The first Ohio statehouse became inadequate by 1838 and was destroyed by fire in 1852. According to State Names, Seals, Songs, and Symbols: An Historical Guide, in 1838:

The Ohio statehouse building commission decided on a composite plan, designed from plans received in a competition. The plan decided on was a Greek revival capitol with Doric columns made of native stone. Henry Walter of Cincinnati was named architect, and construction began in 1839. In 1840, construction stopped as the legislature repealed the authorization, and work was not resumed until 1846. In 1848, William R. West was named architect and work was proceeding rapidly. In 1854, when N.B. Kelly became the architect, all the stonework but the cupola had been finished. By 1856, with the appointment of Thomas U. Walter and Richard Upjohn as consulting architects, the legislative chambers had been completed. In 1858, Isaiah Rogers was appointed the architect to complete the interior designs. Finally the 184 foot by 304 foot capitol was completed in 1861 at a cost of $1,359,121. From 1899 to 1901, an annex was added at a cost of $450,000.(State Names..., page 107.)

Due to scandal in 1842 the legislature considered moving the capital to Newark or Lancaster; the Ohio capitol building would become an insane asylum. However, the motion failed and Columbus is listed in the Ohio Constitution as the seat of state government. Today the village of Franklinton that was across the Scioto River has been annexed to the city of Columbus, and Columbus is also the county seat. It was named in honor of Christopher Columbus, commonly considered the discoverer of the New World.

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