Historic Homes to Visit in Columbus

If you are planning on taking a trip to Columbus, Ohio, there might be some historic homes you want to visit, potentially to bring some classic architecture and design to your own. These homes are not brand new and may have some wear and tear relating to their age. It is important to remember that the surrounding land may also not be in the best of condition. 

Whenever you are viewing a historic, or particularly old, house, you need to pay extra care about where you are walking in case of uneven surfaces or other hazards. There may be signs posted around that detail any issues to look out for. 

Gen. William Henry Harrison Headquarters

This historic building was first listed in 1972 and has had a rather interesting past. Built in 1807, this house started off simply as a place to live for settlers. Jacob Oberdier wanted a place to live when he moved to the East Franklinton suburb of Columbus. Much like any house, it was a place of residence and nothing more.

This changed between 1813 to 1814, when it became the headquarters of the future 9th President of the United States, General William Henry Harrison. There used to be other buildings related to Harrison’s time in Ohio, however, these have all since been destroyed, leaving this headquarters as the sole reminder of his time there. 

W.H. Jones Mansion

This grand house, located on Broad Street, shows the brilliance of Victorian house building, with spaces optimized. You won’t find any cramped, shoebox rooms here. The original owners ran a goods store, and had the mansion built to specifications based upon another they had seen.

Since then it has had many a use, from a base for a charity to a dental office to its current use as an educational building. 

There was one known occasion of controversy regarding the building. At one point, it was set to be demolished to make way for a restaurant, however, the local Neighbourhood Association quashed these plans, and had it listed as a historic building. 

Historical houses don’t have to have had pasts relating to war or celebrity culture to be interesting. Any form of history, large scale or otherwise, can give an air of intrigue. Likewise, it is the design of the two aforementioned buildings that will make them worth a look at, particularly for any lovers of past architectural styles. While there are only two mentioned, there are many other historic residential, and even business, buildings that you may wish to visit on a trip to Columbus.