Near East Side in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Transformation of Franklin Park
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 17, 2026
1. The Transformation of Franklin Park Marker
1852
The Franklin County Agriculture Society purchased 88 acres located two miles east of downtown Columbus as a site for the first Franklin County Fair.
1874
Fairgrounds was officially established. Ohio State Fair took place at what is now known as Franklin Park.
1884
Park is opened to the Public for use.
1890
Fairgrounds were destroyed and Franklin Park was dedicated to the City of Columbus.
1893
Victorian Garden that consists of a glass conservatory, water features and community center.
1978
Athletic complex was built which currently stands as the Adventure Center and offers therapeutic recreation.
1991
The Cascades were constructed for Ameriflora as one of the primary features in Franklin Park.
1992
Ameriflora was held in Franklin Park as part of the Columbus Quincentennial, attracting 5.5 million visitors.
2016
Assessed environmental and engineering factors to repair and restore the Franklin Park Cascades.
2019
Restoration process of the cascades is completed.
Franklin Park by the Numbers
►88 acres
►140 tree species
►150 + years of history
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 39° 57.829′ N, 82° 57.375′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in the Near East Side. It is at the intersection of Franklin Park South and Franklin Park West, on the right when traveling west on Franklin Park South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1644 Franklin Park S, Columbus OH 43205, 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: Asians in the American Civil War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Allen Russell Mann (approx. 0.2 miles away); War! It Is All Hell (approx. 0.2 miles away); White Oak (approx. Ό mile away); Founding of the State of Israel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ohio Baptist General Association Headquarters (approx. 0.3 miles away); Martin Luther King Jr. Library / Architect Leon Ransom Jr. (1921 - 1971) (approx. half a mile away); Mount Vernon Community School (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 17, 2026
2. The Transformation of Franklin Park Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
