Camp Chase Site
Why it's listed
Camp Chase occupied flat farmland leased to the federal government at the start of the Civil War, on what is now Sullivant Avenue in Columbus. Dedicated on June 20, 1861, and named for Salmon P. Chase, it first trained Union recruits before becoming a military prison. Confederate prisoners were held in a series of stockades and barracks, and by 1864 new barracks raised capacity to 8,000 men. The camp held 26,000 of the 36,000 Confederate prisoners in Ohio's military prisons. Overcrowding, reduced rations, disease and the cold winter of 1865 led to 2,260 deaths before the camp closed on July 5, 1865. No original buildings remain. A cemetery established in 1863 now covers less than two acres, with a stone wall built in 1921, marble headstones for 2,199 Confederate soldiers, a granite memorial arch unveiled in 1902 topped by a bronze soldier, and a stone speaker's platform.
Significance in brief: Camp Chase began as a Union training camp in 1861 and became a military prison. It held 26,000 of the 36,000 Confederate prisoners of war in Ohio military prisons, and 2,260 soldiers died there by the time it closed in July 1865. The site is significant for its military and political associations with the Civil War.
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 73001434, listed April 11, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2900 Sullivant Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 11, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001434 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1861-1865 |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | None of the original camp structures survive; all were dismantled at the end of the Civil War. A cemetery of less than two acres remains, enclosed by a 1921 stone wall, and the condition is listed as excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.94384, -83.07587 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 73001434.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5027060
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.