Otterbein Mausoleum
Why it's listed
Set back about 500 feet from West Walnut Street in Westerville's Otterbein Cemetery and barely visible from the road, this one-story mausoleum follows a simple T-shaped plan. Built in 1924 by the Columbus Mausoleum Company, it holds 300 crypts and cost $125,000. E. E. Redman, a construction agent for the company, planned it for the community, and it was dedicated on November 30, 1924. Its walls combine high-relief Egyptian Revival pillars set in recesses with plain Bedford stone, topped by a gorged and rolled cornice. The slightly projecting entrance has double doors under a fanlight, flanked by columns with palm-leaf capitals and a vulture-and-sun-disk symbol above. Inside, the walls are faced in Vermont marble. The building is listed because it is a rare example of Neo-Egyptian Revival design, a style that drew interest in the 1830s and again in the 1920s, and it is considered perhaps the best surviving example in the greater Columbus area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mausoleum is a rare example of Neo-Egyptian Revival architecture, with features such as massive walls, a gorged and rolled cornice, palm-leaf column capitals and a vulture-and-sun-disk symbol. It is described as perhaps the best remaining example of the style in the greater Columbus area. It was planned for the Westerville community and dedicated in November 1924.
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 79001845, listed November 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W. Walnut St, Westerville |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | November 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001845 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Columbus Mausoleum Company |
| Architectural style | Neo-Egyptian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied; owned by the City of Westerville. A city letter notes the roof needed rehabilitation in spring 1980. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.12040, -82.93619 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79001845.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q136327347
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.