University District in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Old Ohio Union

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., December 31, 2008

1. Old Ohio Union Marker

Inscription. Built in 1910, the old Ohio Union was the first student union building constructed on a public university campus and the fourth to be built in the United States. Made possible by a direct appropriation from the 77th Ohio General Assembly and private funds raised by students, the building officially opened on January 11, 1911 with considerable fanfare. By erecting a student union building, the university gave official sanction to extracurricular activities. Although there have been seven additions, this Jacobethan Revival style building retains its original exterior form and character. The “Old Ohio Union” was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Erected 2002 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, The Ohio State University, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 38-25.)

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

Location. 39° 59.816′ N, 83° 0.68′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in the University District. It is on 12th Avenue, on the right when traveling

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west. Marker is at the east end of Enarson Hall on the Ohio State University campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 154 W 12th Avenue, Columbus OH 43210, 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 walking distance of this marker: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (here, next to this marker); Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (a few steps from this marker); History of NPHC (within shouting distance of this marker); NPHC at Ohio State (within shouting distance of this marker); The Underground Railroad on University Land (within shouting distance of this marker); South Oval and Hale Green Geothermal Wells (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Underground Railroad on University Land (about 600 feet away); Browning Amphitheatre / The Outdoor Performance Center (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Also see . . . Ohio State website. (Submitted on March 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Cornerstone of the Old Ohio Union (Enarson Hall) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., December 31, 2008

2. Cornerstone of the Old Ohio Union (Enarson Hall)

Old Ohio Union (Enarson Hall) and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., December 31, 2008

3. Old Ohio Union (Enarson Hall) and Marker

Marker is between streetlamp and bicycle rack.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,522 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on May 14, 2023, by Alex Krempasky of Obetz, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.