About this property
The First Baptist Church is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in Columbus, Indiana, United States. It was designed by distinguished architect Harry Weese and completed in 1965. Since completion, few alterations have been made and the building has retained its integrity. It was one of the first church designs to integrate Modern movement architecture and a non-traditional church plan. The First Baptist Church of Columbus is located at 3300 Fairlawn Drive in Columbus, Indiana. It occupies one-third of an open area in a suburban neighborhood of single-family homes developed in the 1960s and 1970s. Richards Elementary School (designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes and built in 1965) and Par 3 Golf Course and Clubhouse (designed by Bruce Adams and built in 1972) comprise the other two-thirds of the "town square". These structures are easily visible as they create the skyline of this residential subdivision. The First Baptist Church was one of Columbus's early congregations. It occupied a previous site (which has not been preserved) before moving to Fairlawn Drive in 1965. The facility occupies a 7.1-acre (2.9 ha) site at the base of a gently sloping hill which the group chose because the site allowed room for growth and parking. The parcel originally contained a row of walnut trees along its southern boundary, however other trees have been planted on the grounds. The red brick building has five distinct sections (narthex, sanctuary, office wing, fellowship hall, and chapel) built around a central courtyard. The windows are tall and narrow. The sanctuary is the principal interior space of the building. It is a windowless room, made up of simple elements that combine to create a space that is at the same time dramatic and serene. Each element is a simple object—a brick wall, a beam, an opening, a skylight—but all exaggerated slightly in size, proportion, or height. National Register of Historic Places listings in Bartholomew County, Indiana Media related to First Baptist Church (Columbus, Indiana) at Wikimedia Commons
Location
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about First Baptist Church
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Questions about this property
When was First Baptist Church listed on the National Register?
First Baptist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 15, 2000.
What type of historic resource is First Baptist Church?
First Baptist Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is First Baptist Church a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. First Baptist Church has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for First Baptist Church?
The period of significance for First Baptist Church is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1965.
Can I research the history near First Baptist Church?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near First Baptist Church will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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