Indianola Junior High School, school building in Columbus, Ohio
Indianola Junior High School is a three-story school building in Columbus completed in 1929 and designed by architect Howard Dwight Smith. The structure features wide paneled windows, small balconies on upper floors, and decorative terra cotta tiles and carvings of animals and a Native American chief adorning its bright-colored brick facade.
The school opened in 1909 at a different location and was the first standalone junior high school in the United States, designed to bridge elementary and high school students. It relocated to its current site in 1929 when a new building was constructed that became a model for similar schools nationwide.
The school is named after Indianola Amusement Park, which formerly occupied this site and was known throughout the community. Its exterior displays carved animal tiles, terra cotta details, and a relief sculpture of Chief Logan, connecting the building to the region's indigenous and natural history.
The historic building is located on East 19th Avenue in Columbus but is currently closed and not open to the public. Those interested in the architecture can view the exterior decorations and carvings from the street, though access to the interior is not available.
Architect Howard Dwight Smith designed this school early in his career, later becoming famous for designing Ohio Stadium, the major sports arena on the Ohio State University campus. The school represents an important project that helped establish his reputation in the field.
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