Columbus, Ohio – State Capitol Building at night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n By 1815, the Ohio Statehouse was built in Columbus and the state office building was under construction near the intersection of what is now known as State Street and South High Street. The first mayor, the 22-year-old Jarvis W. Pike, was appointed in 1816. Pike is remembered for having grown corn and wheat on the front lawn of the Statehouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the 1800s, the fortunes of downtown Columbus ebbed and flowed. The city served as a staging area and supply center for the military during the War of 1812, but following the war, the population declined and land prices fell dramatically. In 1831, a feeder canal connecting Columbus to the Ohio and Erie Canal brought renewed prosperity that was bolstered when the National Road reached Columbus in 1836. By the outbreak of the Civil War, Columbus was connected by telegraph and railroad lines, and the city became an army town once more. The population swelled, but just as it had following the end of the War of 1812, Columbus fell into decline after hostilities ceased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe state government quickly outgrew the Ohio Statehouse that had been constructed initially, so the cornerstone for a new building was laid in 1839. Work was halted due to a design controversy and the expiration of Columbus’ charter making it the state capital. Work on the new Statehouse would not resume until 1848, and it would not be completed until 1857. This proved problematic after the original Statehouse was destroyed by a fire in 1852, forcing the relocation of offices to various buildings until the work could be completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the turn of the 20th century, much of the downtown area had fallen on hard times. The riverfront was home to several coal yards, factories, derelict boarding houses, and tenements. In 1908, civic leaders began working on a plan to improve the riverfront, but they failed to gain the necessary support. Nature intervened, however, when the Scioto River flooded in 1913. Many of the factories, tenements, and boarding houses were swept away by the flood. The flood claimed the lives of at least 90 people and shut down the city for almost a week. Water reached a depth of 26 feet in Franklinton, closing that part of the city for more than six weeks. The Corps of Engineers constructed floodwalls on both banks to protect downtown Columbus and Franklinton from future floods and the river was widened in the downtown area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nAlthough the Wyandotte, an 11-story building completed in 1897, was technically the first skyscraper built in Columbus, the first modern skyscraper was the LeVeque Tower. Formerly known as the American Insurance Union Citadel, LeVeque Tower is a 47-story, art deco tower that has become a notable landmark in Columbus. LeVeque Tower was to be followed by numerous other office towers in the downtown area, including the 629-foot James A. Rhodes State Office Tower completed in 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the city’s progress, however, issues remained with the riverfront area of downtown. Attempts were made during the 1920s to transform the area into a park, but bond issues failed. The depression and World War II hampered additional efforts, and by the 1950s, many residents had begun leaving the downtown area for the suburbs. Unlike the reaction common in many other cities, though, the downtown leaders in Columbus did not abandon the idea of improving the riverfront. Through their efforts and a $500,000 donation from John Galbraith, what is now known as Bicentennial Park opened in 1976. This was the beginning of a new history of Downtown Columbus that would lead to an eventual rebirth of city life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n