A 144-mile outdoor art gallery debuts in Ohio

Southeastern Ohio is trying to attract visitors by giving them something unique to look at.

The Ohio Art Corridor consisting of 144 miles of sculptures and other works of art debuted today. Eventually, the corridor will grow to 230 miles.

David Griesmyer, artistic director of The Ohio Art Corridor, hopes the idea will spread to other parts of the Midwest.

"If you travel throughout the U.S., you will see signs advertising the world's largest rubber band ball or the world's largest rocking chair," he says. "This gets people's attention, it draws them off the interstate. That is what I want to do with The Ohio Art Corridor... My hope is to bring this part of the state back to life."

The Ohio corridor covers several towns and includes a Bicentennial Mural in Circleville, a Flight of the Hawk Park in Lancaster, a School of Fish sculpture in McConnelsville and Wolfe Garden at Ohio University.

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The founders believe The Ohio Art Corridor is the largest outdoor gallery in the world, surpassing one in Stockholm that covers 70 miles.

“Our desire is to draw people out of the big cities, to take a drive through the beautiful Appalachian country of Ohio, to learn, grow, and have experiences that they otherwise would not have,” says Rebekah Griesmyer, executive director of The Ohio Art Corridor. “We desire to instill pride and purpose into those that live in the small cities and towns highlighted on The Ohio Art Corridor.”

For a look at some of the works on The Ohio Art Corridor, click on the photo gallery above.