Ohio Penitentiary, State prison in Columbus, United States
The Ohio Penitentiary was a massive correctional facility with Gothic architecture sprawling across 250,000 square feet in downtown Columbus. The complex featured thick walls and imposing facades that defined this neighborhood for more than 150 years.
The facility was established in 1834 as a test case for American prison reform in the 19th century. Its operations gradually shifted to other institutions starting in 1972, with final closure coming in 1984.
The site was home to well-known prisoners like writer O. Henry and gangster George Moran, whose stories remain part of local memory. Their presence here shaped conversations about crime and punishment in American society for generations.
The former prison site is now part of the Arena District with modern residential buildings, offices, and entertainment venues. Visitors can walk through the neighborhood and explore surviving architectural elements and memorials that mark the site's past.
A devastating fire in 1930 killed 322 inmates, one of North America's deadliest prison disasters. The catastrophic night sparked major reforms in prison safety and fire protection across the country.
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