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The Arts Castle, housed on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University, is one of several initiatives between the school and the city of Delaware, Ohio.

Arts Castle

The Arts Castle's history began when William Little moved from Connecticut to Delaware to improve his business. He and his partner, George W. Campbell, ran the Blue Limestone Quarry, presently part of the Blue Limestone Park located down the street from The Arts Castle. When Mr. Campbell wed William Little’s daughter Elizabeth in 1846, Little presented the castle as a wedding gift to the couple.

The Arts Castle’s architecture has not changed much since 1854. During that year, the house was completed for George and Elizabeth Campbell. It was fashioned after the Anglo-Norman style popular during those years. Features of this style are immediately obvious in the round tower, arched windows and doorways. The idea was inspired by the Amish, the arches were built using various sized scrap woods rather than one molded board. The original owner, Campbell, used blue limestone from the quarry to build the house.

Campbell was a renowned horticulturist, and, he introduced several new plants to the area. During one trip to China, Campbell returned with a gingko tree. The tree still blooms there in the yard. The ownder of the castle also had a small vineyard to the east of the house where he developed and improved a variety of fruits, most notably the world famous Delaware Grape.

Upon the purchase of the building by the Delaware, Ohio Board of Trustees, the house turned in the present-day The Arts Castle. Currently, the house serves as a community art center and today the building houses ten studios, a gift shop, and administrative offices.

• History of the Arts House

• Official website of the Arts Castle