Dublin Cemetery Vaults
Why it's listed
Two burial vaults built in 1884 sit along Rt. 161 in Dublin, Franklin County, Ohio, in a small, flat cemetery near a main east-west route. Smooth ashlar blocks form the vaults, which are linked by a low stone wall and set into an earthen mound that fans out behind them. Square piers end the walls and flank the two entrances, and bands of darker stone trim the upper edges. The left entrance has a round-arched heavy wooden door with finials and a shaped plaque above. The right vault has a rectangular opening with a stone lintel, a wooden door and a set-back shaped plaque. They are the cemetery's only architectural feature and act as a focal point in the landscape. Few vaults of this mausoleum-like type are built for private use today, so these survive as a reminder of earlier burial customs. The vaults are now used for equipment storage, with the exterior in good condition and the interior in poor condition.
Significance in brief: The vaults are the only architectural feature of a small cemetery, serving as a focal point and adding to the landscape. Few mausoleum-like vaults of this kind are still built for private use, so they are an interesting remnant of past burial rites.
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 79002790, listed April 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 161, 1/4 mi. W of intersection of 161 and Dublin River Rd., Dublin |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002790 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1884 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for equipment storage; interior condition poor, exterior condition good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.09756, -83.11682 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 79002790.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138330648
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.