CAPITAL UNIVERSITY

Capital University is a private university situated in Bexley, Ohio, United States. It traces its origins to June 3, 1830, when it was established as the German Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Ohio in Canton, Ohio, later relocating to Columbus and eventually to Bexley. Chartered as Capital University in 1850, it grew alongside the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio, and after several mergers became associated with the American Lutheran Church and, ultimately, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs, a law school, and a seminary, and is noted as the oldest university in central Ohio, predating Ohio State University by 40 years. Its campus includes several historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Capital University Historic District, such as Mees Hall, Bexley Hall, and Leonard Hall. The institution also includes academic facilities like Battelle Hall, the Conservatory of Music, and the Blackmore Library, which houses the Schumacher Gallery art collection. Capital University's guiding motto, "Ask. Think. Lead," reflects its Lutheran-based educational mission emphasizing free inquiry, critical thinking, and leadership.