Fifth Avenue and North High Historic District
Why it's listed
This commercial district centers on North High Street at its Fifth Avenue crossing in Columbus. It holds 21 contributing and three noncontributing buildings, mostly brick structures of two or three stories built between 1888 and 1930. Streetcar service arrived in 1876 and was electrified in 1891, and the High Street viaducts of 1888 and 1894 encouraged growth. Shops served the surrounding neighborhoods, including a bank, groceries and a hardware store, with apartments on many upper floors. Widening of High Street between 1915 and 1923 forced some buildings to be moved back or given new facades, and many new buildings followed. Notable examples include the 1888 Bank Block, the only Romanesque Revival building in the Short North area, the 1917 Garden Theatre with Colonial Revival and Art Deco details, and a Prairie-influenced building at 1203 North High. Together the buildings form a cohesive, evenly set-back streetscape that reflects the commercial history and architecture of the area.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for architecture and commerce, representing streetcar-era and automotive-era commercial development in the Short North area. Its buildings are good examples of vernacular, Colonial Revival, Jacobethan, Prairie-influenced and Romanesque Revival commercial design. The 1915-1923 widening of High Street shaped the district, as buildings were moved back, refaced or newly built.
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 90000584, listed April 19, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N. High St. roughly between 4th Ave. and Clark Pl., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 19, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000584 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1888-1930 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals; Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Storefronts have been altered in many buildings, but the district is described as retaining its overall architectural integrity. Commercial uses continue, including specialty stores, business and restaurants. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 39.98760, -83.00519 (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 90000584.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.