The 1887 courthouse deteriorated over several decades, and the site was eventually replaced with Dorrian Commons Park, open from 1976 to 2018; the court moved to a new building nearby.

[3][4] With the growth of Columbus and settlement of its adjacent areas, county business increased, prompting discussion of a permanent courthouse.

In 1837, a site was donated to the county at Mound and High Streets, so long as a courthouse was built there.

The judge of the court of common pleas appointed a building commission in April 1884 to work on the courthouse plans.

The commission visited other cities to learn about architecture, interior space uses, and project costs.

[6] In 1966, county commissioners assessed the cost of a new courthouse and jail, which would save $5.5 million over maintaining and renovating the then-current building.

[8] By late 1974, with demolition imminent, all county functions had moved over to the new Hall of Justice and the courthouse annex.

[12] The site was replaced with Dorrian Commons Park, open from 1976 to 2018; the courthouse moved to a new building nearby, in the Franklin County Government Center.

[14] The cornerstone was stored in a garage near Dorrian (then Franklin) Commons Park rescued from a garbage dump in 1977, after having been accidentally carted off.

[15] In 1979, it was utilized as a planter by the county's horticulturalist, who fit five plants' roots into the hole that formerly held a copper box time capsule.

[16] The cornerstone, first opened in October 1974, held a 15-pound copper box containing newspapers, government reports, and a city directory.

The High Street entrance featured the Great Seal of Ohio between two allegorical female figures as a sculptural group atop the entranceway pediment.