from
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
Imagine a location so appealing that it has been inhabited since the 17th century.
In the United States few locations
have a claim so bold, but Columbus,
Ohio, is one of them. The
history of the area has yielded an assortment of attractions and museums that
relate not just locally but to the entire nation. Columbus has become a hybrid
of state politics, diverse cultures and modern business, providing visitors
with a vast choice of entertainment, attractions,
restaurants
and accommodations
to enjoy.
| |
 |
|
| |
The
Columbus Convention Center |
|
ORIENTATION
Columbus is located in central Ohio, 164 mi (264 km) south of Detroit,
Michigan, between
Cincinnati, Ohio, to
the southwest, and Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, to
the northeast; both cities can be reached in a two to three-hour drive.
Columbus has a landscape that includes the Scioto
River, which runs through downtown, the Hoover
Reservoir and Alum
Creek Lake. The city is surrounded by four state parks, numerous municipal
parks
and many local green spaces, providing year-round activities.
HISTORY
The history of Columbus began long before explorers would enter the region.
The first structures, built in what is now downtown Columbus, were mounds of
earth inhabited by Native Americans. The tribes, known as Mound Builders, lived
there undisturbed until the mid-1700s.
In 1797, Lucas Sullivant, a surveyor for the Virginia Military, acquired 6,000
acres of land and founded the town of Franklinton. Designed entirely by Sullivant
and named after Benjamin Franklin, the town was located on the west bank of
the Scioto River. Initially Franklinton gave away land along the river where
the risk of flooding was higher, but the river made the area fertile and ideal
for farming. The town easily sold over 220 surrounding lots.
| |
 |
| |
The
Railway Through Ohio |
The area was quickly populated due to its successful farming and central
location on the river and in 1803, the State of Ohio and its encompassing counties
were created by the then Union of States. Named after the explorer, Columbus was
meticulously designed by the leaders of Franklinton to be the capital of Ohio.
In 1812 construction began on the town and a penitentiary, a school, a newspaper
and a church were built. The leaders saw their dream come reality in 1816 when
Columbus officially became the capital.
Stimulated by the development of the rail system and waterways, Columbus became
the hub of Ohio. In 1832 the feeder to the Ohio Canal opened allowing large
ships to travel down the Scioto River, which expanded existing trade routes.
Traffic from both a national road and railway resulted in a population increase
and Columbus was chartered as a city in 1834. Population continuously grew eventually
leading to the annexation of Franklinton in 1870.
A large immigration of Germans created an area known as South Columbus. Now
known as German
Village, the district was adjacent to the brewery district, which was
home to local liquor and beer makers. The area flourished into the early 1900s
until residents began leaving the area due to anti-German hostilities during
the First World War. Adding to the recession, the brewery district was closed
when prohibition was passed in 1919. The area was already suffering when the
Great Depression of 1930 took its toll on the city.
After the depression Columbus started where it left off, as Ohio's center
for industry. The city continued growing at a modest pace until the 1980s when
it went through extensive development. The success of the city was fueled by
an increasing presence of entrepreneurs and businesses in the technology industry.
Columbus shifted its primary industry to business and technology and is now
home to seven Fortune 500 companies, four incorporated 500 companies and over
150 high-tech companies.
| |
|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
20°F(-6°C) |
36°F(2°C) |
64
mm |
| Feb |
24°F(-4°C) |
40°F(4°C) |
56
mm |
| Mar
|
32°F(0°C) |
52°F(11°C) |
73
mm |
| Apr |
41°F(5°C) |
63°F(17°C) |
83
mm |
| May
|
52°F(11°C) |
73°F(22°C) |
99
mm |
| Jun
|
61°F(16°C) |
82°F(27°C) |
103
mm |
| Jul |
65°F(18°C) |
85°F(29°C) |
117
mm |
|
Aug |
63°F(17°C) |
84°F(29°C) |
94
mm |
|
Sep |
56°F(14°C) |
77°F(25°C) |
74
mm |
|
Oct |
44°F(6°C) |
65°F(18°C) |
59
mm |
|
Nov |
35°F(1°C) |
52°F(11°C) |
81
mm |
|
Dec |
26°F(-2°C) |
41°F(5°C) |
74
mm |
|
| |
Climate
Data from
the National Climate Data Center |
CLIMATE
With four distinct seasons, Columbus has a continually changing image. Winters
(Nov. to Mar.) are cold and an average of 28 inches of snow covers the city.
By the time spring (Apr. to Jun.) rolls around, budding trees and green grass
are a welcome site, especially for those already thinking about playing a round
of golf
on one of the city's numerous courses.
Warm beaches and the blue waters at Alum Creek Lake can be the perfect place
to enjoy the hot summer (Jul. to Sept.) days. In the autumn months the many
trees in the area turn shades of yellow, red and orange as the city braces for
the return of winter.
TRANSPORTATION
In the air, on the water or across land, visitors of Columbus can rest assured
that they can find a way around the city. The Port
Columbus International Airport is just 10 mi (16 km) from downtown and
is served by most major airlines,
providing numerous daily arrivals and departures. The Rickenbacker
International Airport is 20 mi (32 km) southeast of Columbus and is
a charter-terminal. Passengers can charter flights with such airlines as Clipper
Connection at Rickenbacker.
Once on the ground in Columbus, there are several ways to get around. For
those looking to have a permanent form of transportation during their stay,
rental cars are available from both airports. There are also taxi
and limousine
services that can take passengers around the city.
Public
transit in the area is operated by the Central
Ohio Transit Authority which has a per-ride fee. The transit system
has a variety of local, cross-town and express buses that take passengers to
most areas in Columbus. The transit authority has special bus services for the
elderly and disabled.
Columbus has three major highways running through it. The major east-west highway
is Interstate 70 and there are two north-south highways, Interstate 71 and State
Route 315.
| |
 |
|
| |
Franklin
Park Conservatory
Photo Courtesy: Terry Rishel |
|
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Historical Attractions and Museums
One of Columbus' most prominent historical areas is Capitol
Square, which is home to the State Capitol Buildings. Built by prison
laborers from 1839 to 1861, the sqaure was created using limestone from the
Scioto River. The buildings were constructed in a Greek Revival style and designed
to mimic the Parthenon in Greece. Grecian architecture was preferred since it
was the furthest style from England's,
from whom the United States had just won their independence in the Civil War.
Experience some of the culture in Columbus by starting in the German
Village. To preserve their culture the large number of German immigrants
living in the area set up churches, newspapers, shops, businesses and schools
that operated in the German language. The district, now one of the city's most
visited areas, continues to be home to German residents, boutiques and markets.
The German Village Center has numerous history exhibits and can provide maps
of the area that point out historic buildings and popular attractions.
Columbus has museums that cover an assortment of topics. For those interested
in the history of the city, the Kelton
House Museum and the Heritage
Museum of Kappa Kappa Gamma both have meticulously-restored Victorian
homes with exhibits that highlight the history of the region. A trip to the
Franklin
Park Conservatory presents a display of sculptures, butterflies and
botanical gardens that have been a popular attraction since 1852.
Some of the area's specialty museums include the Bruce
Lee Legends of Martial Arts Hall of Fame, a 10,000-piece collection
of artifacts and exhibits; the Jack
Nicklaus Museum, highlighting the life and career of one of golf's greatest
players; and the Motorcycle
Hall of Fame, which takes guests through the history of motocycles.
| |
 |
| |
An
exhibit at COSI Columbus Photo Courtesy: COSI Columbus |
Family Attractions
Animal lovers won't be able to resist the
Columbus
Zoo and Aquarium, which boasts a collection of over 650 different species
from around the globe and is home to famous zoologist Jack Hanna. Throughout the
year, the zoo frequently has special events and presentations. For an entertaining
and educational time, the
Center
of Science and Industry (COSI) can almost guarantee that visitors of any
age will learn something new. The center has over 300 interactive exhibits on
subjects including space, oceans, gadgets and biology. Attractions include the
chance to experience different levels of gravity, building a bridge, lifting a
car and controlling a space rocket.
The city of Columbus provides numerous opportunities or visitors to enjoy a
picnic in one of the parks, relax on a sandy beach, enjoy a bike ride along
the river or take a dip in one of the area lakes.
During the summer, when Columbus is at its hottest, it is hard for other attractions
to compete with the draw of Six Flags' water park at Wyandot
Lake. The park has over 45 different slides, rides and attractions including
Zumma Falls, where guests ride an inner-tube down 455 feet of slide and then
drop 32 vertical feet into a catch pool. If keeping dry sounds more fun, families
can re-route their trip to include one of the Magic
Mountain Fun Centers, which have go-karts, mini-golf, bumper-cars and
arcade games.
Entertainment
Those looking for a night out, whether it is an anniversary, a honeymoon or
just a night away from the kids, can visit the Shadowbox
Cabaret. This dinner-theater has an eclectic combination of comedy,
theater and rock 'n' roll music. The cabaret performs Wednesday through Saturday
nights, changing their production every few months.
The Columbus
Symphony Orchestra can be seen in over 120 concerts a year performing
music from a variety of genres including rock, pop and classical music. Columbus
attracts many performances to the city throughout the year, and visitors can
check the schedules at any of the local concert
venues in the Arena
District.
Columbus has evolved from a Native American village created from mounds of
earth over 300 years ago into one of Ohio's most popular destinations. From
its educational museums and historical districts to the entertaining attractions
and numerous accommodations, Columbus is a city truly worth visiting.
