Museums of Columbus Ohio Tour

Entries on This Tour

The Edward V. Rickenbacker House commemorates the early life of Eddie Rickenbacker, who at various times in his life was a flying ace, Medal of Honor recipient, race car driver and a pioneer in air transportation. The home was saved from demolition in 1998 and serves as a historic site that many residents hope will serve as an anchor for community revitalization.

2. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

The Franklin Park Conservatory is a botanical garden and conservatory that offers visitors a view of over 400 species of plants. Inspired by the Chicago World's Fair and built in 1895, the conservatory is on the National Register of Historic Places. The conservatory is a favorite for locals and tourists alike, showcasing exotic plant collections, special exhibitions, and Dale Chihuly artworks.

3. Kelton House Museum and Garden

The Kelton House, located in the Town Street Historic District in downtown Columbus, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The house is furnished to represent the time period from 1850-1900. Within the house is the Underground Learning Station where interactive presentations on the abolitionist movement are available. The house is open for tours and the garden can be rented for events.

4. Columbus Museum of Art

The premier cultural attraction in central Ohio, the Columbus Museum of Art dates back to 1878 with the founding of the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts. Since 1931, the museum has been located in its current home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Highlights of its permanent collection include the work of European and American artists, ranging from Columbus native George Bellows to early Cubist paintings by Picasso. The museum recently completed a three-year, $30 million expansion project that includes the new Margaret M. Walter wing and the Center for Creativity which includes space for classes and hands-on art projects for all ages and skill levels. In 2013, the Institute for Museum and Library Service gave CMA a National Medal, the nation’s highest honor bestowed on museums.

5. Ohio Statehouse and Museum

Constructed in stages between 1839 and 1861, the Ohio Statehouse serves as the meeting place of the state legislature and the offices of the governor. The design comes from a competition where the judges selected a structure that blended many of the standard classical features of state legislature buildings and the United States Capitol. Although it features the Greek Revival style, the building does not feature the nearly-ubiquitous dome that became common following the completion of the Capitol Dome in Washington. The State House features Doric columnns made of Columbus limestone from the Scioto River. In addition to skilled workers and supervisors, much of the labor for the building was provided by prisoners. The central feature of the building is the Cupola which provides natural light for the rotunda.

6. The Center of Science and Industry (COSI)

The Center of Science and Industry, also known as COSI, is a science museum and research center located in Columbus, Ohio. It was first opened on March 29, 1964, then COSI was relocated to a 320,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in 1999. COSI features more than 300 interactive exhibits and live shows throughout themed exhibition areas. These exhibits are designed for children and adults.

7. Central Ohio Fire Museum

Located in the old Engine House No. 16, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Central Ohio Fire Museum honors the legacy of firefighting in Columbus and its mission is to teach fire prevention and safety. Its collection is comprised of horse-drawn and motorized engine apparatus and other firefighting-related items. The museum features several hands-on exhibits including a "safety kitchen" and "safe bedroom." Visitors can learn about potential fire dangers in a kitchen and children are allowed to practice escaping from a bedroom. The station was built in 1908 and operated until 1981. The museum opened in 2002.

8. The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is located on The Ohio State University's Campus, at the north end of Sullivant Hall. The Museum & Library was established in 1977. It is the world's largest repository and research facility for "all materials related to comics and cartoons." According to the Museum's website, these materials are: "original art, books, magazines, journals, comic books, archival materials, and newspaper comic strip pages and clippings." Like many great establishments that provide resources to the community, their first collection consisted of donated artwork of OSU alumnus, Milton Caniff. Many of their materials are gifts to the library. Boredom is never a problem for visitors or researchers as their holdings contain "300,000 original cartoons, 45,000 books, 67,000 serials, 3,000 feet of manuscript materials, 2.5 million comic strip clippings and newspaper pages." There are guided museum tours available for youth, university, family, or friend groups. Guided Tour Requests must be made three weeks in advance by emailing cartoons@osu.edu.

9. Ohio History Connection (Ohio Historical Society)

The headquarters of the Ohio History Connection, which was known as the Ohio Historical Society until 2014, features a museum, archives/library, historic preservation office, and Ohio Village. The museum's exhibits feature a variety of topics including the Civil War, natural history, glass, pottery and interactive children activities. The Connection is also home to the premier research library on Ohio History. The Archives include 70,000 cubic feet of records including historic newspapers, government records, manuscripts, film, video, photographs, books and maps. In all, the Connection contains 100,000 historical objects of all sizes including automobiles and other modes of transportation, and manages 50 historical sites and museums throughout the state. The Connection was founded in 1885 and its full name was The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Museums of Columbus Ohio Tour

Created by Clio Admin on April 26th 2018, 3:53:28 pm.

Get a QR Code for this tour

Description

This tour takes users to a variety of museums that are each located within a few miles of the center of Columbus, starting with the museum of the Ohio History Connection (formerly known as the Ohio Historical Society). The tour includes the museum at the state capitol, COSI, the Central Ohio Fire Museum, and many others. Those wishing to explore further should consider visiting the Ohio Railway Museum, Early Television Museum, and Motts Military Museum which are located along the interstates that surround the city center.

Entries on This Tour

Museums of Columbus Ohio Tour

Description

Share