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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.