, 1803.

But as Ohio prepared to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 1953, researchers discovered that a joint session of Congress had never declared Ohio a state. Some wondered whether Ohio's laws were legal. But no state before Ohio had been formally admitted through a joint resolution - the practice began in 1812 - so it was a technicality.

Nevertheless, the General Assembly approved a petition for statehood at a special session in Chillicothe - Ohio's first capital - then had it delivered to Washington on horseback. So in 1953, Congress formally declared Ohio a state - retroactive to 1803. President Eisenhower signed the joint resolution on Aug. 7.

Ohio State Fair History

The Ohio State Fair became the first to have an electric lighting system in 1896. This permitted the fair to offer nighttime racing.

Rebecca Goodman

Throughout this year's Ohio State Fair, which ends Aug. 17, the Enquirer will look back at significant moments in its history, E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8361.