{"nrhp_refnum":"04001288","name":"Shiloh Baptist Church","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"720 Mt. Vernon Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Columbus","county":"Franklin County","state":"OH","lat":39.97044013900006,"lon":-82.98171222799994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2004-12-04","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Black","Religion","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Shiloh Baptist Church is a two-story Gothic-style brick and stone church at 720 Mt. Vernon Avenue on the near east side of Columbus, Ohio, completed in 1923, with a large education wing added in 2002.","why_significant":"The nomination argues significance under Criterion A as the third-oldest African-American congregation in Columbus, founded in 1869, and as a major religious and social institution in the city's African-American community. Its activities included mission work, a community nursery school, Depression-era relief and the first church-based credit union in Columbus. The building was constructed under the direct supervision of its pastor, Rev. James H. Burks.","narrative":"Shiloh Baptist Church is a two-story Gothic-style brick church with limestone trim and stained glass, completed in 1923 on Mt. Vernon Avenue on Columbus's near east side. Its asymmetrical front has a central entrance with pointed-arch doors between two square towers, one holding a bell. Windows by the Von Gerichten Art Glass Studio fill the sanctuary. A large education wing, built in 2002, was designed to match the original. The congregation was founded in 1869 and is the third-oldest African-American congregation in the city. Ground was broken in 1922 under pastor James Burks, who served as construction superintendent, an unusual role for a pastor. The church survived Depression-era foreclosure, fed the hungry, sponsored missionaries in Africa, hosted national gatherings and in 1947 formed the first church-based credit union in Columbus. The neighborhood was later divided by Interstate 71, which now runs beside the church, yet the building remains a prominent presence and a symbol of the community's religious life.","period_of_significance":"1922-1954","architect_builder":"A.O. Day Construction Co.; Rev. James H. Burks, construction superintendent","architectural_style":"Late 19th and early 20th century revivals (Gothic style)","criteria":["A"],"status_note":"Still used as a church; the congregation added a large education building in 2002 and the form says the building retains a high level of integrity.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:52:06.841957-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/04001288.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/04001288/d093cf639c-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/04001288/d093cf639c-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Wdzinc","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiloh_Baptist_Church.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Wdzinc</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiloh_Baptist_Church.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71988591","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiloh_Baptist_Church_(Columbus,_Ohio)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7496717"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/franklin-county/shiloh-baptist-church-04001288/"}