Valley Dale Ballroom
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Valley Dale Ballroom is a large wooden-frame dancehall on Sunbury Road in Columbus, Ohio, set on a five-acre half-circle site bounded by a semi-circular levee. The first Valley Dale opened in 1918 and burned in a New Year's Eve fire in 1923. It was rebuilt in 1924-25 and remodeled in 1941 in the style of impresario Frank Daley's Meadowbrook Ballroom in New Jersey. That remodeling covered the exterior in permastone. Inside, a mezzanine overlooks the dancefloor, exposed wooden trusses support the roof, and curved recording booths flank the stage. In the early 1940s, CBS and Mutual Broadcasting System carried coast-to-coast radio broadcasts from the hall. Bands including Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey played there. The ballroom was listed as one of the few surviving great American ballrooms of the Big Band era that retains its original design. It faced condemnation in 1980 but reopened after rehabilitation in 1981.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the nationally renowned ballroom dancehalls of the Big Band era of the 1930s and 1940s. In the early 1940s, CBS and Mutual Broadcasting System radio carried coast-to-coast broadcasts from its stage. It is described as one of the last few great American ballrooms of the era that keeps its interior and exterior furnishings and design.
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 82001462, listed December 17, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1590 Sunbury Rd., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 17, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001462 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 1925, 1941) |
| Architect / builder | 1925-Elford Inc.; 1941-Richard Tulley |
| Areas of significance | Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Threatened with condemnation by the City of Columbus in 1980, then rehabilitated and reopened in October 1981; restoration plans call for rebuilding the outdoor fence and bandstand. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.00237, -82.93701 (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 82001462.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q97356200
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.