First Unitarian Church Of Marietta
Also known as: See Also:Marietta Historic District
Why it's listed
Built between July 1855 and June 1857, this brick and stone Gothic Revival church on Third Street in Marietta measures about 80 by 50 feet. Nahum Ward, a land dealer and longtime mayor who settled in Marietta in 1811, paid for its construction and later turned it over to a board of trustees. John M. Slocomb of Boston produced the drawings, and local craftsmen handled the stone and brick, using handmade bricks. Square buttresses topped with finials, battlements along the roofline, and an 85-foot bell tower give the exterior its Gothic character, while tall arched windows hold tracery and stained glass. Inside, a mural of Christ Weeping Over Jerusalem hangs above the altar. A Universalist congregation merged with the Unitarians in 1869, and the name changed in 1967. Speakers at its pulpit included Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Howard Taft. The church is valued as an early Gothic Revival example in the region and as a community gathering place.
Significance in brief: The church is described as one of Marietta's most important architectural landmarks and an excellent example of Gothic Revival design. It is one of the oldest remaining churches in the area and among the first built west of the Allegheny Mountains in that style. It also serves as a community meeting place and has a link to Nahum Ward, a long-serving Marietta mayor.
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 73001548, listed October 3, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 232 3rd St., Marietta |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | October 3, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001548 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-1857 |
| Architect / builder | John M. Slocomb of Boston (elevation and drawings); N.S. Alcock (stonework of foundation and coping); William Kexal (brickwork) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and occupied for religious use; lighting, heating and plumbing modernized, organ rebuilt, and stained glass windows replaced in 1925. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Marietta Historic District (Boundary Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 39.41606, -81.45300 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 73001548.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453950
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.