7 Photos You'll Only Understand If You Hail From Ohio
By Sarah McCosham|Updated on March 27, 2024(Originally published August 07, 2023)
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
I’ve lived in Ohio pretty much all my life and there truly is no place like home. From our Midwestern sensibility (with a twinge of Southern hospitality and “y’all” culture) to our never-ending quips about the weather (and inability to DRIVE in inclement weather), Ohioans are a delightful bunch and living in Ohio really is the best. While we welcome new residents and visitors with open arms, there are some inside jokes that, when presented to newbies, don’t make a whole lot of sense. The following photos reveal much about life in Ohio, and if you’re from the Buckeye State, you’ll get it… and if you’re not from around here, allow me to explain!
Ohio is an amusement park powerhouse, and long before there was Kings Island, there was Cedar Point. This Buckeye State icon opened in 1870, and its waterfront resort, Hotel Breakers, opened in 1905 as one of the largest hotels in the Midwest. It had 600 guest rooms and a cafe that could seat 400 guests, and more than a century later, this stalwart lives on, welcoming guests for an unforgettable stay on America's Roller Coast.
Ohio might be the easiest state to spell, but that doesn't mean we won't *show* folks how to spell it! While this is definitely an Ohio thing, this is not an only in Ohio picture. Rather, no matter where in the state, country, or world you are, you can always find fellow Ohioans by using your arms to spell out O-H-I-O. It's basically like Marco Polo for Ohioans.
This cherubic not-so-little guy is the mascot for Frisch's Big Boy, a beloved burger chain headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The titular "Big Boy" burger he's holding is a must-try for all Buckeye State burger buffs, featuring a quarter pound of beef, cheese, lettuce, pickles, and the restaurant's signature tartar sauce.
We take our sports very seriously here in Ohio, and interstate rivalries like the Browns and Bengals run deep. In Cincinnati, however, just three miles separates the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, and each year, the two colleges go head to head for the Crosstown Shootout, one of the most highly anticipated sporting events in Ohio!
There's the classic Skyline Chili Three Way, and then there's the Green Way, AKA shamrock green noodles topped with chili and cheese. This once-a-year treat is something Ohioans look forward to all year long, and the only way to celebrate St. Paddy in the Buckeye State.
6. The Best State Fair In The World.
Ohio Expo Center & State Fair, 717 E 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211, USA
There's simply nothing that compares to the Ohio State Fair. Ohio is home to epic amusement parks and some of the best seasonal festivals around, but nothing -- nothing -- compares to the Ohio State Fair. I attended my first fair when I was eight years old, and I still remember the feeling of riding the Ferris Wheel with my younger brothers and being completely awestruck by the grandeur of it all.
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the '80s and '90s and went to hundreds of Reds games at Riverfront Stadium as a kid. Once I started driving, my friend Lindsay and went to games all the time, decorating fun signs and even making the jumbotron a few times!
Riverfront Stadium was demolished on on December 29, 2002, to make way for Great American Ball Park. Lindsay and I drove down and joined scores of fellow Reds fans to watch the planned implosion of our beloved ballpark. It's something I'll never forget, and while I've since made memories in the new stadium, nothing will ever compare to Riverfront. And this is one of the photos of Ohio that will always stir up nostalgia for me.
As the kids these days say, IYKYK. If you’re from or living in Ohio, you know what these photos mean… and if not, just ask! We’re always happy to explain – just be prepared for a tangential spiel about the day’s wacky weather. And if you’re as proud to be an Ohioan as I am, why not wear your roots to show it?!
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