Hayes Hall was completed in 1883 and named for Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United Stated, governor of Ohio, and a trustee of the university, who personally selected the building’s site and established the Department of Manual Training that was housed here.
Ohio State was a national leader in the recognition of industrial arts and fine arts as a legitimate area of study, and was the first university to offer collegiate courses in metalworking, carpentry, and machine shop. The door’s inscription – “The cultured mind, the skillful hand” – referred to this union of the academic and the applied.
Designed by renowned Columbus architect Frank Packard, Hayes is an outstanding example of Richardson Romanesque style and was modeled after Austin Hall at Harvard University. The impressive arch is also called the “whispering arch” because a whispering person standing under it can be heard by someone at the other end.
In 1898, the School of Home Economics – known then as domestic science – moved into the building and the first cooking classes were held here. During World War I, aviation cadets also used the building as a dormitory and ate across campus at the Mess Hall which was set up in the original Student Union. In the 1920s, fine arts classes became the “skillful hand” occupants.
Now on the National Register of Historic Places, Hayes Hall currently houses the Department of Design.
Hayes Hall, 108 N Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Franklin County
Please note: The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) does not own or manage any public art. For the purposes of this database many pieces were entered by the Arts Council while we continue to search for the appropriate owner/manager of the work and other information to complete the entry. The Arts Council has tried to gather all available information about the works in this database, however, we acknowledge there may be missing or inaccurate information. If you can help us correct any inaccuracies, or provide more complete information, we would be grateful. Please use “Something missing? Please send us a note” above.
Taking images of public art works and sharing your experiences is one of the most fun reasons to engage with public art. As a community, we care deeply about the artists who have contributed the artworks we enjoy every day. Please be sure to credit artists when you share your photos. If you have an interest in using public artwork present in this database for commercial purposes, please contact Jami Goldstein at the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Taking your own images of public artwork does not release you from the responsibility of artist credit and/or compensation.
This site is produced and managed by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and supported by the Ohio Arts Council and public art collections across the state. Contributors to the databases to date include collections held by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, City of Columbus, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dublin Arts Council, City of Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Department, City of Kettering, Downtown Mansfield Inc., Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Licking County Foundation, Ohio Arts Council’s Percent for Art program, Short North Arts District and the City of Sandusky. The database was funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Research and development support is provided by Designing Local, OSA Technology Partners and Columbus artist Stephanie Rond. The Columbus Makes Art campaign is a citywide, collaborative marketing effort designed to highlight the incredible talent of central Ohio artists. The Greater Columbus Arts Council is supported by the City of Columbus and the Ohio Arts Council.
To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
ArtsinOhio.com is your one-stop resource for arts, festivals and cultural events throughout the Buckeye State. And, even better, it’s free!
