Visit Columbus Bartholomew Indiana and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Columbus, Indiana: An architecture lover has to visit not only the famous statehouse, but also the numerous modern buildings from the middle of the 20th century. Discover the century. #ArchitectureTravel #USA
Honestly, if you're looking for “Columbus Sights”, you're probably expecting a glittering metropolitan network – and I understand the hype about big cities, but here in Columbus, the heart of Columbus Township in the tranquil Bartholomew County, the pace is a bit slower, but much more authentic. The city was founded in 1823, when a few brave pioneers decided to tame the unborn Indiana country; Since then, the small town has developed from a pure railway node to a surprisingly creative centre for modern architecture – thanks to the famous “New‐York-School” by Eero Saarinen and Co., who have placed their sculptures of concrete and steel, as if they wanted to miss the country a bit of a big city flair.
I usually come by car over the I‐65, because the train is a nostalgic trip here, but the local bus lines are surprisingly reliable if you want to separate yourself from your own vehicle. What I particularly like is the interplay of history and present: the old County court, which still uses the same model as 1850, is just a stone's throw away from the ultra-modern art installations that you will discover while walking through the city centre. And yes, Columbus sights are not only museums – the real highlight is the unplanned conversation with a local who explains why the annual “Columbus Art‐Walk” reveals more about the city’s soul than any brochure.
I must confess at the beginning that this Miller for me is the true heart of Columbus – not because it is a museum, but because it is the only house I have ever entered without getting the feeling that I have landed in a design exhibition. The Eero-Saarinen-Werk is located a few blocks outside the center, but parking is almost always a Klacks as long as you don't arrive with your entire clique on Saturday night; then the small field behind the house turns into a mini-store paradise. I remember how I stood there in the summer of 2023 with my friend, the sun fell through the huge windows and we wondered why we should ever accept an ordinary living room – no joke, the light there is almost spiritual.
Directly next to the Miller House, if you have enough minimalist elegance, the First Christian Church of Saarinen a completely different shadow – in the truest sense of the word. The church is an architectural statement that raises more questions than answers. I had a little concert there; the acoustics was so good that I almost thought the community had secretly set up a sound studio. Parking is a bit tricky here, because the terrain is surrounded by a small residential community, but a short walk from the main road is usually enough.
If you have the need to deal with a bit of “intellectual buckling” then the Columbus Indiana Public Library That's right. Michael Graves created a building here that looks like a futuristic pencil kissed a classic reading room. I spent a day there, because the café serves the best espresso in the city next door – and this is not too exaggerated. Parking is practically right in front of the door, and the staff is so friendly that they almost persuade you to borrow a book you would never read.
A short detour to Columbus Art Center is worthwhile if you like art that not only hangs on the walls, but the whole building itself is an artwork. The changing exhibitions are sometimes a bit too avant-garde for my taste, but that makes the appeal – I don't understand the hype about some installations, but the open atrium with its huge glass front is just fantastic. The center has a small parking lot, which is usually free as long as you do not come to the first performance round of a special exhibition.
For a relaxed walk I recommend the Riverwalk, which swells along the White River and is surprisingly well maintained. I sat there on a lousy autumn evening with my dog and a bag of popcorn while the city lights glistened in the water. There are some hidden benches that hardly anyone uses, and that's perfect if you want a little distance from the tourist crowds. Parking is a bit tricky here because you have to park either at the end of the road or in a small underground garage at the other end of the road – but both are feasible.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Columbus City Hall, a building that is praised by the city itself as a “modern landmark”. I once participated in a public meeting and was surprised how much humour was in official speeches – a real contrast to the otherwise stiff city administrations. Parking is a bit tight here, because the town hall is in the middle of the business district, but you can always find a few free places if you have a little patience.
And because I don't just want to tell the usual suspects, here's a little secret tip: Columbus Farmers Market Saturday morning. I discovered the best homemade applesauce I've ever tried – no joke, the stuff was so good that I almost took the whole glass home. The market is right next to the town hall, so you can move on after visiting the City Hall. Parking is a bit chaotic here because most visitors park near the marketplace, but a short walk from the main road is not a problem.
If you now think that this is too much, let me tell you: Columbus Attractions are not only a bunch of buildings, but a lively network of history, design and a bit of local peculiarity. I have taken more than a few photos here – I have collected a few stories that I will unpack during the next visit.
The first stop of my little Odyssey inevitably leads me to Lincoln State ParkA piece of Indiana that feels like a silent tribute to the 16th president. I spent a weekend there, because the word “ectics” just didn’t go into my ears there – the noise of the Patoka River is almost meditative if you don’t just try to light the grill and not burn the meat. Parking is usually a Klacks, except for the long holidays, as the caravans pile up like ant piles. The trail “Pioneer Trail” is short, but it offers enough historical signs to get the feeling that you are in the 1800s‐Indiana, although I thought of the next gas station rather than I read the signs.
A short detour to the south brings me to Hoosier National Forest, more precisely in the remote Charles C. Deam Wilderness. There is no WLAN reception here, and this is exactly what I love in this place: the quiet whisper of the trees, which is only overtoned by their own steps. I remember watching a squirrel once in the middle of the forest, sniffing my backpack with courage, as if I were a very interesting nut stock. The trails are well marked, but if you're lost, it's not a reason to panic – parking on the main entrance is almost always free as long as you don't arrive on Saturday night with a group of families who want to expand the campfire to a small festival.
Continue Bedford, the so-called “Limestone Capital of the World”. The city is a paradise for those who stand on stone floors – in the truest sense of the word. I have Bedford Limestone Museum visits that tells more about limestone than I would have thought possible. The tour was so dry that I almost fell asleep, but then a local guide came, who explained with an eye-catcher that the stone here forms not only buildings, but also the “hard-paced determination of the inhabitants”. Parking is available directly in front of the museum, and this is a blessing because the road otherwise becomes a labyrinth of one-way streets that even entangle Google Maps.
A little further Blue River through the country, and I did my first canoe tour there – an experience I can hardly put into words without exaggerating. The water is not wild enough to swallow you, but fast enough to wake you when you stare too much into the sun. I remember how I almost lost the paddle after a particularly steep rapidity, just to be rescued by a friendly angler who gave me a smile that said more than any path description. Access to the river is free, but parking on the small boat dock is often full when the weather is good – a good argument to get up early.
A short trip after seymour leads to Railroad Heritage Trails, a network of hiking and cycling trails that follows old railway tracks. I turned a round there while thinking about the “golden era” of the steam locomotives, which once formed the backbone of the region. The paths are wide enough for a bike, but narrow enough to have the feeling that you are caught in a time machine. Parking at the starting point is usually easy as long as you are not there on the first Saturday of the month when the local railway museum has a special exhibition and shoot the visitor numbers up.
At the end of my small tour, Bartholomew County Fairgrounds not missing. The site is the heart of many regional events, from annual County Fair to small concerts in summer. I have experienced a local Bluegrass concert there for the first time, and the atmosphere was so authentic that I almost felt like being in a movie from the 70s – only with less glitter and more corn flasks. Parking is generous, but on the main days of events, there can be a small chaos when the visitor numbers blow up the capacity.
If you want to discover the true Indiana off the urban hectic, these places – from the quiet forests of the Hoosier National Forest to the lively events on the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds – offer a kaleidoscope of experiences that surprise and delight every traveler. And yes, all that belongs to the Columbus Attractionsthat you should not miss if you really want to get to know the heart of Bartholomew County.
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