High Street (Columbus, Ohio)


High Street is a major thoroughfare in Central Ohio, predominantly in Franklin County and Columbus. It stretches from the northern border of Columbus in Delaware County south to the southern boundary of Franklin County just past Columbus's municipal boundaries. The street is considered one of Columbus's two main roads, along with Broad Street.

Route description

High Street extends north and south far into Ohio, though it is named High Street starting at the northern end of Columbus. North of this it is U.S. Route 23. Continuing south, the road quickly enters Franklin County and passes through some northerly suburbs in Columbus. The road enters Worthington and Riverlea, two municipalities that are enclaves of Columbus. The street is the primary corridor of Worthington's central business district. High Street resumes in Columbus, going through its Clintonville neighborhood. There it adjusts from running approximately due south to slightly southeast. It continues through Old North Columbus and then the University District, where it also passes by the Ohio State University. Immediately afterward, it enters the Short North Arts District, a historic and shopping district centered around High Street. The road continues into Downtown Columbus. There, the street enters Capitol Square, intersecting with Broad Street, the other main artery of the city.
The square is the cultural center of downtown, and includes the Ohio Statehouse, the state capitol building. High Street continues south out of Downtown through the Brewery District by German Village, and readjusts more south upon entering Merion Village. It continues through a large stretch of the city's South Side, where it terminates just south of the city borders in Hamilton Township, continuing on as U.S. Route 23.

History

High Street has been one of Columbus's two main corridors since its founding, along with Broad Street, meeting at a 100 percent corner downtown. The street was laid out from the city's founding in 1812 into the following year. These streets and the entire grid were laid out 12 degrees off from a north–south and east–west alignment.
High Street is likely named for the high ridge along which it was laid out.

Attributes

Broad Street and High Street both traverse beyond the extent of the city; High Street is the longest in Columbus, running, while Broad Street is longer across the county, at. The city's street plan follows a grid pattern with the intersection of Broad and High Streets at its center. The address system begins its numbering at the intersection of Broad and High, with numbers increasing in magnitude with distance from Broad or High, as well as cardinal directions used alongside street names.
The street has a relatively broad width; it was originally laid out to be wide. Only Broad Street was wider, at 120 feet, while most others were 82.5 feet, and alleys were 33 feet wide.
For public transportation, numerous Central Ohio Transit Authority routes utilize High Street. Routes 2 E Main / N High and 102, and the Night Owl run on a long extent of the street; the 102 is a limited-stop service, while the Night Owl provides late-night service.
Beside the historic landmarks listed below, the street has numerous cultural landmarks and attractions. These include Highbanks Metro Park, the Pontifical College Josephinum, the Newport Music Hall, the Ohio State University, the university's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the Lazarus Building, and the Franklin County Government Center.

Historical landmarks

Buildings on High Street can have one of several types of official landmark designations:

Individual landmarks

Below is a list of historic sites on High Street, from north to south. Historic districts are not included in this table, but are mentioned in. Buildings within historic districts, but no individual landmark designation, are not included in this table.
NameImageAddressCity or
neighborhood		CRHPNRHPNotes
Orange Johnson House Museum956 High StreetWorthington
Worthington Presbyterian Church773 High StreetWorthington
Demas Adams House721 High StreetWorthington
St. John's Episcopal Church700 High StreetWorthington
Kilbourn Commercial Building679-681 High StreetWorthington
Hotel Central649 High StreetWorthington
New England Lodge634 High StreetWorthington
Doctor Longenecker Office Building633-635 High StreetWorthington
Ripley House623 High StreetWorthington
Mark Russell House5751 N. High StreetRiverlea
Northmoor Engine House / Station #193601 N. High StreetNorthmoor
White Castle Restaurant2725 N. High StreetUniversity District
1379 N. High Street Apartment Building1379 N. High StreetUniversity District
York Lodge No. 5631276 N. High StreetUniversity District
Union Station arcade370-400 N. High StreetDowntownDemolished in 1976, delisted in 1999
Columbia Larrimer Building161-167 N. High StreetDowntown
Atlas Building8 E. Long StreetDowntown
Citizens Savings & Trust Company51 N. High StreetDowntownAlso part of a national historic district
Ohio Statehouse1 Capitol SquareDowntownAlso a National Historic Landmark
Ohio National Bank167 S. High StreetDowntown
Great Southern Hotel and Theatre310 S. High StreetDowntownAlso part of a city and national historic district
Schlee-Kemmler Building326 S. High StreetDowntownAlso part of a city and national historic district
Krumm Residence975-979 S. High StreetBrewery District
Dan's Drive-In1881 S. High StreetMerion Village
Saint Joseph Cemetery6440 S. High StreetLockbourne

Historic districts

There are numerous historic districts through which High Street passes. Buildings in these districts with individual landmark designations are described in. From north to south, the districts are: