Old Governor's Mansion
Also known as: Ohio Archives Building; Lindenberg,Charles H.,Home; Governor's
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 on E. Broad Street in Columbus, this brick and stone mansion was designed by architect Frank Packard for Charles H. Lindenberg, president of the Lilley Regalia Company. It is a 2-1/2 story building in a style described as Neo Georgian Eclectic, with a high hipped roof, small dormers, stone quoins and a symmetrical main facade. A pergola and sunken garden site, along with the garage and gardener's quarters, survive. The state bought the property in 1919 after a 1917 law created a board to provide an official residence for Ohio's governors, who had previously rented their own housing. Governor James M. Cox and his wife moved in during December 1920, and ten governors' families lived there until 1957. The building then held the state archives until 1970. At the time of nomination it stood unoccupied, with deteriorated exterior trim and altered interiors, and its future was uncertain.
Significance in brief: The house was purchased by the state in 1919 and became the first official Governor's Mansion, after more than a century in which Ohio's governors had no official home in Columbus. Ten governors' families lived there over 36 years. It is also noted for its Neo Georgian Eclectic architecture and surviving garden features.
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 72001012, listed June 5, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1234 E. Broad St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 5, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001012 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Frank Packard (architect) |
| Architectural style | Neo Georgian Eclectic |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | At the time of nomination the building was unoccupied and awaiting sale; structurally good, but exterior trim and interior were deteriorated and several rooms had been altered for offices. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Within district | Columbus Near East Side District |
| Coordinates | 39.96655, -82.95643 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 72001012.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084121
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.