Discover Columbus: Art, Architecture, and Mill Race Park

Columbus offers several distinct points of interest to consider when planning a trip: permanent works and changing art exhibitions, guided tours of architecture and public art, and Mill Race Park on the Flatrock River. If you’re looking for a hotel in Columbus, it helps to first decide what you’d like to focus on during your stay. Would you mainly like to explore art and architecture, plan a guided tour, or take in the park features and riverside setting? Each of these themes offers a different experience.

Art and Architecture in Different Formats

Exhibit Columbus now has five permanent works in downtown Columbus. The number may change as the urban area develops. Gallery 506 presents rotating exhibitions by local and regional artists in the historic Storey House section of the Columbus Visitors Center. The two venues represent different forms of art: Exhibit Columbus features permanent works, while Gallery 506 presents changing exhibitions. If you’d like to focus your stay on culture, you can distinguish between these formats as you plan.

Another historic point of interest is Miller House and Garden. The property was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000. This designation adds a specific historical context to the themes of art and architecture. Columbus also has two guided tours of downtown that offer different perspectives on architecture, public art, and the character of the city center. The guided architecture tour begins and ends at the Columbus Visitors Center, which is itself a separate attraction in central Columbus. If a tour is important to your plans, check the available dates in advance.

Park and Trail Route

Mill Race Park is located on the Flatrock River and features trails, a covered bridge, picnic shelters, an observation tower, and an amphitheater. Its combination of a riverside setting, trails, and various park features offers a distinct focus alongside the city’s art and architecture. When planning your trip, you can weigh these different aspects of the area rather than associating Columbus with just one theme.

The extension of the 1821 Trail offers another point of reference. It runs along First Street from the Haw Creek Trail to Water Street. Here, the route and its endpoints provide the specific point of reference; the guided tours, by contrast, focus on architecture, public art, and the character of downtown. This lets you consider a trail route and a themed guided experience as different parts of your plans.

Find a Hotel That Fits Your Stay

When searching for a hotel in Columbus, you can first decide which of the topics mentioned will shape your stay: art and architecture, a guided tour, or Mill Race Park. Then compare the actual location of each hotel option with your own plans. This way, your choice reflects the places and interests that matter for your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Bartholomew County.