Columbus (Georgia)

Columbus is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland, near the Chattahoochee River and bordering Alabama. It is known for its Southern hospitality, unique attractions, and proximity to Fort Benning.

Understand
Columbus is a great example of a true river city, once a major center for textile manufacturing. Founded in 1828, Columbus is also known for being the site of the last battle of the Civil War, where Columbus ranked second to Richmond in the manufacture of supplies for the Confederate army. Columbus was also one of the most important industrial centers of the south in the early 1900s.

Its historic elements remain while it possesses all the aspects of a modern city. Its small town feel is still kept intact despite being Georgia's third largest city with a population of 195,000 (2018).

By car
From the north: I-185 is easily accessible and leads from North Columbus through Midtown and ends in South Columbus by Fort Benning. Downtown is accessible by taking exit 10 from 185 to J.R. Allen Parkway (U.S. Route 80).

From the south: U.S. Route 27 goes through Fort Benning, into South Columbus, then directly to downtown.

From the east: U.S. Route 80 turns into J.R. Allen Parkway in East Columbus and leads to downtown.

From the west: U.S. Route 431/U.S. Route 280 crosses the Chattahoochee River into downtown before turning merging U.S. Route 27.

By public transit

 * Amtrak leaving Columbus, Georgia.jpg Transit System offers a Monday-Saturday bus service with routes that run throughout Columbus and its metro area. Metra also offers a historic streetcar that runs throughout Midtown.

By car
The major north-south street through Downtown is Broadway, and the major east-west street is 13th Street. The parking meters in downtown can be frustrating and challenging, but there are several public parking garages. However these garages usually charge a fee from $2-5 to use their garage.

On foot
Downtown Columbus is a good area to see in the daytime by simply walking. Downtown is roughly one mile by one mile, bounded in the north by 15th Street, the south by Victory Drive, the east by 10th Street, and the west by Front Avenue and the Chattahoochee River.

By horse and carriage
Horse and carriage is a relaxed option for seeing the city at a more leisurely pace and is abundant throughout downtown.

Arts

 * Bradley Theater: Opened to the public by Paramount Pictures in 1940, this theater was named after the founder of the Columbus-based W.C. Bradley Co. The theater was designed in the grand tradition of the Golden Age of motion pictures using neo-classical and art deco architecture. It possesses one of the most impressive stages and proscenium arches in the country. The theater hosts concerts, corporate functions, theater performances, and a variety of other special events. Located on Broadway in downtown.

Museums




Parks

 * Cooper Creek Park: Listen to ducks and geese in their natural habitat as you walk around this beautiful park. Do some fishing or play some tennis in the largest soft-court public tennis facility in the United States. Located on Milgen Road in North Columbus.
 * Flat Rock Park: Relax and listen to the sound of fresh water flowing across rocks in this beautiful park. There is also a wonderful bike trail that circles this large park's perimeter. Catch a few fish in Flat Rock Lake. Picnic areas and event centers make Flat Rock Park a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon. Located on Warm Springs Road in North Columbus.
 * Heritage Park: Discover Columbus' history at Heritage Park, a celebration of the industrial heritage of Columbus. The sound of falling water, beautiful statues, educational plaques and unique surroundings provide a place of quiet retreat for all who visit. Self-guided tours are a great way to experience what history has preserved. Located on Front Avenue in downtown.
 * Standing Boy Creek State Park: Witness wildlife in its natural habitat at this 1,579 acre State Park. Enjoy some swimming or boating on Lake Oliver. Also try camping, hiking, and hunting in this beautiful facility monitored 24/7 by Georgia State Park Rangers. Located on Old River Road in North Columbus.

Historic Districts


Columbus is home to the following 7 historic districts, all listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).


 * Columbus Historic District: This historic district is located in downtown. It retains the brick streets likely from the Civil War times. It is also home to many historic homes, most build in the late-1800s. Colonial Revival, Craftsman, English Vernacular Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival and one 1954 California Ranch.
 * Columbus Historic Riverfront Industrial District: Added to the NRHP in 1978, this historic district is located downtown and covers four separate areas, all close to the Chattahoochee River. It includes Heritage Park, as well as historic Columbus Iron Works (now the Columbus Convention & Trade Center).
 * Dinglewood Historic District:The Dinglewood Historic District is a small, residential neighborhood comprising the c. 1859 Dinglewood house; early 20th –century residences; a privately-owned, central, circular park; and a city-owned park. The district developed around Dinglewood, the two-story, Italianate-style house designed for Colonel Joel Early Hurt. Common house styles in the district include Georgian, Bungalow, Ranch, Colonial Revival, English Vernacular Revival, and Spanish Colonial Revival.
 * Peacock Woods-Dimon Circle Historic District: The development of this historic district began in 1922. The center of the district (known as Rock Park) was developed by Charles Frank Williams and the southwest portion (known as Wynnton Heights) was subdivided by Hezikiah Land. The district includes a broad range of architectural styles including Colonial Revival, Craftsman, English Vernacular Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival and one 1954 California Ranch.
 * Weracoba-St. Elmo Historic District: The history of this historic district begins with the founding of Columbus and with the city’s most famous antebellum mansion, St. Elmo, built circa 1830. Another smaller antebellum house, Highland Hall, dating from the 1850s, is also within the District. Both structures are listed in the NRHP, and they illustrate the area’s original use as a setting for suburban estates prior to the American Civil War. Today, the Weracoba / St. Elmo Historic District is a vibrant multi-use residential, recreational, educational, and commercial area with a strong sense of community among its residents. Its canopy of mature hardwood trees shelters the city’s- and perhaps one of the state’s-largest and most intact 1920s/1930s concentration of middle-class Craftsman Bungalow, Tudor Revival, Classical, and Mission Revival style homes. Of the 440 surviving houses in the District, 85% were constructed by 1941.
 * Wildwood Circle-Hillcrest Historic District: In the 1880s, a streetcar line was constructed along Wildwood Avenue to serve the Wynnton area. Owner of the streetcar line and the Muscogee Real Estate Company, John Francis Flournoy, built his own Queen Anne estate here as he developed the Wildwood Circle subdivision. Sale of lots along the streetcar line peaked from 1918 to 1925. Also within this district—at 1519 Stark Avenue—is the childhood home of Carson McCullers (1917–1967) the renowned novelist and playwright. Some of the architectural styles in this district include Colonial Revival, English Vernacular Revival, Mission/Spanish Revival, and Craftsman.
 * Village of Wynnton Historic District: An example of an early-to mid-20th-century residential neighborhood developed from antebellum estates and in response to the streetcar line which ran along the southern and eastern boundaries of the district. The evolution of Wynnton Village spans over 150 years from its antebellum estates, to its village center developed in the mid-19th century, to the beginning of streetcar suburbs in the 1890s, to intense residential development from 1919 through the 1940s and then serving as a prime location for multi-family dwellings for World War II-era Fort Benning officers. Architectural styles vary from early examples of Greek and Gothic Revival to popular early 20th century styles including Craftsman, Colonial Revival and English Vernacular Revival.
 * Wynn's Hill-Overlook Historic District: An outstanding example of an early-to mid-20th-century residential neighborhood developed from several antebellum estates. In 1834, Colonel William L. Wynn purchased 100 acres of land located on a rise east of downtown, just beyond the city limits. With the incorporation of a larger Wynnton area into the city limits in the mid-1920s, residential construction boomed; a second peak in building occurred in the 1940s. Some of the architectural styles in this district include Greek Revival, Neoclassical Revival, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, English Vernacular Revival, Mediterranean Revival and Post Modern.

Do

 * Take a walk or bike ride along the Chattahoochee Riverwalk, 15-mile paved trail that hugs the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
 * Walk through Oxbow Meadows, a place where nature can be itself.
 * Visit Hollywood Connection, a large entertainment complex a skating rink, as well as its own movie theater.
 * Tour the historic homes located in the Columbus Historic District in downtown.
 * See a Cottonmouths or Lions game at the Civic Center.
 * Take a tour of Midtown on an authentic streetcar.
 * Tour historic Lindwood Cemetery, resting place of Coca-Cola founder Dr. John Pemberton, as well as Dr. Edwin Degraffinreid, who helped to design the city of Columbus.

Eat

 * Dinglewood Pharmacy: On the outside, it looks like your typical small town pharmacy. But you may not know that on the inside, this pharmacy contains a lunch counter. Dinglewood is famous for its scramble dog (a hot dog covered with chili, cheese, onions, pickles, and oyster crackers). In the eyes of the locals, this is the best hot dog on the planet. Located in Midtown at 1939 Wynnton Road.
 * Dinglewood Pharmacy: On the outside, it looks like your typical small town pharmacy. But you may not know that on the inside, this pharmacy contains a lunch counter. Dinglewood is famous for its scramble dog (a hot dog covered with chili, cheese, onions, pickles, and oyster crackers). In the eyes of the locals, this is the best hot dog on the planet. Located in Midtown at 1939 Wynnton Road.
 * Dinglewood Pharmacy: On the outside, it looks like your typical small town pharmacy. But you may not know that on the inside, this pharmacy contains a lunch counter. Dinglewood is famous for its scramble dog (a hot dog covered with chili, cheese, onions, pickles, and oyster crackers). In the eyes of the locals, this is the best hot dog on the planet. Located in Midtown at 1939 Wynnton Road.
 * Dinglewood Pharmacy: On the outside, it looks like your typical small town pharmacy. But you may not know that on the inside, this pharmacy contains a lunch counter. Dinglewood is famous for its scramble dog (a hot dog covered with chili, cheese, onions, pickles, and oyster crackers). In the eyes of the locals, this is the best hot dog on the planet. Located in Midtown at 1939 Wynnton Road.
 * Dinglewood Pharmacy: On the outside, it looks like your typical small town pharmacy. But you may not know that on the inside, this pharmacy contains a lunch counter. Dinglewood is famous for its scramble dog (a hot dog covered with chili, cheese, onions, pickles, and oyster crackers). In the eyes of the locals, this is the best hot dog on the planet. Located in Midtown at 1939 Wynnton Road.

Go next

 * Butts Mill Farm (Pine Mountain)
 * Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain)
 * Lake Pines Campground and RV Park (Columbus)
 * Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park (Warm Springs)
 * The Little White House (Warm Springs)
 * Pine Mountain Wild Animal Safari (Pine Mountain)