{"nrhp_refnum":"85000484","name":"Central High School","other_names":["High School of Columbus","High School of Commerce"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"75 S. Washington Blvd.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Columbus","county":"Franklin County","state":"OH","lat":39.95959260750004,"lon":-83.00733098945821,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1985-03-07","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Community Planning and Development","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Central High School is a monumental Neo-Classical Revival public school building at 75 South Washington Boulevard in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, built in 1924 on a 17.87-acre site facing the Scioto River and the civic center.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it is a fine example of a Neo-Classical Revival school and the first structure built along the Scioto River after the 1908 Columbus Plan, which it follows in site, style and scale. It is also significant for its association with architect William B. Ittner, a nationally recognized designer of school buildings. Its interior remains well preserved.","narrative":"Central High School is a three-story Neo-Classical Revival school, plus a ground floor, completed in 1924 at 75 South Washington Boulevard in Columbus. Its shallow U-shaped plan faces the civic center across the Scioto River, and a monumental entrance of four fluted Ionic columns, flanked by sunken courtyards with fountains, marks the east front. Stone and granite facing and a very large scale make it a visual link between the river's two banks. It was the first building erected along the river after the 1908 Columbus Plan, whose recommendations on classical design, school placement and open space it follows. William B. Ittner of St. Louis designed it; he was a leader in school design who promoted an open plan for light and ventilation. Inside, original woodwork, slate chalkboards, skylights, decorative tile and plaster detail survive. The school descends from the High School of Columbus, organized in 1847, and opened at this site in 1924 with 900 students. Later additions date from 1926, 1955 and 1966.","period_of_significance":"1900-","architect_builder":"William B. Ittner, St. Louis","architectural_style":"Neo-Classical Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Listed as unoccupied and vacant at the time of nomination; the interior is described as significantly intact, and the building is in good condition with additions.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:15.166972-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/85000484.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85000484/1a1416db18-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85000484/1a1416db18-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Columbus_Central_High_School.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Columbus_Central_High_School.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71988471","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_High_School_(Columbus,_Ohio)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5061173"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/franklin-county/central-high-school-85000484/"}