By: Nick Evans –

One week from today, more than half of Ohio is going to stop whatever it’s doing and spend a few minutes looking into the sky. The April 8 eclipse cuts a line from rural Darke County to the Cleveland suburbs, sweeping Dayton, Lima, Akron and Sandusky into the path of totality.

Eclipses themselves aren’t all that rare. A total eclipse is visible from somewhere on earth about every other year. But when you start getting specific about location they can be a bit harder to come by. In his executive order laying out Ohio’s preparations, Gov. Mike DeWine noted just “21 solar eclipses have crossed the lower 48 states during the existence of the United States of America.”

The last time it happened in Ohio was in 1806. If you miss this year’s, you’re going to be waiting until 2099.

With that in mind, state agencies are mobilizing resources for a wave of visitors, and local businesses or attractions are planning events. Read more