Old Ohio Penitentiary: Ohio State Penitentiary after 1979

Introduction

The Old Ohio Penitentiary, also known as the Ohio State Penitentiary or less formally referred to as the Ohio Pen or State Pen, was a prison operated from 1834 to 1983 in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio Penitentiary covered 22 acres of land on West Spring Street between West Street and Neil Avenue before it was demolished. During its lifetime, several historical events took place including the worst prison fire ever in U.S history, two large riots, a tornado, and some interesting escapes. The Ohio Pen was sold in 1995 and demolished in 1998 to make room for Nationwide Arena in the present-day Arena District. Today, the site of Ohio Pen is used for arena parking lots, condos, businesses, work-out facility, movie theater, restaurants, bars, and a park. Our research comes from a variety of sources, including internet databases, several books, personal interview, and personal experience from the site.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Ohio State Penitentiary after 1979

The "Pen" opened in 1834 and, after the last prisoners were removed from the Ohio State Penitentiary in 1984, the building and grounds were left vacant for nearly 10 years. In 1995, the city of Columbus bought the old penitentiary and decided to clear the land for new development. The grounds were demolished in 1998 and a parking garage was later built on the site for the new Nationwide Arena Complex in 2000.

In 1977, the 22-acre spread of the Old Ohio Penitentiary was in a state of deterioration. In the background, One Nationwide Plaza stands tall as the beginning of urban revitalization slowly comes to the Arena District.

Further deterioration and falling walls led to the first demolishing of the Ohio Pen in 1994 after part of the outer wall fell and crushed two parked cars. After demolition, the forsaken plot that formerly held the Ohio Pen was waiting for further development in 1997.

Reference

Nationwide Reality Investors. (2006). The Arena District: A Neighborhood 170 Years in the Making. Columbus, OH: Michelle Chippas.

"Ohio Penitentiary." Ohio History Central - An Online Encyclopedia of Ohio History. Ohio Historical Society, 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.