Wikipedia

Capitol Square

For the skyscraper in Columbus, see Capitol Square (skyscraper).

Capitol Square is a public square in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. The square includes the Ohio Statehouse, its 10-acre (4.0 ha) Capitol Grounds, as well as the buildings and features surrounding the square. The Capitol Grounds are surrounded to the north and west by Broad and High Streets. These are the main thoroughfares of the city since its founding. They form the city's 100 percent corner. The grounds are surrounded by 3rd Street to the east and State Street to the south. The oldest building on Capitol Square, the Ohio Statehouse, is the center of the state government and roughly in the geographic center of Capitol Square, Columbus and Ohio.[1]

Capitol Square
Public square
FeaturesLawns, sculptures, state capitol building
Completion1861
Area10 acres (4.0 ha)
LocationBroad and High Streets (Downtown Columbus)
Map
Interactive map of Capitol Square

History

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The 10-acre (4.0 ha) statehouse grounds were donated by four prominent Franklinton landholders to form the new state capitol.[2] As the city's downtown began to empty in the mid-20th century, several buildings around the square were demolished. A construction boom in downtown during the 1970s and 80s led to nearly all spaces being occupied again. Plans are to have the last empty space on 3rd Street developed by 2020. [3]

Attributes

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Buildings and structures

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Street corners

Buildings formerly on Capitol Square include the Neil House hotel (three buildings which existed on the square), the Columbus Board of Trade Building, the Hartman Building and Theater, the former Columbus City Hall, former locations of the First Congregational Church and First Presbyterian Church, an early Huntington Bank, the Deshler Hotel, a prior location of the Downtown YMCA, and 5 and 7 South High Street, commercial buildings constructed c. 1840.[6][7]: 80 

Public art

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Interactive map of notable buildings and sculptures on the Capitol Grounds of the Ohio Statehouse. Click on points for more details.
This map:

Tourism

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As the center of downtown Columbus, the square gets a high number of residents and visitors. Programs for tourists include the Columbus Art Walk's Capitol Square tour, taking visitors around historical and architectural sites, sculptures and other landmarks. [8]

Events

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Protests

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Capitol Square has been the location of many protests held in the city.[9] Recent protests included the Ohio's stay-at-home order in the COVID-19 pandemic and the handling of the murder of George Floyd.[10] Riots and protests over George Floyd took place in the city, centered on the square from May 28 into July, with early violent protests leading to damaged storefronts across downtown Columbus, with graffiti, trash and looting around much of downtown.[11]

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    1872 bird's eye view facing northeast
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    The square facing southeast in 1893
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    Capitol Square facing northwest, 1936

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Darbee, Jeffrey T. (July 23, 2018). "Ohio Statehouse, Senate Building, and Capitol Square". SAH Archipedia. University of Virginia Press. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Statehouse". Ohio Statehouse. Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  3. ^ Jim Weiker (October 20, 2019). "Capitol Square changes seen in last empty parcel's development - Business - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH". Dispatch.com. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "COTA moves its offices to heart of Downtown - News - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH". Dispatch.com. June 24, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Knox, Tom (January 5, 2016). "Smaller sign to adorn dispatches new home". Columbus Business First. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Reconstructing Downtown - Planners Hope To Revive Thriving Mixture of 1900". The Columbus Dispatch. December 19, 1999. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Samuelson, Robert E.; et al. (Pasquale C. Grado, Judith L. Kitchen, Jeffrey T. Darbee) (1976). Architecture: Columbus. The Foundation of The Columbus Chapter of The American Institute of Architects. OCLC 2697928.
  8. ^ "Capitol Square". Columbus.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Darbee, Jeffrey T.; Recchie, Nancy A. (September 24, 2008). The AIA Guide to Columbus. Ohio University Press. ISBN 9780821416846 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Woods, Jim. "Police deploy pepper spray as protests over death of George Floyd spread to Columbus". The Columbus Dispatch.
  11. ^ Kovac, Marc. "Columbus downtown business owners clean up after protests". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
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39°57′41″N 82°59′57″W / 39.961384°N 82.999096°W / 39.961384; -82.999096

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