Capital University Historic District
Why it's listed
Capital University's central campus in Bexley, on the east side of Columbus, contains a group of buildings erected between 1876 and 1928 around a large green space. Lehmann Hall and Leonard Hall, both finished in 1876, are brick Italianate buildings with slate roofs and arched windows. Lehmann was later covered with a concrete finish imitating stone in 1910. Loy Gymnasium followed in 1905, Rudolph Hall, a Neo-Gothic library, in 1915, and Mees Music Hall, also Neo-Gothic, in 1928. Bexley Hall, a plain postwar brick addition, sits behind Mees. The university, founded by the Evangelical Lutheran Church and chartered in 1850, moved here in 1876, its third site, seeking quiet away from the downtown railroad area. The district was recognized for the way these buildings illustrate shifting architectural tastes and the early growth of an important Columbus educational institution.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for architecture and for the history of education in Columbus. Its buildings show changing styles from High Victorian Italianate through a functional design to Neo-Gothic, grouped around a central green. They reflect the University's early growth after moving to this site in 1876.
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 82001457, listed December 17, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E. Main St. at College Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 17, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001457 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1876, 1905, 1913, 1928) |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Neo-Gothic, and functional/unclassified styles |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and altered on an original site; the buildings remain in university use, including Mees Hall for music and Loy Gymnasium as an art and sculpture studio. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | Capital University Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 39.95604, -82.93871 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 82001457.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q34824340
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.