Bartholomew County: Architecture, Museums and Nature

Bartholomew County combines architecture, history and nature with experiences on the water. In Columbus, you can compare guided architecture experiences and self-guided explorations; museums and historical exhibits focus on regional history and on people who served in wars and conflicts. Outdoor activities include a nature preserve with trails and canoe and kayak trips. When planning a hotel stay, a good first question is whether you want to focus on culture or time outdoors.

Architecture and History

The architecture experiences in Columbus differ primarily in how you explore. Guided architecture tours are led by trained volunteer guides. Self-guided options include more than 90 stops in the downtown area and throughout the county. In addition, 18 architectural sites can be reached on a walk covering five downtown blocks. This gives you two options for planning: a wide-ranging selection of stops across the city and county, or a compact downtown exploration covering five blocks.

Miller House and Garden was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000. The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum honors military and civilian personnel who served in wars and conflicts between 1942 and 1970; admission is free. You can also learn about the World War II glider pilots there. The Bartholomew County Historical Society features two permanent exhibits on the history and heritage of Bartholomew County.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

The 44-acre Anderson Falls nature preserve has a picnic area and a network of trails. During your visit, you can combine a break at the picnic area with an exploration of the trails. Blue's Canoe Livery offers canoe and kayak trips on the Driftwood River. The river trips pass through a remote state wildlife area and part of the Camp Atterbury Wilderness Area.

CERAland Park offers swimming at its Aquatic Center and has a disc golf course. Columbus in Bartholomew County is accessible via I-65 and connected to destinations throughout the Midwest.

More Experiences and Getting Around

The 1821 Trail runs along First Street from the Haw Creek Trail to Water Street. Group tours at Not Just Popcorn, etc. showcase the stages of popcorn production: growing, harvesting, popping, coating, tasting and packaging. Since tour arrangements may change, it’s a good idea to check directly with the business if you’re planning this group activity.

Plan Your Hotel Stay Around Your Interests

Among the architecture experiences, you can also decide whether you prefer a guided tour or would rather choose the stops yourself. Focusing your plans this way can help you tailor your search for hotels in Bartholomew County to your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Pulaski County, Lake, Madison County, Whitley County, Shelby County, Starke County, Clay County.

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