{"nrhp_refnum":"82001456","name":"Zion Lutheran Church","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"501-503 Columbus Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Sandusky","county":"Erie County","state":"OH","lat":41.452018287000044,"lon":-82.70974595399997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1982-10-20","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Religion"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Victorian Romanesque limestone church at 501-503 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio, built in 1898-9 and designed and built by George Feick.","why_significant":"The form argues the church was a significant force in the lives of Sandusky's German Protestants and the mother church for many other Lutheran congregations in the area. Its bilingual stained glass tympana reflect that German heritage. It is also a well-preserved example of Romanesque church architecture with fine detailing.","narrative":"Zion Lutheran Church, at 501-503 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, is a Victorian Romanesque church built in 1898-9 of rock-faced limestone with a slate roof. George Feick served as both architect and builder. Sandstone quoins, dentilled gable ends, arched entries and windows, and trim on the towers give the exterior its character, while foliated columns, polished granite at the entries, support the large arches. Inside, the rear section reads as one vaulted room with small windows at several levels, and much of the woodwork is hand-carved walnut. Bilingual stained glass tympana at the front entries reflect the congregation's German heritage. The congregation formed in 1847 and used three small churches on Court House Square before building here. It became an important force among Sandusky's German Protestants and the mother church for many other Lutheran congregations in the area. German-language services continued into the 1940s. The church remains in use and in excellent condition.","period_of_significance":"1898-9","architect_builder":"George Feick (architect/engineer and builder)","architectural_style":"Romanesque (Victorian Romanesque)","criteria":[],"status_note":"Listed as in excellent condition inside and outside, and still in use as a church.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:15.036552-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/82001456.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82001456/3c35fd774e-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82001456/3c35fd774e-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zion_Lutheran_Church_in_Sandusky.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zion_Lutheran_Church_in_Sandusky.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71984972","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_Lutheran_Church_(Sandusky,_Ohio)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8072540"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/erie-county/zion-lutheran-church-82001456/"}