Historic Capitol Square (includes the Statehouse and several statues and monuments).
Between State and Broad Sts, Third and High Streets
Columbus, Ohio
614-752-6350, 614-728-2695 or 1-888-OHIO-123
Ohio Statehouse
Desk at the Third Street entrance to the Statehouse Complex.
Columbus, Ohio
614-752-6350
Call for information
Hours: Weekdays 7am-7pm.
Weekday tours: 10am, 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Closed on national holidays.
Admission Free
The Ohio Statehouse was built between the years 1839 and 1861. Prison labor from the Ohio Penitentiary was used to construct the foundation and ground floors of the building. The Statehouse was built in the Greek Revival style, a style which emulates an understated elegance. It is a masonry building, consisting largely of brick and Columbus limestone. The limestone was taken from a quarry on the west banks of the Scioto River. The stone of the Statehouse foundation is more than 18 feet deep. . Learn about Ohio's Statehouse, its history, architecture and legislative process in a free 45-minute tour. All tours begin promptly near the Information Desk.
Ohio Stadium
Ohio State University
Building 082
411 Woody Hayes Drive,
Columbus, Ohio
614-292-2661 (Call to schedule tours)
Tours can be scheduled year-round, Monday through Friday at any time between 8:00am and 3:30pm.
Admission Charged
Go behind the scenes at the Ohio Stadium on a guided tour that takes you inside the storied history of Buckeye Football. Tour must consist of 10 or more individuals and must be scheduled 2 weeks in advance. A typical tour last 1.5 hours and a large amount of walking is involved.
Dedicated in 1922, Ohio Stadium's horseshoe shaped configuration makes it one of college football's most recognizable landmarks. Ohio Stadium is the second largest stadium in the Big Ten and the fourth largest college stadium in America. Its' fame and design make it a must-see when you visit Columbus. Take a day to experience scarlet and gray.
Columbus Museum of Art
480 E. Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6801
614-221-6801
Hours: 10:00am-5:30pm, Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00am-8:30pm, Thursdays
Admission Charged
The Columbus Museum of Art houses an outstanding collection of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American and European modern art. This collection includes major works by Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Hopper and O'Keeffe and other spectacular examples of Impressionism, German Expressionism, and Cubism. Also recognized for extraordinary regional collections, the Museum boasts the largest public collection of woodcarvings by Columbus folk artist Elijah Pierce.
COSI Columbus (Center of Science and Industry)
333.W.Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio
888-819-COSI
Call for hours of operation
Admission Charged
Science, technology, history and more come alive in this interactive, architecturally-unique museum. COSI features interactive, discovery-based and themed exhibit areas, three theaters, the outdoor Big Science Park, the country's only high wire unicycle, a restaurant, and shop. The exhibition areas - Adventure, Gadgets, Life, little kidspace, Ocean, Progress, and Space - each provides experiences for all age levels that creatively combine science facts and learning through play.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
9990 Riverside Dr.
Columbus, Ohio
614-645-3400
Hours: 9am-5pm daily; Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day, 9am-6pm.
Admission Charged
The zoo is located along the banks of the Scioto River in Northwest Columbus. Sights include a 100,000-gallon coral reef exhibit, one of the largest reptile collections in the United States and the largest manatee exhibit outside Florida. The newest Southeast Asia exhibit brings Komodo dragons, gibbons, orangutans, Asian small-clawed otters, black swans, Javan whistling ducks, and cattle egrets to the zoo. Travel the world by viewing wildlife species from all corners of the globe.
The Santa Maria
The Santa Maria is located just north of the Broad Street Bridge, moored in the Scioto River, at Battelle Riverfront Park, at Marconi Blvd. and West Broad Street, 2 blocks west of the State House.
Columbus, Ohio
614-645-0351
April 5 - May 23, Wed-Fri: 10 am - 3 pm; Sat-Sun: Noon - 5 pm
May 24 - Aug. 31, Wed-Fri: 10 am - 5 pm; Sat-Sun: Noon - 6 pm
September 1 - October 26, Wed-Fri: 10 am - 3 pm; Sat-Sun: Noon - 5 pm
Memorial Day: Noon- 5 pm; 4th of July: Noon- 5 pm; Labor Day: Noon- 5 pm
Admission Charged
Visit the world's most authentic, museum-quality replica of Christopher Columbus' flagship, the Santa Maria. Imagine what it must have been like more than 500 years ago to embark on a voyage that would forever alter the world in which we live. Imagine using only wind and current for propulsion and a crude compass, the sun and the stars for direction!
The Santa Maria's tours dramatize the daring and determination it took for Columbus and his explorers to set out on their mission. Experience the lives they led, interact with replicas of the navigational tools they used and play the games they played to pass the time.
Jack Nicklaus Museum
2355 Olentangy River Rd.
Columbus, Ohio
614-247-5959
Hours: Tues-Sat 9am-5pm.
Admission Charged
The Jack Nicklaus Museum ; located in the heart of The Ohio State University sports complex in Jack's hometown of Columbus, Ohio, is a 24,000 square-foot educational and historical facility.
Kelton House Museum
586 E. Town St.
Columbus, Ohio
614-464-2022 or 800-228-3429
Hours: 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri., 1-4pm Sun.
Admission Charged
Beautiful Victorian home with focus on 19 th century life in Columbus.
Ohio Craft Museum
1665 W. Fifth Ave.
Columbus, Ohio
614-486-4402
Hours: 10am - 5pm, Mon-Fri; 1-5pm Sun.
Admission Free
Located near Upper Arlington and Grandview Ave. Exhibitions featuring artwork created in the field of the American crafts.
Ohio Historical Center
1982 Velma Ave.
Columbus, Ohio
614-297-2300 or 800-OLD-OHIO
Hours: 9am-5pm, Mon-Sat; 10am-5pm, Sun. Call for holiday hours.
Admission Charged
Explores Ohio's history, archaeology, natural history. Ohio Village represents a typical Ohio county seat during the Civil War era. In the Village's 22 craft shops, residences, & civic building, interpreters share their knowledge of life in the 19 th century.
Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
145 S. Front St.
Columbus, Ohio
614-466-4496
Call for hours of operation
Admission Free
Display features the names of all of the members of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame and photographs and biographies of the most recent year's inductees. Also features a video, "Women in Ohio's History”.
German Village Society
588 S. Third St.
Columbus, Ohio
614-221-8888
Call for hours of operation
Admission Charged
Located six blocks south of the state capitol and south of I-70 (Third and Fourth St. exits)
Restored 19 th century German community containing beautifully renovated homes, shops and restaurants.
American Whistle Corporation
6540 Huntley Rd.
Columbus, Ohio
877-876-2380
Hours: 10am-4pm, Mon-Fri.
Tours available by appointment (minimum 15 people).
Admission charged for tour (Includes one free whistle)
Visit the only manufacturer of metal whistles in the USA.
Anthony-Thomas Candy Company
1777 Arlingate Lane
Columbus, Ohio
614-748-8405
Tours: Mon-Fri. 9am-3 pm. Reservations required.
Admission Free
Visit one of the largest family-owned candy-making facilities in the US and shop for delicious chocolates.
Olentangy Indian Caverns
1779 Home Rd.
Columbus, Ohio
614-548-7917
Hours: 9:30am-5pm, Apr - Oct.
Admission Charged (Children under 7 free).
Cavern tours, Indian Museum, frontierland with gem mining, gift shop, snack bar. Cavern tours.
Shopping:
The North Market
59 Spruce St,
Columbus, Ohio
614-463-9664
Call for hours of operation
Admission Free
Fresh and prepared foods, flowers, ethnic cuisine, and unique gifts delight the senses at central Ohio's only public market. Across from the Convention Center, the 30-plus merchant market sits on what was once the North Graveyard.
City Center Mall
111 S. 3 rd St.
Columbus, Ohio
614-221-4900
Call for hours of operation
Admission Free
Major department stores.
Easton Town Center
I-270 and Easton Way
Columbus, Ohio
614-416-7001
Call for hours of operation
Admission Free
This outdoor village, complete with two town-square areas with fountains, is an entertainment enclave with a score of restaurants, bars, and bistros; a multiplex movie theater; the Funnybone Comedy Club; and Gameworks interactive games and attractions.
Mall at Tuttle Crossing
5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd.
Dublin, Ohio
614-717-9300
Call for hours of operation
Admission Free
Browse more than 125 shops and restaurants in the northwest suburb of Dublin. The mall is anchored by four department stores and has a children's play area.
Polaris Fashion Place
1500 Polaris Pkwy.
Columbus, Ohio
Place is located near the Polaris Parkway exit on I-71, just north of I-270, about twenty minutes north of downtown.
614-846-1550
Call for hours of operation
Admission Free
At 1.5 million square feet, Polaris Fashion Place is Central Ohio's largest mall. Polaris Fashion
Short North Arts District
Short North Business Association
120 West Goodale Street
Columbus, Ohio
614-228-8050
Call for additional information
Short North straddles the best known street in town - High Street. High runs straight through town from end to end, north to south.
An arts and entertainment area featuring galleries, shops, eateries and nightclubs.
Parks and Gardens
Metro Parks
1069 W. Main St.
Westerville, Ohio
614-895-6365 or 614-508-8000, 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Call for local park information
Admission Free
Metro Parks was established on April 14, 1945. Today, Metro Parks manages and operates 14 parks, comprising over 20,000 acres throughout seven Central Ohio counties. Metro Parks offers fun year-round. Each park has its own special and seasonal recreational facilities and activities, carefully balanced with the park's natural environment.
Inniswood Metro Gardens
940 S. Hempstead Road
Columbus, Ohio
614-895-6216
Hours: Gardens: 7am-dark daily
Innis House: Tues. - Fri. 8 am - 4:30 pm; Sat-Sun. 11 am - 4 pm.
Admission Charged
A 92 acre botanical garden and nature preserve with theme gardens and nature trails.
Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
1777 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio
614-645-TREE
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Voted "best landscape in the world" in 1992. Visitors enjoy earthly wonders of the Himalayan Mountains, Tropical Rain Forest, Desert, Tree Fern Forest, Bonsai, and Orchids, outstanding seasonal shows, café & gift shop.
Downtown Walking Tour
Admission Free
Follow this tour to see downtown and some near-downtown neighborhoods and suburbs.
Difficulty: Easy
Time required: from two hours to all day.
1. Start with a tour of the Statehouse at Broad and High in the heart of downtown. You can park underneath. Historic Ohio Theater is along the south side of the Statehouse grounds on State St.; the Ohio is connected to City Center Mall.
2. From the Statehouse drive east on E. Broad St. The Columbus Museum of Art will be on the left; then after about a mile you will pass Franklin Park, where Ameriflora was held years ago. Continue past Franklin Park and you enter Bexley.
3. Turn left at Cassady Av., and then left at Maryland Av., to pass elegant mansions. Continue to Parkview Av.; turn left and follow Parkview back across Broad St. to E. Main St. Turn left on E. Main; in two blocks turn left at Drexel Av.
4. Take Drexel back to E. Broad St. and turn left. As you pass the old mansions along E. Broad, envision that there was once a boulevard down the middle of this present-day six-lane street. Many of the mansions are now office buildings.
5. Return to downtown, continue past the Statehouse and across the Scioto River to the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), on the left side of W. Broad. (The 'Santa Maria' replica will be on the right as you cross the river.)
6. From COSI head back across the river on W. Broad St. and turn right on Civic Center Drive. Go three blocks to W. Main St. and turn left; then turn right on S. High St. The historic Southern Hotel and Theater is on the corner of S. High and E. Main.
7. Head south on S. High St. After you cross I-70/71 you are in historic German Village, a great area to park and walk. Turn left on Kossuth St. and go several blocks to reach Schmidt's, an authentic German restaurant in a restored building.
8. After visiting German Village, go north on S. High St. back through downtown. After you pass the Statehouse and the Columbus Convention Center you will be in a neighborhood called the Short North.
9. The Short North is an area of art galleries and trendy shops. Look for a parking lot along N. High St. if you want to shop. Continue north on N. High to reach the Ohio State University campus.
10. The N. High St. campus strip is kind of run down right now, but renovation plans are in the works. The OSU campus is along the left; the avant garde looking building on the left is the Wexner Center for the Arts.
11. At the northern edge of the OSU campus, turn left onto Lane Av. Follow Lane Av. until you cross the Olentangy River, then turn left on Olentangy River Rd. The new Schottenstein Arena is on the corner.
12. Right after you turn onto Olentangy River Rd., turn left on Woody Hayes Dr. After you cross back over the river turn right on Cannon Drive. The famous Ohio Stadium where Woody Hayes coached will be on the left.
13. Follow Cannon Drive until it ends into King Av. Turn left; Battelle Memorial Institute--where photocopying, space shuttle tiles, and other innovations were developed--will be along the right side of King Av.
14. After five blocks on King Av., turn right on Neil Av. This will take you through restored Victorian Village. After you pass under I-670 you will enter the Arena District and pass Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL Blue Jackets.
15. When Neil Av. ends into Dublin Rd. (US 33), turn right. Turn right on Grandview Av. in about a mile. After you climb a steep hill, you will be in downtown Grandview Heights. Turn left on First Av. When you reach Marble Cliff, the tour ends.
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