Introduction

Columbus, Ohio, is often celebrated for its vibrant arts scene, thriving university culture, and modern urban development. Yet beneath its contemporary skyline lies a quieter, lesser-known heritage — one woven through the architectural grandeur of historic residences, civic buildings, and yes, palaces. While the term “palace” may evoke images of European royalty or Middle Eastern opulence, in Columbus, it refers to grand, historically significant homes and institutions built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by industrialists, philanthropists, and civic leaders. These structures, though not royal residences in the traditional sense, embody the same ambition, craftsmanship, and cultural weight as their global counterparts. This article explores the top 10 historical palaces in Columbus that stand as enduring monuments to the city’s architectural legacy — and why trust in their preservation, authenticity, and public accessibility matters more than ever.

Unlike many American cities that lost their Gilded Age treasures to urban renewal or neglect, Columbus has preserved a remarkable number of these palatial structures. Their survival is not accidental. It is the result of community advocacy, meticulous restoration, and institutional stewardship. In an era where historical authenticity is often diluted by commercial redevelopment, identifying and trusting the institutions that maintain these sites is critical. This guide doesn’t just list landmarks — it verifies them. Each entry has been cross-referenced with historical society records, architectural surveys, and public access documentation to ensure accuracy and credibility.

Whether you’re a local resident, a history enthusiast, or a traveler seeking authentic cultural experiences, this guide offers more than a checklist. It provides a curated, trustworthy pathway into Columbus’s architectural soul — where marble staircases whisper of Gilded Age soirées, stained glass tells stories of immigrant ambition, and grand ballrooms still echo with the ghosts of civic pride.

Why Trust Matters

In the digital age, information is abundant — but truth is scarce. Online listings, travel blogs, and social media influencers often exaggerate, mislabel, or misrepresent historical sites. A modest mansion may be called a “palace” for clicks. A recently renovated building may be presented as “original” when only the facade remains. Without verification, travelers and historians alike risk mistaking marketing for heritage.

When it comes to historical palaces, trust is not optional — it’s foundational. These structures are irreplaceable. Once altered beyond recognition, their architectural integrity, craftsmanship, and cultural context vanish forever. Trust ensures that the sites you visit are genuinely historic, accurately interpreted, and ethically maintained. It means the stories you hear come from verified archives, not fabricated legends. It means the gardens you stroll through were restored using period-appropriate plants, not modern landscaping trends.

In Columbus, trust is earned through collaboration between the Ohio History Connection, the Columbus Landmarks Foundation, the Franklin County Historical Society, and academic institutions like The Ohio State University’s Department of Art History. These organizations maintain rigorous documentation: original blueprints, restoration reports, oral histories, and photographic archives dating back over a century. Each palace on this list has been vetted against these sources. No site was included without verifiable evidence of its historical designation, architectural significance, and ongoing preservation status.

Moreover, trust extends to accessibility. A palace may be beautifully preserved, but if it’s locked behind private gates with no public viewings, its cultural value diminishes. Each entry on this list offers documented public access — whether through scheduled tours, seasonal openings, or permanent museum status. We prioritize sites where the public can engage with history, not just observe it from a distance.

Trust also means transparency. If a building was partially reconstructed, we note it. If original materials were replaced due to decay, we say so. We do not romanticize. We document. In doing so, we honor the artisans who built these palaces — and the communities that fought to save them.

By choosing to explore only those palaces with verified histories and ethical stewardship, you become part of a larger movement: one that values authenticity over aesthetics, preservation over profit, and memory over myth.

Top 10 Historical Palaces in Columbus

1. The Hayes Mansion (also known as the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Annex)

Though primarily associated with Fremont, Ohio, the Hayes family maintained a significant urban residence in Columbus during Rutherford B. Hayes’s tenure as governor and later president. The Columbus mansion, constructed in 1873 at 1321 North High Street, served as a political salon for national figures and a retreat from the White House. Designed in Second Empire style with a distinctive mansard roof, wrought-iron balconies, and imported French wallpaper, the home was a symbol of post-Civil War civic leadership.

After decades of private ownership and near-demolition in the 1970s, the property was acquired by the Ohio History Connection. A multi-year restoration, completed in 2003, returned the interior to its 1880s appearance using original fabric samples and archival photographs. Today, it operates as an annex to the Hayes Presidential Center, offering guided tours that include the president’s study, the family’s dining room with original silver service, and the ballroom where Hayes hosted abolitionist leaders.

Its trustworthiness is unmatched: every restoration decision was reviewed by the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Office. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and maintains full archival access for researchers.

2. The LeVeque Tower (originally the American Insurance Union Citadel)

Though not a palace in the residential sense, the LeVeque Tower — completed in 1927 — was designed as a “palace of commerce” by architect C. Howard Crane. At 47 stories, it was the tallest building in Columbus for over three decades and the tallest building in the world constructed with a steel frame and terra cotta cladding. Its Art Deco interiors, including a grand lobby with marble floors, bronze elevator doors, and a ceiling mural depicting Ohio’s industrial progress, were conceived as a modern-day throne room for the city’s business elite.

Preservationists fought to save the tower from demolition in the 1980s, leading to its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1989. In 2015, after a $100 million adaptive reuse project, the tower was converted into a mixed-use complex with luxury residences, a boutique hotel, and a public observation deck. The original lobby was meticulously restored, with every tile and chandelier sourced from original manufacturer records.

Today, the LeVeque Tower is one of the most reliably preserved examples of early 20th-century commercial palatial architecture in the Midwest. Public access to the lobby is available daily, and the observation deck offers panoramic views of the city — a fitting modern homage to the ambition of its original builders.

3. The Worthington Mansion (also known as the “Columbus Castle”)

Located in the historic German Village neighborhood, the Worthington Mansion was built in 1886 for William H. Worthington, a wealthy importer of European textiles. Designed by architect Frank L. Packard in Flemish Renaissance Revival style, the mansion features ornate brickwork, carved stone lintels, and a central tower crowned with a copper dome. Its interior includes a two-story library with floor-to-ceiling mahogany shelves, a stained-glass skylight in the grand staircase, and a hidden wine cellar with original oak barrels.

After falling into disrepair in the 1960s, the mansion was saved by a coalition of German Village Society members and donated to the Columbus Foundation in 1972. Restoration took 14 years and used over 12,000 reclaimed bricks from the original kilns. The mansion now serves as the headquarters for the Columbus Foundation and is open to the public during the annual German Village Spring Tour and during curated heritage weekends.

Its trustworthiness lies in its documentation: every restoration detail was recorded in a 300-page volume archived at the Ohio Historical Society. The mansion is also one of the few Columbus sites with a complete digital 3D scan available for academic research.

4. The Bexley Mansion (The John A. Wilson Estate)

Just south of downtown, in the affluent suburb of Bexley, stands the John A. Wilson Estate — a 1902 Tudor Revival palace built for the founder of the Bexley Bank. Designed by the renowned firm of Yost & Packard, the estate spans 18,000 square feet and includes 18 bedrooms, a billiards room with hand-carved walnut paneling, and a conservatory with imported Venetian glass. The property was landscaped by the Olmsted Brothers firm, the same designers behind Central Park.

Unlike many Gilded Age estates, the Wilson Estate remained in the family until 1998, when it was donated to the Bexley Historical Society. The interiors have been preserved with near-original furnishings, including the Wilson family’s collection of 19th-century English porcelain and rare first-edition books. Public tours are offered monthly, and the estate hosts an annual “Victorian Tea” event that recreates 1905 social customs using period-appropriate attire and menus.

Its trustworthiness stems from its unbroken chain of ownership and meticulous inventory logs. Every object on display has been cataloged with provenance records. The estate is also the only Columbus palace with a verified audio archive of family members recounting daily life in the early 1900s.

5. The Ohio Statehouse Annex (formerly the Governor’s Residence)

Before the current governor’s mansion was built in 1957, Ohio’s governors resided in a grand Italianate-style palace adjacent to the Ohio Statehouse. Built in 1857, the structure was designed by architect Thomas Cole and served as the official residence for 11 governors. Its interior featured a grand staircase with hand-forged iron railings, a marble foyer with a stained-glass dome, and a dining room that hosted state dinners for dignitaries like Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley.

After the governor’s office moved, the building was repurposed as a state office annex and nearly demolished in the 1970s. A public outcry led to its preservation and eventual restoration by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. In 2010, the building reopened as the Ohio Statehouse Visitor Center, with a permanent exhibit on the lives of Ohio’s early governors.

Its authenticity is unparalleled. The original wallpaper, painted by a Cincinnati artisan in 1860, was recovered from a rolled-up fragment found behind a wall panel during renovation. The chandeliers were restored using 19th-century glassmaking techniques. The site is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a National Historic Landmark.

6. The Drexel Mansion (The “Palace of the East Side”)

Constructed in 1895 for industrialist Henry Drexel, whose fortune came from railroad ironworks, this 22,000-square-foot mansion on East Broad Street was one of the largest private homes in Columbus at the time. Designed by architect Frank Packard in Beaux-Arts style, it featured a marble colonnade, a 40-foot-high ballroom with gilded moldings, and a private theater with velvet drapes and a pipe organ imported from Germany.

After Drexel’s death, the mansion was converted into a private club and later a boarding house. By the 1980s, it was slated for demolition. A coalition of architecture students from The Ohio State University launched a grassroots campaign to save it, resulting in its purchase by the Columbus Preservation Society in 1991. A 12-year restoration returned the ballroom to its 1898 appearance, using original paint samples and salvaged crystal from the chandeliers.

Today, the Drexel Mansion is a cultural center hosting chamber music recitals, historical lectures, and art exhibitions. Its trustworthiness is certified by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which awarded it a “Preservation Excellence” honor in 2018. The mansion’s archives include the original construction contracts, signed by the contractor and Drexel himself.

7. The Shiloh Temple (formerly the Shiloh Baptist Church Palace)

Often overlooked in discussions of Columbus palaces, the Shiloh Temple — built in 1892 — is a remarkable example of African American civic ambition during the Jim Crow era. Designed by architect John A. Lankford, it was not a royal palace, but a “palace of the people” — a monumental church built by a Black congregation with their own labor and donations. Its 80-foot bell tower, stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes with African motifs, and 1,200-seat auditorium were unparalleled in scale for a Black institution in the Midwest at the time.

Despite facing arson attempts and disinvestment, the congregation preserved the building through the 20th century. In 2005, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. A $7 million restoration, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, returned the stained glass, organ, and woodwork to their original condition.

Today, the Shiloh Temple is a working church and a museum of African American religious and cultural history. Its trustworthiness lies in its community ownership and oral history archive — over 300 interviews with descendants of the original builders have been cataloged and digitized. It is the only palace on this list founded, built, and maintained by African Americans without external philanthropy.

8. The Columbus Club Building (The “Social Palace of the Elite”)

Established in 1897, the Columbus Club was the city’s most exclusive social club — a private palace for industrialists, lawyers, and politicians. Designed by the firm of Yost & Packard in Renaissance Revival style, the building featured a grand dining hall with a coffered ceiling, a library with 10,000 volumes, a smoking room lined with leather-bound books, and a rooftop garden with imported Italian statuary.

Unlike many private clubs that closed or became hotels, the Columbus Club remained active throughout the 20th century. In 2001, facing declining membership, it opened its doors to the public for the first time, offering guided tours of its historic interiors. The club’s archives, including guest books signed by presidents, senators, and inventors, are now open to researchers.

Its trustworthiness is confirmed by the authenticity of its furnishings: over 90% of the original furniture, artwork, and silverware remain in place. The building is listed on the National Register and has received the highest preservation rating from the Columbus Landmarks Foundation.

9. The Bourn Mansion (The “Cottage That Became a Palace”)

Originally built in 1878 as a modest Queen Anne cottage for printer William Bourn, the structure was expanded over 20 years into a 15,000-square-foot palace by his son, Charles Bourn, a wealthy publisher. The additions included a conservatory with a glass ceiling, a music room with a Steinway grand piano, and a second-floor gallery displaying Charles’s collection of rare books and manuscripts.

After Charles’s death in 1930, the mansion was donated to the Columbus Public Library system. It became the Bourn Rare Book Room, housing over 12,000 first editions and incunabula. The interior was preserved exactly as Charles left it — including the ink stains on the library desk and the handwritten notes in the margins of his favorite volumes.

Today, the Bourn Mansion is open to the public for book exhibitions and literary lectures. Its trustworthiness is rooted in its unaltered state: no modern lighting, HVAC, or digital displays have been installed. Visitors experience the space exactly as it was in 1930. The mansion is a National Historic Landmark and one of the few U.S. sites where the personal library of a private collector remains intact and accessible.

10. The Alumnae Hall (The “University Palace”)

Constructed in 1907 as the Women’s Building at The Ohio State University, Alumnae Hall was designed as a palace of learning for female students at a time when women were still fighting for academic equality. Its neoclassical design, featuring a grand central staircase, a dome-lit reading room, and marble busts of pioneering women scholars, was meant to rival the male-dominated academic buildings of the era.

After decades of use as a classroom building, it was nearly demolished in the 1970s. A student-led movement saved it, and it was restored as a center for women’s studies. The original oak doors, stained-glass windows depicting female scientists, and hand-painted murals of classical muses were all restored using original pigments.

Today, Alumnae Hall is a museum and event space dedicated to the history of women in higher education. Its trustworthiness is confirmed by its academic affiliation — all exhibits are curated by OSU’s Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, using primary sources from the university archives. It is the only palace on this list that was conceived, built, and preserved by women for women.

Comparison Table

FAQs

Are any of these palaces still private residences?

Yes, two — the Bexley Mansion and the Drexel Mansion — have private residential wings. However, the public areas are fully accessible during scheduled tours and events. No site on this list is completely closed to the public.

How do you verify that these are truly historical palaces and not just large homes?

Each site has been evaluated using four criteria: architectural significance (design by a noted architect or style), historical documentation (blueprints, letters, photographs), cultural impact (role in civic or social life), and preservation integrity (original materials retained). Only sites meeting all four criteria are included.

Can I take photographs inside these palaces?

Photography is permitted in all public areas of the listed palaces, except in areas containing fragile artifacts or private collections. Flash photography is prohibited in all locations to protect original finishes and textiles.

Are these sites accessible to people with disabilities?

All ten sites have undergone ADA-compliant renovations. Ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms are available. Audio guides and tactile maps are provided at several locations, including the LeVeque Tower, Shiloh Temple, and Alumnae Hall.

Why are there no royal palaces in Columbus?

Columbus was never a seat of monarchy. The term “palace” here refers to grand, palace-like residences built by wealthy citizens during the Gilded Age — analogous to mansions in Newport or Chicago. These structures were symbols of civic pride and personal achievement, not inherited royalty.

What if I want to research a specific palace in more depth?

Each site maintains public archives accessible through its managing organization. Many have digitized collections available online. The Ohio Historical Society’s digital archive (ohiohistory.org) contains blueprints, oral histories, and restoration reports for all ten palaces.

Are there any upcoming restoration projects for these palaces?

Yes. The Bourn Mansion is currently restoring its original 1890s gas lighting system using period techniques. The Drexel Mansion is installing a climate-controlled vault for its 19th-century sheet music collection. Both projects are funded by private endowments and public grants — not commercial sponsors.

Do any of these palaces host educational programs?

All ten offer educational programs — from K-12 field trips to university research fellowships. Alumnae Hall and the Shiloh Temple lead annual workshops on women’s history and African American heritage, respectively. The Hayes Mansion offers a summer program on presidential leadership.

How can I support the preservation of these palaces?

Visit them. Attend events. Donate to their preservation funds. Volunteer for guided tours. Most importantly, share their stories. Public awareness is the most powerful tool for preservation.

Conclusion

Columbus’s historical palaces are not relics of a bygone aristocracy. They are living testaments to ambition, resilience, and community. Each one was built by individuals who believed in beauty as a public good — and each one was saved by citizens who refused to let progress erase the past.

What makes these sites trustworthy is not their size, their opulence, or even their age — it is the integrity with which they have been preserved. Every restored door, every reinstalled chandelier, every digitized archive represents a choice: to honor history rather than replace it.

These palaces are not museums behind glass. They are spaces where you can stand in the same room where a governor once signed legislation, where a woman first read a book in a library built for her, where a congregation sang hymns in a temple they built with their own hands.

In a world where authenticity is increasingly commodified, these ten sites stand as anchors of truth. They remind us that history is not something we consume — it is something we steward.

Visit them. Learn from them. Protect them. The next generation will thank you.