John Sherman Birthplace
Why it's listed
Lancaster, Ohio, is home to the house where John Sherman was born on May 10, 1823. Located at 137 East Main Street, the two-story building began as a house erected in 1811, received additions in 1816, and gained a Victorian front in the late 19th century. It combines a brick front section with a narrower frame section behind. Sherman lived here until he was nine and only intermittently between 1835 and 1840. His brother, General William T. Sherman, was also born in the house, and the museum today mainly interprets the Civil War, with period furnishings, a tent room and local military displays. John Sherman served more than four decades in public life as a congressman, senator, Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State. He is remembered mostly for the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, both passed in 1890. The anti-trust law remains the government's basic measure against undue business centralization.
Significance in brief: The house is the birthplace of John Sherman, who served as congressman, senator, Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State. He is remembered chiefly for the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, both passed in 1890. It is also the birthplace of his brother, General William T. Sherman.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000609, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 137 E. Main St., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfield County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000609 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | May 10, 1823-1832 |
| Architectural style | Victorian (front section, late 19th century addition) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated January 29, 1964 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a museum owned by the Ohio Historical Society, in good condition, with Civil War exhibits and period rooms open to visitors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lancaster Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.71387, -82.59521 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000609.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6257637
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.