Former CompuServe Headquarters in Ohio Receives Historic Status

Overview

• CompuServe's former global headquarters in Central Ohio has been recognized with historic marker status by the state.
• CompuServe, a pioneering tech company, was one of the first to offer commercial internet services and introduced the GIF image format in 1987.
• The company, which opened its headquarters in 1973, was known for its online forums that offered news, message boards and data file transfers.
• The building closed in the summer of 2006, but its impact on the state's tech economy is still recognized today.
• Former CompuServe CEO Jeff Wilkins attempted to settle the internet argument over the pronunciation of the GIF image format at the dedication ceremony, recalling that it's pronounced 'JIF.'