UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio — Local and state officials unveiled a historical marker at the former headquarters of CompuServe, a technology company that first made online connectivity widely available to the public, in Upper Arlington on Thursday.
The company opened 50 years ago, paving the way for the Internet’s popularity and accessibility. Some of the “firsts” boasted by the company were widespread commercial access to online newspapers, magazines, chat forums, airline ticket purchases and file transfers.
The Ohio Historical Marker will be placed at the site of the old "world headquarters" for CompuServe at 5000 Arlington Centre Boulevard.
“In 1973, CompuServe opened its new headquarters building right here in Upper Arlington, after outgrowing its rented offices in four short years. So many of the online conveniences we take for granted today had their beginnings right here in Upper Arlington," said Nic Fortkamp, the former CEO and executive director of Leadership Upper Arlington. "We believe the achievements of the men and women and many employees of CompuServe who made them happen deserve this recognition."
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was joined by former CompuServe CEO Jeff Wilkins, Ohio History Connection CEO Megan Wood and others as they debuted the sign reading “COMPUSERVE WORLD HEADQUARTERS: Online Pioneer” with a description of its work underneath.
“CompuServe's pioneering efforts in providing dial-up internet access and content paved the way for the internet as we know it today,” said Husted. “As Ohio emerges as the Silicon Heartland for Intel computer chips and the data center hub of the Midwest for Amazon Web Services and Google, we remember CompuServe as one of the world’s early innovators that helped create the connected world we live in today.”