The land that would eventually become the Park of Roses was once part of a horse farm before being used for Victory Gardens during World War II. In 1944, the City of Columbus acquired the property for future park development.

The idea for a dedicated rose garden began gaining attention in the early 1950s. By 1951, local rose societies and city officials had joined together to form a committee focused on creating a municipal rose garden. Columbus City Council approved funding for the project in 1952, and in June 1953, the Park of Roses officially opened to the public.

Later that year, the American Rose Society relocated its national headquarters near the park for a period of time and established test gardens for new rose varieties. Those gardens eventually became what is known today as the Heritage Rose Garden.

Over the decades, the Park of Roses has continued to grow and evolve, becoming one of Clintonville’s most recognizable green spaces and a favorite destination for residents and visitors.

The history of the Whetstone Community Center is closely connected to the development of Whetstone Park itself. During the 1940s, the City of Columbus acquired the land, which was used for Victory Gardens during World War II.

In 1949, the park was given the name “Whetstone,” a reference to whetstones found along the nearby Olentangy River by European settlers. Whetstone Park was officially dedicated during the 1950s, around the same time planning began for the Park of Roses. The Clintonville Woman’s Club also played an important role in helping acquire land for the rose garden.

In 1956, the Whetstone Recreation Center was constructed, creating a permanent space for neighborhood recreation and activities.

Today, the Whetstone Community Center continues that tradition as a gathering place for Clintonville, offering programs, activities, and opportunities for residents of all ages.

The story of downtown Clintonville goes back to the 1800s, when much of the area was still farmland within Clinton Township, which was named after Vice President George Clinton. Clinton Chapel was built in 1823 and, according to local history, later served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The area remained largely rural throughout much of the 1800s.

That began to change with the expansion of streetcar lines from Columbus in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Easier transportation made Clintonville an attractive place to live, particularly for professionals associated with The Ohio State University. New homes followed, along with the beginnings of the High Street business district.

The area also became home to some memorable entertainment destinations. Columbus’ first zoo briefly operated here in 1905, while Olentangy Park grew into a major amusement destination. Operating from 1880 until 1939, the park featured attractions that included a large theater and a swimming pool once promoted as one of the largest in the world.

Those early developments helped transform Clintonville from rural farmland into the residential and commercial neighborhood we recognize today.

Shopping in Clintonville has evolved right alongside the neighborhood itself. In its earliest days, when the area was largely rural, residents depended on traveling merchants or made the trip into downtown Columbus for many of their everyday needs.

The arrival and expansion of streetcar service in the late 1800s and early 1900s changed that. As more people moved into Clintonville, businesses began appearing along High Street, establishing the commercial corridor that remains an important part of the neighborhood today.

Barbers, bakeries, grocery stores, and other local businesses served the growing community. A&P was among the grocery stores that became part of everyday life for Clintonville residents.

Following World War II, shopping centers became increasingly popular. Graceland Shopping Center emerged as one of Clintonville’s best-known shopping destinations, adding another chapter to the neighborhood’s long history of local commerce.

Clintonville’s story began long before the modern neighborhood took shape. Evidence of Indigenous settlements in the area stretches back thousands of years, including Adena mounds that have been discovered in the region.

European settlers began arriving in the area during the 1800s. In 1855, Norman and Lydia Clinton moved from Vermont and purchased approximately 1,200 acres of land. Norman established a sawmill, and the Clinton family eventually became closely associated with the area that would come to bear their name.

Their son, U.P. Clinton, became Clintonville’s first postmaster and opened the community’s first store, helping establish some of the early foundations of the growing neighborhood.

Exploring Clintonville today offers the opportunity to discover these stories and many others hidden within its streets, buildings, parks, and landmarks.

Swimming has been part of Clintonville recreation for well over a century. Before formal swimming facilities existed, the Olentangy River provided residents with a natural place to swim and gather.

That tradition expanded dramatically with Olentangy Park. In the 1880s, Robert M. Turner established a picnic ground and swimming area along the river that later became part of the amusement park. By 1896, the park had become a popular destination.

In 1899, the Dussenbury brothers took ownership and constructed an enormous swimming pool that was promoted as one of the largest in the world at the time. Olentangy Park continued to thrive for decades, offering swimming alongside attractions such as roller coasters and a theater.

The amusement park closed in 1938, and the property was eventually redeveloped as the Olentangy Village apartment complex.

That same year, Olympic Beach opened. Later known as the Olympic Swim Club, it became another important part of Clintonville’s swimming history. During the 1970s and 1980s, swimming and diving teams from The Ohio State University even trained there.

The Olympic Swim Club ultimately closed in 2014, bringing an end to another memorable chapter in Clintonville’s long connection to swimming.

During much of Clintonville’s early history, residents likely traveled into downtown Columbus when they needed medical treatment. Facilities such as White Cross Hospital served the growing Columbus community before Clintonville had significant medical services of its own.

Around 1909, Dr. Harry Burbacher, a graduate of Starling Medical College, which later became part of The Ohio State University, established a medical practice in Clintonville. His practice may have provided residents with a more convenient option for local medical care, although the neighborhood did not yet have a full hospital of its own.

As Columbus and Clintonville continued to grow, access to health care expanded considerably.

Today, Clintonville residents are located near two major medical institutions, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Riverside Methodist Hospital, giving the neighborhood convenient access to health care that would have looked very different to its earliest residents.