The OES visited Grant Hospital’s Baldwin Tower on May 9, 2004. Located on Town Street in downtown Columbus, Baldwin Tower was a significant part of the city’s skyline for 36 years. The sixteen-story tower was constructed in 1968 as an addition to Grant Hospital, which was founded more than 100 years ago. Baldwin Tower became obsolete over the years and no longer met the medical needs of today’s society. Instead of renovating the tower, the decision was made to bring the tower down to make way for a brand-new facility. On May 9, 2004, Baldwin Tower was demolished with a powerful implosion in front of hundreds of spectators. Below are photos of the tower a few days before its destruction and a video of the implosion itself.
Location Information: Demolished
Baldwin Tower stood at the corner of East Town Street and South 6th Street in downtown Columbus; Franklin County.
Photographs
Grant Hospital's Baldwin Tower as it stood a few days before the implosion.
The stairwell was on the southern end of the tower. Stairs led all the way to the roof.
The western face of Baldwin Tower, with the demolition company's banners.
Another view of the tower from the east.
Some of the pre-implosion destruction.
Heavy machinery with the tower in the background.
This section of the hospital housed a gymnasium and auditorium.
Another look at the gym.
You can see the old scoreboard above the seats here.
A concrete bridge carried a driveway through the bottom of the tower.
Another look at the destruction.
This large shaft went down into the ground.
A historical photo sent in by a contributor showing the tower's construction.
An old aerial photo of Grant Hospital and Baldwin Tower during the tower's construction.
Another old photo sent in showing the tower shortly after completion.
You can see the bridge at the base of the tower in this old photo.
Video
Baldwin Tower: Implosion
Grant Hospital’s Baldwin Tower was brought down to a pile of rubble in about twelve seconds.
