Gregg-Crites Octagon House in Circleville, Ohio

All the United States Ohio Circleville Gregg-Crites Octagon House Eight sides, one incredible story — the Gregg-Crites Octagon House is one of Circleville's most fascinating architectural treasures. View from road of Octagon House Rocksand / Atlas Obscura User View from road of Octagon House Rocksand / Atlas Obscura User View from road of Octagon House Rocksand / Atlas Obscura User View from road of Octagon House Rocksand / Atlas Obscura User View from road of Octagon House Rocksand / Atlas Obscura User Located on the southern end of town, the Gregg-Crites Octagon House is one of Pickaway County's most unique architectural landmarks. This eight-sided home in Circleville, Ohio is believed to have been built between 1855-56 by a man named George Gregg.

While the exact history is vague, the house may have been constructed to resemble the octagonal courthouse at the center of town when Circleville was originally laid out in the form of a circle. Also at this time of history, the octagon-style home gained popularity across the country due to the efficient use of space and strong light and airflow. Inside the home, the layout originally featured a central free-standing spiral staircase, with rooms arranged like slices of pizza.

Each room connected directly, allowing for free movement without the wasted space of traditional hallways. In the new millennium, the Octagon House faced possible demolition as surrounding land was purchased for redevelopment. The octagon house was carefully relocated to its current location on Crites Road, south of downtown.

With a fear of losing this special building, Circleville residents organized to protect the structure by forming a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the home. In 2021, the Gregg-Crites Octagon House was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This honor recognizes its architectural and historical significance on the national level.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter. Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The Gregg-Crites Octagon House in Circleville, Ohio is one of 33 octagon houses in Ohio.

While the house is set on private property, tours are offered on a regular basis. Ghosthunters claim that the Gregg-Crites Octagon House holds the spiritual energy of a ghost, who hides underneath the central spiral staircase. Under the towering glass canopy of Google's headquarters in São Paulo's poshest neighborhood, hides a small, charming 18th-century house.