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Columbus, Ohio, May 2026 – The �Ը������� University Museum and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board announce “Ohioans in Space: The Carl E. Walz Spacesuit from the �Ը������� University Museum,” a special installation opening on May 19 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, celebrating Ohio’s legacy of excellence in aviation and space exploration. The installation will be on view through Nov. 3.

The �Ը������� University Museum, which holds one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of fashion, textiles and decorative arts, is bringing a spacesuit from its collection into the heart of Ohio’s Capitol, underscoring the power of museums to elevate Ohio stories and engage audiences across the state.

“This installation reflects the power of garments to tell stories about our histories, our accomplishments and our shared aspirations,” said Sarah Spinner, Ph.D., J.D., director of the �Ը������� University Museum. “The spacesuit honors one of our alumni’s extraordinary contributions to space exploration and shows how museums can bring those stories to life, inspiring connection and discovery.”

The installation will be displayed in the Rotunda and features the spacesuit worn aboard the International Space Station (ISS) by NASA astronaut Carl E. Walz, a �Ը������� graduate who received his Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1977. Designed to counteract the effects of prolonged weightlessness, the suit uses a system of elastic straps and tensioning mechanisms to simulate the physical load of gravity, helping astronauts maintain muscle and bone strength during long-duration missions. Walz wore the suit during his six-month stay on the space station from December 2001 to June 2002, part of a career that included four space missions and 231 days in space.

“I’m honored that my suit will be displayed at the Ohio Statehouse,” Walz said. “I gave it to the �Ը������� University Museum to share the story of space exploration with students and future generations of explorers and innovators.”

The accompanying wall panels situate Walz’s career within Ohio’s broader history of flight and space exploration, from the Wright brothers to astronaut John Glenn. The installation is intended to amplify the “Ohioans in Space” painting by Bill Hinsch, commissioned by the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and the Capitol Square Foundation, and installed at the Statehouse in 2024.

“The Ohio Statehouse is where we share the stories that define our state,” said Charles R. Moses, chair of the Capitol Square Foundation. “This installation highlights Ohio’s long-standing contributions to aviation and space exploration and helps connect visitors to that legacy of achievement and discovery.”

The spacesuit is presented alongside images from the James Webb Space Telescope, on loan from COSI: Center of Science and Industry, offering visitors a visual connection between human exploration and the wider universe. 

“This is exactly the type of collaboration that brings the humanities to life,” said Rebecca Asmo, executive director of Ohio Humanities. “A fashion museum partnering with a science museum shows how Ohio institutions can work together to connect people to our shared history of exploration and the experiences that shape our state.”

A reception will be held at 5 p.m. in the Statehouse Museum, followed by a ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. in the Rotunda on May 19. The event will bring together leaders from across Ohio’s cultural, scientific and civic communities, including Charles R. Moses, chair of the Capitol Square Foundation; Rebecca Asmo, executive director of Ohio Humanities; Donna Collins, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council; Frederic Bertley, Ph.D.,  president and CEO of COSI: Center of Science and Industry; Capt. William F. Colleran, a pilot and �Ը�������alumnus; Donald Mason, mayor of Zanesville, Ohio, and vice chair of the �Ը������� Board of Trustees; and lawmakers State Sen. Kristina Roegner, State Rep. Heidi Workman and State Rep. Bill Roemer.

The spacesuit on view is part of the �Ը������� University Museum’s collection of more than 30,000 objects spanning fashion, textiles and decorative arts from the mid-1700s to the present. In November 2025, the museum, located in Portage County, was reaccredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition a museum can receive. 

“Ohioans in Space” is part of a growing series of cross-disciplinary collaborations led by the �Ը������� University Museum, reflecting Spinner’s focus on broadening access to the museum’s collection and deepening its impact.

The installation and reception at the Statehouse are generously sponsored by Leslie Royce Resnik on behalf of the John P. Murphy Foundation.

�Ը������� the �Ը������� University Museum

The �Ը������� University Museum houses one of the world’s most important collections of fashion, textiles and decorative arts, spanning the mid-1700s to the present. With more than 30,000 objects and seven gallery spaces, the museum serves students, scholars and the broader public through exhibitions, research and object-based learning. For more information, visit www.kent.edu/museum.

�Ը������� the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is responsible for maintaining the historic character of Capitol Square while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in and visit the complex. CSRAB is charged with interpreting the role of Ohio's Statehouse in national and Ohio history, to celebrate its art and architecture and to highlight its ongoing impact on the daily lives of Ohioans and thereby inspire all Ohioans to participate in state government. For more information, visit

�Ը������� University Media Contact: Jen Crabtree, jcrabt13@kent.edu

Museum Director: Sarah Spinner Liska, Ph.D., J.D., sspinner@kent.edu