Smith, Benjamin, House
Also known as: Columbus Club Building
Why it's listed
Built in the early 1860s at 181 East Broad Street in Columbus, this brick mansion with sandstone trim and a slate mansard roof was home to financier Benjamin E. Smith, who is believed to have had railroad connections. The house rises two stories plus the mansard, with round-headed windows, elaborate hoodmolds, bay windows and a columned, arched entrance. Inside are very high ceilings, ornate marble fireplaces and richly carved wooden moldings. Smith lived here until 1883, when he moved to New York City. In 1884 the state of Ohio rented the house as a governor's mansion, and Governors George Hoadly and Joseph Foraker lived there. The newly formed Columbus Club bought the house and grounds in 1886 and has worked to keep its character and original appearance. The building is valued as a fine example of Second Empire architecture, standing in a location where the neighboring buildings of its own era have long been demolished.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent and important example of Italianate Second Empire architecture, and one of the finest buildings in Columbus. It also served as Ohio's governor's mansion in the 1880s, housing Governors Hoadly and Foraker. It survives where its original neighboring buildings have been razed.
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 73001438, listed June 4, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 181 E. Broad St., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 4, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001438 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (circa 1860) |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin E. Smith (built the house as his residence); no architect named |
| Architectural style | Italianate Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used as a private club by the Columbus Club; the interior architectural features have been preserved, with some later additions. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.96245, -82.99588 (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.
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 73001438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q96373408
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.