Central High School
About this property
Central High School, also known as High School of Columbus and High School of Commerce, was a four-year secondary school (grades 9–12) located in Franklinton, Columbus, Ohio. It was a part of Columbus City Schools (at the time Columbus Public Schools). On March 7, 1985, the 1924 school building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is considered part of the Columbus Civic Center Historic District. Central High School dates to the earliest high school education in Columbus. In its 1862 building and in prior homes, it was known as Columbus High School, and was the only high school in the city. From 1862 to c. 1928, Central High School was located at East Broad and Sixth Street, current site of the Capital University Law School. It was considered an architectural ornament for Columbus, and featured a 150-ft.-tall tower. The site was purchased in 1859 and construction was underway from 1860 to 1861, with a cost of $23,400. The school opened in the following fall term. It was originally able to house 300 students, increased as expansions opened in following years. The building was designed by architect Nathan B. Kelley. It closed in 1924 and was demolished in 1928. The last building for the school was located at 75 South Washington Boulevard and opened in 1924. Because of declining enrollment in the school district and deterioration of the building, Central High School permanently closed following the 1981–1982 school year, in June 1982. After the closure, Central High School was used as a shooting location for scenes in the 1984 film Teachers, depicting the fictional "John F. Kennedy High School". Columbus Public Schools sold the building to the City of Columbus for $15 million in 1988. In July 1994, Columbus City Council granted the science museum the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) a 28-year lease on the building. COSI remodeled portions of it for the new site of a museum, incorporating the building's historic facade into the structure, designed by architect Arata Isozaki. Isozaki used the high school's 1924 exterior facing downtown as its east entrance; a balance to the facility's progressively futuristic west entrance. On November 6, 1999 COSI moved into the old Central High School building. George Bellows, American realist painter, known for his depictions of urban life in New York City Howard Cassady, Heisman Trophy winner of 1955 for the Ohio State University; professional football player for the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles and baseball coach for the Columbus Clippers. Harold Cooper, Franklin County Commissioner, President of the Columbus Jets and the International League
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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.
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Questions about this property
When was Central High School listed on the National Register?
Central High School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1985.
What type of historic resource is Central High School?
Central High School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Central High School?
The period of significance for Central High School is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Central High School?
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 Central High School will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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