Ohio History Center construction photograph

Photograph taken April 8, 1969, during the construction of the Ohio History Center at I-71 and 17th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. Originally the Ohio Historical Society (now the Ohio History Connection) housed its collections in the Ohio Statehouse. In 1894, the organization moved to Orton Hall at The Ohio State University, but as the two institutions both continued to grow, the organization began looking for a new location by the mid-1960s. Ground was broken at the Center's current location near the Ohio State Fairgrounds on August 22, 1966. Designed by architect William Byron Ireland (1930-1982) and his firm Ireland & Associates, the Brutalist-style building contains over 21,000 cubic feet of concrete. Brutalism is a mid-century style of architecture characterized by bold, massive, geometric shapes and rough-finished surfaces. R.W. Setterlin & Sons, general contractors, completed construction of the building in 1970, and the Center was dedicated on August 23, 1970