Muscogee: Experience cultural history and nature

Standing Boy Trails lie on the shore of Lake Oliver, on a 1,580-acre site in Muscogee County. The trails offer opportunities for hiking, running, cycling and wildlife watching. A park pass is required to access the trails. The trail system may close after heavy rain, so check trail status before setting out.

Cultural history in Columbus

In Columbus, a variety of offerings introduce visitors to different chapters of the city’s history. Historic Columbus offers tours covering more than 150 years of the city’s history. There is also a self-guided driving tour of the Black Heritage Trail. These formats offer different perspectives: the tours focus on the city’s history, while the driving tour can be experienced at your own pace.

The Columbus Collective Museums comprise eight museums in a restored warehouse and exhibition building belonging to a tile and marble company. The building was originally constructed in 1946. The Columbus Museum presents American art and regional history through more than 14,000 artifacts and objects. Those interested in infantry history will find a significant collection of military artifacts at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. Its chronological galleries document infantry involvement in conflicts since the founding of the nation.

The exhibition The Last 100 Yards offers a distinct perspective on infantry history, immersively conveying more than 240 years of history. The 155-acre campus also includes a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a separate memorial to the Global War on Terrorism. The National Civil War Naval Museum displays the CSS Jackson and the recovered wreck of the CSS Chattahoochee. Other exhibits include a reconstruction of the USS Hartford and replicas of the turret of the USS Monitor and the CSS Albemarle.

The ways history is presented also differ: the Naval Museum hosts living-history programs, tours, cannon firings, weapons demonstrations and special history projects throughout the year. The self-guided Stroll the Decks tour begins with an introduction by a museum interpreter; African-Americans & Civil War Navies is a guided tour. At the living history museum Historic Westville, everyday life in the 19th century is presented through artifacts, traditional crafts, workshops and costumed interpreters.

Stages, exhibitions and nature

The Springer Opera House opened in 1871 and is designated a National Historic Landmark. It produces fourteen live theater performances each season. Historical tours with museum guides are available by appointment; late-night Ghost Tours are also offered. Tours of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts are also available by prior arrangement.

The Coca-Cola Space Science Center at Columbus State University houses Georgia’s largest collection of NASA Space Shuttle artifacts. Visitors can take a virtual trip to the International Space Station and use flight simulators. The Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center explores natural history: it offers formal and informal programs on the region’s ecology and natural history, as well as interactive exhibits and living collections of regional animals.

For a quieter nature experience, visit the 36-acre Columbus Botanical Garden, with its Joann Holt Walking Trail and display gardens featuring native and regional plant species. The Chattahoochee RiverWalk offers a different kind of trail: it is a 22-mile linear walking path. Parking is available near each of the listed access points. Whitewater Express offers instruction in kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and fly fishing. Visitors can zipline across the Chattahoochee River to Alabama and back to Georgia.

Visitor planning information

The Ma Rainey House in Columbus is closed until further notice for renovations. The Historic Liberty Theatre & Cultural Arts Center is temporarily closed for renovations. Check the status of each site before visiting, as closures may change. For travel, Columbus Metropolitan Airport is approximately a 15-minute drive from downtown Columbus; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is about an hour and a half away. Both times are estimates and depend on traffic.

Tailor your plans to the interests that bring you to Columbus and the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Columbus, Gilmer County, Tift, Upson, Richmond, Mitchell County, Rabun County, Screven.

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