Sharon Heights in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ohio School for the Deaf

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008

1. Ohio School for the Deaf Marker

Inscription. The Ohio School for the Deaf was established in 1829 by an act of the Ohio Legislature. Although the fifth school for the deaf in the country, it was the first school to be 100% funded by the state. The school first opened in a small rented building on the corner of Broad and High Streets. In 1834, construction of a permanent school was completed at the East Town Street location, now site of the Topiary Garden in Old Deaf School Park. It was there in 1869 that Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes presided over the first commencement exercises in the nation for deaf students. By 1940, the school was overcrowded and the buildings were outmoded, leading to the purchase of 130 acres on Morse Road. The school at its current location opened on November 8, 1953.

Erected 2004 by Ohio School for the Deaf and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 88-25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1863.

Location. 40° 3.89′ N, 83° 0.399′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in Sharon Heights. It can be reached from

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Morse Road (U.S. 23). Marker is on the grounds of the Ohio School for the Deaf, in its heritage park located 0.1 miles from its Morse Road entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 Morse Road, Columbus OH 43214, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Scioto Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ohio State School for the Blind (approx. 0.7 miles away); Beechwold Pillars (approx. ¾ mile away); The Charity Newsies (approx. 0.9 miles away); Beechwold / The Cottages (approx. 1.1 miles away); Dominion Land Company Mound An Early Woodlands Period Structure/Sunwall and Moonwall Murals (approx. 1.3 miles away); Bill Moose (approx. 1.4 miles away); Philo Webster and Webster Graveyard (approx. 1.4 miles away); Lewis Noble House (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Ohio School for the Deaf Marker and Heritage Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008

2. Ohio School for the Deaf Marker and Heritage Park

Cornerstone from Original Ohio School for the Deaf Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008

3. Cornerstone from Original Ohio School for the Deaf Building

In heritage park.

Opening Services Commemorative Stone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008

4. Opening Services Commemorative Stone

From original Ohio School for the Deaf building. In heritage park.

175th Anniversary Commemoration image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., Ohio Schoo

5. 175th Anniversary Commemoration

In heritage park

Ohio School for the Deaf Alumni Association Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2008

6. Ohio School for the Deaf Alumni Association Marker

In heritage park

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,298 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 23, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.