City of Oberlin
Historic Landmarks
All of the buildings and sites listed here are official City of Oberlin Historic Landmarks, as designated by the City of Oberlin Historic Preservation Commission. The landmark designation means, according to city ordinance, that the building or site has particular historic or cultural significance, or is associated with historic people or events, or reflects distinguishing characteristics of an architect or architectural style. Many Oberlin landmarks meet more than one of these criteria.
The landmark list is not all-inclusive: many Oberlin buildings that meet the criteria have not yet been designated landmarks. To consider a property for landmark designation, the Historic Preservation Commission needs documentation of its date and proof that it meets at least one of the criteria.
Oberlin is a unique Ohio community. The Oberlin Historic Preservation Commission has prepared this information to tell residents and visitors about Oberlin’s heritage as represented by these historic landmarks.
The only houses on this list that are open to the public for tours are those owned by the Oberlin Heritage Center (tel. 440-774-1700) and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house owned by Oberlin College and administered by the Allen Memorial Art Museum (tel. 440-775-8665).
More information on most of these buildings is available on the Oberlin Heritage Center's Oberlin historic inventory site.
All of the information on this page is adapted from the City of Oberlin Historic Preservation Commission City Landmarks booklet, first published in 1997 and most recently revised in spring 2007. The booklet was written by Jane Blodgett and Carol Ganzel and produced by Wendie Fleming with photographs by Geof Comings and Wendie Fleming. Some of the information contained herein first appeared in Oberlin Architecture: College and Town by Geoffrey Blodgett.
The following buildings were designated as City of Oberlin Historic Landmarks after the most recent publication of the booklet in 2007. More information about these buildings will be published in the booklet and online in the future:
221 Elm Street
284 Oak Street
257 East College Street
336 Reamer Place
Please note that this booklet is now available in hard-copy, complete with a map. Stop by the Oberlin Heritage Center office to pick up your free copy!