The center of social life in Hamilton for several decades, the Anthony Wayne Hotel was completed in 1927 through a partnership of the well established American Hotels Corporation and Hamilton Community Hotel Corporation, a group of local stockholders. The absolutely fireproof hotel was designed by George B. Post and Sons of New York, the most experienced hotel planners at the time. Local architect Frederick Mueller assisted with the drawings and project oversight. The hotel overlooked the Great Miami River and was detailed with a limestone first story, various window pediments, and huge urns atop the seven-story structure.
      Opening just before the Great Depression, the hotel struggled most of its life and eventually closed in 1964; the building was then converted to apartments. In 1989, demolition of the then-vacant building was announced as a local bank wanted to make way for construction of a nine-story office complex. Although the plan fell through, demolition was scheduled again in 1994. CHAPS, in partnership with the Ohio Preservation Alliance, acquired the structure, and--after four years of searching--located a developer who led a renovation of the building into at-rate senior housing. In recent years, the former retail wing facing High Street has been converted into offices for City of Sculpture and the Hamilton Welcome Center.

One of the most ornate buildings on Miami University's Oxford campus, Alumni Hall was originally built as the school's first library. Library philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated $40,000 toward the building, providing the school match the donation to meet the building's $80,000 price tag. The library, which featured a grand rotunda, opened in March of 1910. Frank L. Packard handled the design. Packard had previously designed a much simpler Carnegie library for Ohio University. For the first time, the facility was opened to the Oxford community; the library advertised with a simple slogan, "Books can help you. Let them do it." The library saw additions in 1924 and 1952, but was abandoned as the library in 1972.
      After King Library became the University's main library, Alumni became home to the Department of Architecture and Interior Design. A complete rehabilitation and new addition were completed in 1997, preserving this gem for future Miami generations to enjoy.

A Middletown landmark, the Big Four Depot was constructed in 1909. The Middletown Business Man's Club pushed for the new depot as the city was seeing rapid growth. The Big Four, referring to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis, was a major railroad company crossing Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The building is brick with a red terra-cotta roof, making for a solid, striking appearance.
      After being abandoned as a train station, the building became an automotive repair shop. In 1980, restoration efforts were begun to convert the building for use as a craft shop. Today, a gift shop operates in the depot.

Second Empire in design, the Butler County Courthouse has withstood fire, flood, and changing times since its completion in 1889. Architects D.W. Gibb and Company handled the design; they had completed several courthouses in Ohio, the closest being the Fayette County Courthouse in Washington Court House. The cornerstone of the four-story, $305,000 structure was laid during a ceremony on October 29, 1985.
      A fire started in the clock tower in 1912 and the tower and roof eventually collapsed into the rotunda of the courthouse. Three Hamilton Firefighters died saving the structure. A new tower was constructed boasting a giant ogival dome that reached 225 feet. The replacement tower was in the Second Renaissance Revival Style and was designed by Fredrick Mueller. In 1926, the tower was hit by lightning the grand dome had to be removed. A low-pitched roof was installed and remains today. The roof was replicated on the new Government Service Center (GSC) tower completed in 1999.
      As the county grew over the years, demolition and additions were proposed numerous times, yet the courthouse remained intact. In 1976, most non-court related uses moved into a new building and county commissioners explored the future of the old courthouse. Restoration was decided upon, and in 1980, the $1.8 million project began. Further restoration efforts were undertaken in 1999 as many courts were moved to the new GSC. The Butler County Probate Court still finds a home in the old courthouse, however.

 Elisha Morgan House

 Symmes Tavern

The Elisha Morgan and Symmes Homes are distinct reminders to the once rural nature of now-suburbanized Fairfield.
      The Elisha Morgan Farmhouse was built in 1817 by the Welsh settler. The home was in Federal style and received an addition in the 1850's. In 1980, the City of Fairfield purchased the home and surrounding farmland to create a park. The city planned to tear down the house, but local residents objected and partnered with CHAPS to convince the city not demolish one of the few historic buildings in Fairfield. Their efforts lead to the house being listed on the National Register in 1990 and to a grant from the Ohio Arts Council for a feasibility study for the building's reuse. As a result of the study, Fairfield leaders agreed to restore the building; this was completed in 1999. The building is cared for by the Friends of the Elisha Morgan House.
     Symmes Tavern was completed in 1852 by Benjamin Randolph, the son of Celadon Symmes. Celadon was the first settler at Symmes Corner where the tavern stands. The building was later occupied by Charles Nilles, namesake of Nilles Road. Throughout the years a number of restaurants occupied the building until the early 1990's when a the home was to be demolished for a gas station. After residents objected, the developer backed off and Bank One (now Chase) renovated the structure. Two additions were constructed on each side of the structure, but the original facade is preserved.

Notre Dame

Central Catholic

Before the construction of Badin High School in the 1960's, Hamilton's Catholic boys and girls were separated into two buildings for high school: Notre Dame for girls and Central Catholic for the boys.
      Notre Dame was erected in three phases completed in 1887, 1893, and 1902. Located adjacent to Saint Joseph Catholic Church, the school was minimally used after the opening of Badin. In the mid-1980's, Pilgrim Baptist Church purchased the structure with hopes of turning it into affordable senior housing. That dream came true in 2002 when the church completed the restoration using several state and HUD grants. The project maintained the buildings historic character including a chapel on the third floor. Sherman Manor, as the old school is now called, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
      Central Catholic High was completed in 1923. The Spanish Style building was designed by Frederick Mueller and included in the April 1927 issue of "The Architect." After Badin opened, Corpus Christi Parish operated an elementary school in the building until 1980, when Ohio Casualty Insurance purchased the school. Ohio Casualty worked with the State Preservation Office in 1986 to restore and adapt the structure into modern offices space. The building was subsequently added to the National Register in 1986. Today, the building is home to the Hamilton Board of Education and is a landmark in the Dayton Lane Historic District.

Erected in 1915, the C.F. Murphy Building is one of the most interesting commercial buildings in Middletown. The building was the longtime home to the John Ross Store, the city's most popular department store. Later, C.F. Murphy Co. opened their five-to-one dollar  store, which expanded to the Knights of Pythias building immediately west. The building fell into extreme disrepair after being incorporated into the City Centre Mall project, which included covering Central and Broad Streets to create a climate-controlled shopping environment.
      Planned for demolition, the building was saved by Beau Verre Riodan Studios. Now the building houses their stained glass studio, a small art gallery, and ample space for further expansion. The studio salvaged woodwork from several historic schools that Middletown demolished for use in the restoration.

Lane-Hooven House

Lane Public Library

Two of the most unique structures in Butler County, the octagonal Lane-Hooven House and Lane Public Library can be found in Hamilton's German Village Historic District.
      The Lane-Hooven House was constructed for Hamilton industrialist Clark Lane in 1863. Known as "Lane's Folly" the Gothic Revival house is regarded as one of the most unique residential structures in the country. The home is accented with an intricately carved front door, ornate stained glass, decorative bargeboards, and a spectacular spiral staircase that leads up to the third floor cupola. The unique structure was later home to the Hooven family who l gave the home to the community in 1942. The Lane-Hooven House was added to the National Register in 1973 and the Hamilton Community Foundation led a restoration of the structure between 1978 and 1984. The foundation operates out of the home.
      The Lane Public Library was built by Clark Lane in 1866 and was the first public library west of the Alleghanies. He operated the library with his own funds until convincing the city to take over its operation in 1868. After the flood of 1913 damaged the building, an addition was constructed to the north. A 1919 fire destroyed much of the new wing and the copula of the original octagonal structure. Two matching wings were built as a result, one containing a Rookwood Tile fireplace. In 1969, a new library was planned, but never came to fruition. Instead, the building was expanded. In 1997, a historic restoration project was completed restoring the copula. The Ohio Preservation Society recognized the project in 1998 with the Outstanding Preservation Award for the library's contribution to Ohio's historic architecture and culture.

Located south of Trenton, the historic Chrisholm Farmstead is a beautiful farm site with roots to the Amish Mennonite Community. The home, constructed in 1874 by Samuel Augsburger, is listed on the National Register.
      Owned by Butler County Metroparks, the historic home and barn have undergone restoration by the Friends of Chrisholm. The group continues their efforts to maintain and restore the structure.

Hamilton YMCA

Hamilton YWCA
 

Although unique and separate entities, Hamilton's historic YMCA and YWCA have both been preserved for future generations to enjoy.
      The YMCA was completed in 1915 relocating the organization from a home at Third and Dayton Streets. Designed by Fredrick Mueller, the building was originally proposed to be smaller and much less detailed architecturally. The largest donation toward the building's construction came from Peter Thompson, President of Champion Coated Paper. Through the years, additions were added to the rear of the structure, but the historic facade was never disturbed. In the early 1990's plans were made to construct a new YMCA, but, at the urging of preservationists and the desire to stay downtown, the old building underwent a $3 million restoration and now functions as the Central Branch of the Great Miami Valley YMCA system.
      The YWCA wasn't completed until 1931. The structure is a landmark in the German Village Historic District and features Tennessee marble stairwells, leaded glass, and Elizabethan parapets. In 2003, the YWCA announced a project to restore the historic building after debating the closure of the facility. The YWCA took advantage of historic tax credits to help fund the $5 million project.

Originally the main building of the Western Female Seminary, Peabody Hall was completed in 1871. Parts of the structure date from the 1861 building that stood at the same location. Fire had destroyed both the 1861 structure and a previous building on the site. The Chapel, now known as the Leonard Theater, enlarged the 1961 footprint. In 1971, after Western College dissolved, Miami University acquired the massive brick structure.
      In 1996, a complete restoration was performed on the building. During the $6.5 million project, beautiful stone fireplaces were discovered.

Built as the Dixon Opera House, the Robinson Schwenn building was erected in 1866. Soon it became the Globe Opera House which operated until 1904. In 1908, the Robinson-Schwenn Department Store opened; the store was a fixture downtown for decades before closing in 1964. The facade was covered in 1954 with wide louvers, much like many other building in downtown Hamilton. Cincinnati's Mabley and Carew had a store in the building from 1964 to 1977 proceeding Dollar General who was present from 1980 to 1992.
      Restoration of the opera house was undertaken between 1997 and 2000; removal of the building's cladding to reveal the historic facade was included. The mixed-use building now holds the Butler County Law Library, various offices, and retail at street level. In 2000, the Robinson-Schwenn Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Miami University's School of Education, the Ohio State Normal College, called for the construction of McGuffey Hall. The building was completed in four phases between 1909 and 1925 and was named after Williams Holmes McGuffey, a Miami professor who authored McGuffey Eclectic Readers during his time at the University. The building features a red tile roof interrupted by massive dormers.
      A major restoration oversaw by Steed Hammond Paul Architects of Hamilton was begun in 2005. Miami rededicated the building in 2007.