German Village Society

German Village Society (Society) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created in 1960 to preserve historic German Village, now the nation’s largest, privately funded historic district registered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 

German Village is located on the southside of Columbus, OH, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. German Village is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, originally settled in the 1860’s by German immigrants. A century later, the once vibrant neighborhood of sturdy brick buildings and historic brick streets faced the wrecking ball. One visionary man, Frank Fetch, saw the potential of the unique neighborhood and purchased a house in the blighted area. Soon he was joined by other dedicated preservationists who were committed to restoring the neighborhood.

Thanks to the efforts of The German Village Society and scores of committed volunteers, today German Village is a vibrant 233-acre urban neighborhood of tree-lined streets, wrought iron fences, quaint brick homes and commercial buildings, churches, schools, and parks. People of all ages, backgrounds, income, and lifestyles call German Village home.

Looking to the future, The German Village Society remains committed as ever to serving as the “Caretaker of a Legacy.” As Columbus continues to grow and new residents settle in old and new neighborhoods across the area, German Village remains a destination of choice for residents and visitors to the city. The new Executive Director will lead us at a critical and exciting time for our organization where we will work productively alongside many other urban neighborhoods and coexist effectively with the interests of real estate development nearby.

Supported by its membership, local business establishments, hundreds of volunteers, Columbus corporations and philanthropic organizations, The German Village Society will strive to retain the character and distinctiveness of the past while creating a thriving 21^st century community.