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Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio: See Tripadvisor's 164,918 traveler reviews and photos of Columbus tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April. We have reviews of the best places to see in Columbus. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
- Scioto Mile
Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery. 18. 0.1 mi Art Galleries....
- Ohio Theater
Grand Old Lady - the Ohio Theater in Columbus, Ohio. Jun...
- German Village
A highway bridge over Interstate 70 is all that separates...
- Self-guided Tours
Hotels near Mount Carmel College of Nursing Hotels near...
- Columbus Museum of Art
The Columbus Museum of Art, which was founded in 1878 and...
- 2023 Legoland Discovery Center Columbus Ticket
Columbus, Ohio. Joined in September 2018. jessieka84. 0...
- Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum
Schiller Park Parsons North Brewing Company Book Loft German...
- Scioto Mile
Experience the bold ideas and relentless optimism of Columbus. Plan your visit with listings for restaurants, upcoming events, attractions and places to stay.
- Overview
- History
- The contemporary city
Columbus, city, Franklin, Fairfield, and Delaware counties, capital (1816) of Ohio, U.S., and seat (1824) of Franklin county. It is situated in the central part of the state on the relatively flat Ohio till plain, at the junction of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Columbus is at the centre of a metropolitan complex that includes Dublin (northwest)...
Columbus was planned in 1812 as a political centre by the Ohio legislature and was named for Christopher Columbus. The state government moved to the city in 1816 from Chillicothe, and Columbus later absorbed the nearby earlier settlement of Franklinton (founded 1797). The city experienced significant growth after a feeder branch of the Ohio and Erie Canal was opened to it in 1831 and the Cumberland (National) Road from Maryland reached it in 1836. The first railroad arrived in 1850, further stimulating development.
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During the American Civil War, Columbus became a major staging area for Union forces, and Camp Chase, one of the North’s largest facilities for Confederate prisoners of war, was built on the city’s west side. The local economy continued to boom after the war. Columbus became one of the country’s major manufacturers of horse-drawn vehicles. By 1900, when the population exceeded 125,000, the city had emerged as an important transportation and commercial centre. Following damaging floods in 1913, the Scioto River was widened and levees, retaining walls, and bridges constructed, which allowed riverfront development.
In the early 21st century the fastest-growing sectors of the local economy were education and health, transportation and utilities, and professional and business services. High-technology industries and manufacturing (automobiles, motorcycles, communications equipment, steel and steel products, and nutritional supplements) were also important. The city’s favourable geographic position was enhanced by the presence of main-line railroads, an extensive highway network, and an international airport. Nearly half of the U.S. population was located within a 500-mile (about 800-km) radius of Columbus.
The main campus of the Ohio State University (1870), which has one of the largest enrollments of any American university, occupies a large site north of downtown. Other institutions of higher learning include Franklin University (1902), Capital University (1830), Ohio Dominican College (1911), Otterbein University (1847), Pontifical College Josephinum (1888), Columbus College of Art and Design (1879), Columbus State Community College (1963), and state schools for the hearing and visually impaired. Notable research organizations are Battelle Memorial Institute (1929; technology), the Orton Ceramic Foundation, and the Chemical Abstracts Service. The federal government operates a large military supply centre and other facilities. Many of the state’s institutions and offices and the state fairgrounds are in the city. The Ohio Statehouse (a limestone structure in Doric style, completed in 1861) has a monument by sculptor Levi Tucker Scofield.
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- Posing with the deer sculpture in front of the city skyline on the Scioto Mile. Andy Spessard. 1 of 9.
- An outdoor performance by BalletMet, the city’s world-class dance company. 2 of 9.
- "The Journey" mural, painted by Ryan Sarfati and Eric Skotnes, on the side of The Graduate Hotel in the Short North Arts District. Rob Blunt Photography.
- Rock climbing at the world's largest free outdoor climbing wall, located at the Scioto Audubon Center just south of downtown. Laura Watilo Blake. 4 of 9.
- Top Attractions & Events. Use Experience Columbus’ experience trails to explore the city’s coffee, distilleries, pizza and outdoor adventures, or head to family favorite attractions like the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium or Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
- Adventure. Do you live for the thrill? Check out some of our city's top adventure attractions and get your adrenaline going. Topgolf. Vertical Adventures. ZipZone Outdoor Adventures.
- Sports. The Arena District is home to the Columbus Crew (MLS), the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), the Columbus Fury (PVF) and the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians (MLB).
- Shopping. No matter if your style is local or luxe, Columbus has every shopping experience you could dream up. Enjoy Easton (named best retail experience in the nation), Polaris Fashion Place or Tanger Outlets, or scale things down to the local level — explore local boutiques and shops in places like the Short North Arts District (and don’t miss the Short North’s monthly Gallery Hop), Grandview Heights, or German Village.
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More information. Columbus Museum of Art. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Hip and Trendy Neighborhoods. After a day spent enjoying downtown’s cultural diversions, don’t miss the welcoming neighborhoods surrounding the city.
Oct 20, 2023 · 17 Facts About Columbus, Ohio. 1. “Columbus” Wasn’t the City’s Original Name. 2. Columbus Became the Capital of Ohio Before It Was Incorporated. 3. Columbus Has Had Many Nicknames. 4. Columbus is an Important City for Food Empires. 5. Columbus is a Population Center. 6. Judy Garland Joined a Male Fraternity in This City. 7.