Educational Architecture in Ohio

From One-Room Schools and Carnegie Libraries to Community Education Villages

Virginia E. McCormick

The evolution of our institutions of learning, from one-room schoolhouses to the modern educational campuses of today, reflects both the growth of our populace and our shared cultures and traditions.

Ohio offers an excellent perspective for viewing and interpreting educational architecture. The heritage of its pioneer settlers, the diversity of its immigrants, and its strategic geographic position for westward migration created a history typical of much of America. The state’s educational buildings reflect this rich history and culture.

Through architecture we can also follow educational changes and trends. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw dramatic changes in concepts about lifelong learning and public access to information. However, all reached the consensus that learning environments which inspire excitement among teachers and students reflect communities that support the educational mission.