Columbus, Ohio

Completed in 1848, this Gothic Revival church is the oldest standing church in Columbus. Holy Cross Church was built by a growing Catholic community in the city. Construction began around 1846, and the church officially…

This unassuming brick building holds a century of firefighting history! Engine House No. 16 was built here in 1908, designed by department architect A. C. Burley.For decades, brave Columbus firefighters called this…

Founded in 1878, this was the first art museum to register its charter with the state. Back then it was called the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts. A group of Columbus citizens, eager to bring art and culture to the…

Imagine the hustle and bustle of travelers embarking on journeys across the country! That's what this unassuming building, now known as Station 67, once was: the Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad Station. Built between…

Imagine the bustling crowds at Columbus Union Station, which served railroad passengers from 1851 until the late 20th century. Columbus Union Station was an intercity train station in Downtown Columbus. The station and…

Hold on to your stein! You're driving near the heart of what was once a thriving brewing industry in Columbus. Between the 1860s and 1890s, this area, now known as the Schlee Brewery Historic District, was bustling with…

Step back in time to the house where laughter and literature once reigned! This is Thurber House, the former home of James Thurber, the brilliant mind behind countless New Yorker cartoons and humorous stories. The…

You're looking at the last piece of a once-booming brewing empire! The Born Capital Brewery Bottling Works is all that's left of the Born Capital Brewery, which used to be one of four German breweries right here in…

One of the largest privately-funded historic restorations in America, preserving Columbus's 19th-century German immigrant neighborhood.

Ever wonder where presidents hung out *before* they were president? This unassuming brick building was once General William Henry Harrison's headquarters. From 1813 to 1814, Harrison, already a celebrated military…

Ever wonder how Columbus, Ohio, came to be? This humble brick building, the Sullivant Land Office, holds a key piece of that story. Here, around 1822, Lucas Sullivant managed land transactions. He was instrumental in…

Right here in Columbus, the Plaza Hotel once stood as a vibrant hub in the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood. Built around 1895, this three-story brick building in the Italianate style was more than just a place to…

Step back in time as you approach German Village, a living testament to the waves of German immigrants who shaped Columbus. In the mid-1800s, a surge of Germans arrived, seeking new opportunities. They built homes,…

Imagine this peaceful park buzzing with the energy of a nation at war! Back in 1861, Goodale Park, then just a decade old, was transformed into Camp Jackson, a staging ground for Union soldiers preparing for the Civil…

Get ready to be amazed, because this Victorian mansion was once the home of circus royalty! This is the Sells House, built for Peter Sells, one of the brothers behind the famous Sells Brothers Circus. Peter and his…

Step back in time as we cruise through the Old North End, a neighborhood that whispers tales of Columbus's growth from a small town to a bustling city. This area really took off in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as…

This unassuming building tells a powerful story about healthcare access in Columbus. The St. Clair Hospital, built in 1911, served the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood for decades. Originally commissioned as a…

This building isn't just bricks and mortar; it's a cornerstone of African American arts and culture in Columbus. Originally built in 1925, it served as the Pythian Temple and James Pythian Theater. For decades, it was a…

Ever wonder where the nuts and bolts holding America together came from? You might be closer than you think. The Berry Brothers Bolt Works churned them out for over a century using its original 1888 equipment. Founded…

Since 1942, this family-owned cafe has been serving up legendary burgers and a taste of Columbus history. Nick Suclescy opened the Thurman Cafe in the German Village district of Columbus. It has remained family-owned…

Pull over for a minute – right here is where a true American hero's story began. This modest house is where Eddie Rickenbacker spent his childhood. Born in 1890, Eddie grew up in this house with his large family. He was…

Step back in time to when Columbus moved on rails! This isn't just another marketplace; it's built on the very ground where the city's streetcars once lived.From 1882 to 1920, these buildings hummed with activity,…

Pull over here for a second; this unassuming building tells a fascinating story about Columbus's industrial past. Tosheff's Restaurant and Hotel, built in 1920, was a cornerstone of the Reeb-Hosack neighborhood, also…

Feel the roar of the crowd at the 'Horseshoe,' one of the most iconic college football stadiums in the nation. Ohio Stadium, home to the Ohio State Buckeyes, has been a Columbus landmark since its construction in 1922.…

Step back in time! This isn't just another building; it's the Ohio History Center, the heart of Ohio's historical memory. Back in 1970, the Ohio Historical Society, now known as the Ohio History Connection, moved its…

Step back in time! This isn't just another roadside attraction; it's a portal to 1860s Ohio at Ohio Village. Ohio Village opened in 1974, next to the Ohio History Center. It was designed to show people what life was…

This quiet spot holds a somber history: it was once Camp Chase, a Civil War prison where many Confederate soldiers died. Established in 1861, Camp Chase served as both a training camp for Union soldiers and a prison for…

Imagine a massive Polynesian-themed restaurant in Ohio – this was it, a tiki paradise in the Midwest! The Kahiki Supper Club operated here on Broad Street beginning in 1961, at the height of tiki culture's popularity.…

Imagine a time when flying was still a novelty! This unassuming building marks the spot of one of the very first airport terminals in the United States. Built in 1929, the Old Port Columbus Terminal served as the main…

Pull over here; you're about to see where some of the most influential figures of the Prohibition era made their home! This is Temperance Row in Westerville, Ohio. Westerville became the unlikely headquarters of the…

An 1811 cemetery near Big Darby Creek haunted by the Woolyburger — a Bigfoot-like creature in the surrounding trees. Alternate legend: a man butchered his…

Pull over for a second; you're about to see something truly ancient, built long before Ohio was even a state. This is Highbank Park Works, an earthwork created by people of the Cole culture. Between 800 and 1300 CE, the…

Stop here and you're standing near a place where ancient people once gathered, lived, and built. These aren't just random hills; they're remnants of a civilization that thrived here long before European settlers…

Pulling up to this dam, you're looking at a vital lifeline for Columbus, Ohio. Not only does the O'Shaughnessy Dam offer some pretty great views, but it also holds back the Scioto River, creating a massive reservoir…

Imagine weary travelers arriving here after a long day on the road, seeking rest and refreshment. This spot, now home to the Gooding House and Tavern, was once a vital stagecoach stop, a place to rest and refuel on the…

This historic house also served as a post office, connecting a small Ohio community to the wider world. Marcus Curtiss, a Connecticut native, settled here in 1808, becoming the first settler in Genoa Township. He…

Built in 1892, this small-town jail offers a glimpse into early law enforcement in rural Ohio. Back then, Pataskala needed a place to hold folks who’d run afoul of the law, so the village constructed this jail.…