Piqua High School
Also known as: Piqua Central High School
Why it's listed
Piqua High School is a large educational complex on North College Street in Piqua, Ohio, just west of downtown. The original three-story school opened in September 1914, designed by the Columbus firm Harvard and Merriam. Its buff brick walls, limestone and terra cotta trim, and rusticated ground floor combine Neo-Classical Revival and Second Renaissance Revival influences. Inside, a tall auditorium with a coffered ceiling, paired pilasters and a serpentine balcony front is the standout space. Additions in 1951 and 1965 added shops, music space, a library and lunch facilities while leaving most of the original building intact. The school was listed for its place in the growth of public high school education in Ohio and as a representative early twentieth century urban high school. It offered an auditorium, gymnasium and vocational training, unlike earlier Piqua schools, and local residents saw it as a symbol of civic progress. A newer high school replaced it in 1981, and it is now vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it reflects broad trends in Ohio public education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as a local response in one city. It also embodies the type and period of the early 20th century urban public high school and retains a high level of integrity. It was the only surviving historic building in Piqua constructed as a high school.
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 96000927, listed August 22, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 316 N. College St., Piqua |
|---|---|
| County | Miami County |
| Listed | August 22, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000927 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Harvard and Merriam, Columbus, Ohio |
| Architectural style | Mixed: Neo-Classical Revival, Second Renaissance Revival; Miesian for 1965 addition |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function listed as vacant/not in use; the school was replaced by a new high school opened in 1981. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 40.14893, -84.24901 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 96000927.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084738
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.