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

Central High School

The Historic National Road in Ohio

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 5, 2016

1. Central High School Marker

Inscription. On the west bank of the Scioto River stands the former Central High School, now the core building of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI). The Plan of the City of Columbus, released in 1908, was developed to create a vision for the city in line with the Progressive Era City Beautiful Movement. The design and construction of the school was influenced by the reform and architectural standards set by the plan. As noted in the Central High School Annual of 1925, the first year of the new school, “This building is the center of the proposed new civic group, and as the first to be erected, furnishes the key design for those to follow. Located on the boulevard skirting the river, with a site covering thirteen acres, opportunity was given for a setting rarely afforded public school.”

Erected 2013 by The Ohio Nationalroad Association, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list.

Location. 39° 57.682′ N, 83° 0.375′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of West Broad Street Old National Road (

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U.S. 40) and Washington Blvd, on the right when traveling east on West Broad Street Old National Road. Marker is at the west end of the bridge, on the south side, at the entrance to Genoa Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 W Broad Street, Columbus OH 43215, 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: Broad Street Bridge (here, next to this marker); Scioto River Historical Marker (within shouting distance of this marker); Celebration of Life (within shouting distance of this marker); World War Memorial Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorial Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Franklinton Historical Society Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); Prairie Garden (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Memorial Grove (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Also see . . . Central High School on Wikipedia. Added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1985 (#85000484). (Submitted on April 24, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Additional keywords. Old National Road

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 5, 2016

2. Central High School Marker

Full view of marker, to the left is the Broad Street Bridge marker

Central High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 5, 2016

3. Central High School

Photo of the building

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 5, 2016

4. Central High School

The yearbook and pictures

Photographed by Jason Voigt, April 15, 2024

5. Central High School

now the Center of Science and Industry (COSI)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,171 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 1, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 5. submitted on April 24, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.