National Historic Landmark · house · Oberlin, Ohio

John Mercer Langston House

Historic house in Ohio. Added to the National Register in 1975, and a National Historic Landmark.

John Mercer Langston House
Photos via Wikimedia Commons · 1 in the Commons category

What it is

The John Mercer Langston House is a historic house at 207 East College Avenue in Oberlin, Ohio. Built in 1855, it was home to John Mercer Langston (1829-1897), attorney, abolitionist, diplomat, US Congressman and college president, who was one of the first African Americans elected to public office in the United States. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Register nameLangston, John Mercer, House
Property typeBuilding
Address207 E. College St., Oberlin, OH
CountyLorain County
ListedMay 15, 1975
Listed forBlack heritage, Politics and government, Social history
Level of significanceNational
Reference number75001464
Type of placehouse
DesignationsNational Historic Landmark
Contributing resources1 building

The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗

Visiting

Address207 E. College St., Oberlin, OH
Coordinates41.2913° N, 82.2098° W · Directions ↗
Nearest national park unitCuyahoga Valley National Park · 33 miles · on Park Atlas
Federal campgrounds nearbyCuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters 36 miles
This one you can go inside. Hours and admission change with the season; the website above has the current schedule.

Explore

Drawings & photographs

Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 3 records ↗

Map

Local history books for Lorain County

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Ohio

  • A guide to historic Marietta, Ohio
    Lynne Sturtevant, 2011
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Ohio off the Beaten Path®
    Jackie Sheckler Finch, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Cincinnati Haunted Handbook
    Jeff Morris and Michael Morris, 2025
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

When was John Mercer Langston House listed on the National Register?

May 15, 1975. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.

Source: National Park Service

Can I visit John Mercer Langston House?

Yes. John Mercer Langston House is recorded as open to the public.

Source: Wikidata

Where is John Mercer Langston House?

207 E. College St., Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio. The nearest national park unit is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 33 miles away.

Source: Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Are there historic photographs or drawings of John Mercer Langston House?

Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.

Source: Library of Congress

Where is the nomination form for John Mercer Langston House?

The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.

Source: National Archives

Are there campgrounds near John Mercer Langston House?

One federal campground is within reach, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Picnic Shelters, 36 miles away.

Source: Campsite Atlas

Is there cell service at John Mercer Langston House?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

Sources

Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 75001464. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.