Quality of Life

Cultural/Recreational Amenities

Columbus Visitors Center
Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau
900 Front Avenue
Columbus GA 31902
706-322-1613
1-800-999-1613
www.visitcolumbusga.com

For information on Columbus area attractions and events, make your first stop the Columbus Visitors Center. You can also see a 10-minute video presentation of things to see and do in the region and visit the Center's gift shop.

Georgia Visitors Center
1751 Williams Road
(Exit #8 off I-185)
Columbus GA 31904
706-649-7455
www.georgiaonmymind.org
Provides an abundance of information, brochures, and maps on area attractions and state parks.

photo credit: Jim Cawthorne, Camera 1

Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library System
3000 Macon Road
Columbus GA 31906
706-243-2669
www.thecolumbuslibrary.org
The Chattahoochee Valley Regional Library System consists of 10 member libraries in a five-county area. It is headquartered at the Columbus Public Library in central Columbus, with branches located throughout the city. The North Columbus Branch Library, near the airport on Armour Road, serves the northernmost part of the city. The South Columbus Branch Library on South Lumpkin Road provides easy access to Fort Benning and South Columbus. In addition, the Mildred L. Terry Branch on Veteran's Parkway and the 12th Street Library are ideally suited to the uptown area. Residents and visitors to our area have access to a full range of books, audio and video tapes, CD-ROMs and electronic resources such as e-mail, word processing and Internet.

Columbus Botanical Garden
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1313
Columbus, Georgia 31902

Street Address:
3603 Weems Road
Columbus, Ga 31909
Phone: (706) 649-1837 / Fax: (706) 649-1407

www.ColumbusBotanicalGarden.com
Once the 20-acre site is fully developed, the Garden will be among the largest botanical gardens in the Southeast and one of the only botanical gardens with a particular emphasis in formal horticulture education. The Columbus Technical College Environmental Horticulture Program plans to relocate to the Garden. At the Garden's hub is the historic Adams' family farmstead around which a period-correct garden is being installed. The remaining 16 acres will include a conservatory, formal gardens and great lawn as well as natural habitats.

Columbus Parks and Recreation Department
107 41st Street
Columbus GA 31904
706-653-4505
706-653-4508
www.columbusga.org/parksandrec/
 
Columbus Parks and Recreation maintains 61 parks and 3 golf courses. Special facilities include the Columbus Civic Center (400 4th Street), A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium (600 4th Street) and South Commons Softball Complex (400 4th Street).
Four Super Centers have been completed. "Super Centers" have a full gym, exercise room, meeting room, arts and crafts space, and a game room. They are approximately 20,000 square feet. Britt David Park, Chapman Homes, the Edgewood Senior Center, the Gallops Senior Center, and the Shirley Winston Park all have Arts and Crafts Centers that include pottery facilities. Cooper Creek Park has 30 clay tennis courts. Carver Park, Cooper Creek Park, Flat Rock Park, Heath Park, the Municipal Marina Park, Rotary Park, and Watershed No. 14 (Weems Road) have lakes or access to the River for fishing. They also offer grills and picnic tables/shelters. Many of these and other parks contain swimming pools, baseball and football fields, tennis courts, fitness/walking trails, playgrounds, and open play areas. In addition, there are before and after school programs, holiday and summer camps programs, field trips, lifeguard training courses, arts and crafts classes, and social activities for seniors.

Columbus Symphony Orchestra
P O Box 1499
Columbus GA 31902-1499
706-323-5059
www.csoga.org
Although the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded in 1855 by Herman S. Saroni and was the third symphony to be formed in the U.S., wars caused the orchestra to have several periods of inactivity. The early orchestra consisted of volunteers. All chairs are now filled through audition and musicians are paid for rehearsals and performances. Since the present organization was formed in 1949, the 2005-06 season marks the orchestra's 56th season.

Historical Interest

Black Heritage Tour
Columbus GA
Notes the significant contributions of Columbus, Georgia's African-American heritage at 28 sites including the home of Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Mother of the Blues, and others such as painter Alma Thomas and master bridge builder Horace King.

Historic Columbus Foundation, Inc.
The Rankin House
1440 2nd Avenue
P O Box 5312
Columbus GA 31906
706-322-0756
www.historiccolumbus.com
The Columbus Historic District is an area of properties that range from Federal cottages to Victorian homes. The Historic Columbus Foundation offers a Heritage Corner walking tour that includes five historic house museums ranging from the 1820s to the 1870s. It is also the largest contiguous historical district in Georgia.

Linwood Cemetery
721 Linwood Boulevard
Columbus, GA 31901
706-321-8285
www.historiclinwood.org
This historic cemetery began functioning in 1828, four months before the creation of the city. There are numerous monuments, many surrounded by architectural antique cast iron and wrought iron fences, and impressive statuary.

Museums

Columbus Museum
1251 Wynnton Road
Columbus GA 31906-2898
706-649-0713
www.columbusmuseum.com
This museum is unique in the southeast for its focus on both American art and regional history. The museum features changing art exhibitions, 300 years of American and fine and decorative art in 15 galleries and two permanent galleries: Chattahoochee Legacy (the history of the Chattahoochee Valley) and Transformations (a hands-on discovery gallery). There is also a café and a museum shop. The 86,000-square-foot facility is the second largest art museum in Georgia.

National Infantry Museum
Baltzell Avenue, Bldg. 396
Fort Benning GA 31905-5273
706-545-2958
www.infantry.army.mil/museum/index.htm
This museum traces the evolution of the infantry from the 16th century to the present. It contains military artifacts, weapons and equipment used by U.S. Army infantrymen and an exhibit on the history of Fort Benning. There's also a souvenir store, an audio-visual program, the Chattahoochee Choo Choo and the Airborne Gallery, a diorama of a paratrooper landing in enemy territory. In addition, funds are being raised for the construction of the National Infantry Museum Complex at an estimated $70 million.

Port Columbus Civil War Naval Center
1002 Victory Drive
Columbus GA 31902-1022
706-327-9798
www.portcolumbus.org
Port Columbus Civil War Naval Center is the only museum dedicated to a comprehensive look at this fascinating aspect of the Civil War. The collection is anchored by two of only four Civil War Navy vessels on public display: the ironclad ram Jackson and the gunboat Chattahoochee. Along with the ships, Port Columbus contains a collection that features many of the most rare and significant Civil War Naval artifacts in the world.

W. C. Bradley Company Museum
1017 Front Avenue
Columbus, GA 31901
706-571-6041
This museum houses a collection of 120 pieces by local and national artists depicting both the history of the W. C. Bradley Company as well as scenes from this part of Georgia and Alabama. The museum is open from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday.
Admission is free

Theaters

Bradley Theatre
1241 Broadway
Columbus GA 31901
706-321-9098
Box Office: 706-321-8425
Located in the Historic UPtown Columbus Landmark District, the Bradley Theatre was opened to the public by Paramount Pictures on July 2, 1940. Named after the founder of the Columbus-based W. C. Bradley Co., the theatre was designed in the grand tradition of the Golden Age of motion pictures utilizing neo classical and art deco architecture. The theatre possesses one of the most impressive stages and proscenium arches in the country. Currently, the theatre hosts concerts, theatre, corporate functions and a variety of special events. Tours by appointment only.

Liberty Theatre
813 8th Avenue
Columbus GA 31901
706-653-7566
Originally opened in 1924, the theatre hosted movies, concerts, dances and vaudeville acts, including many big-name entertainers, before closing in 1974. A non-profit organization and the city worked to obtain a federal grant in 1993 and the Liberty was restored and reopened in Nov. 1996. Today, the 300-seat theatre is once again hosting a variety of theatre, musical and special events.

RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
13 East 10th Street
P O Box 2425
Columbus GA 31902
706-653-7993
www.riverarts.net

Welcome to a new showplace for the 21st century: a 2000-seat hall for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and touring attractions, a 450-seat recital hall and magnificent organ, an intimate 150-seat studio theater, an uptown home for the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music and support facilities for many regional organizations.

Springer Opera House
103 10th Street
Columbus GA 31901
706-324-5714
www.springeroperahouse.org
Built in 1871, the Springer Opera House is a National Historic Landmark and the celebrated State Theatre of Georgia. The Springer Opera House hosts a regular season of productions, plus a variety of events by local groups. The Springer Opera House is also host of the Youth Theatre Summer Program which sells out every year.

Columbus State University

Coca-Cola Space Science Center
701 Front Avenue
Columbus GA 31901
706-649-1470
www.ccssc.org
This attraction takes students, visitors, and corporate groups on simulated space missions with the Challenger Learning Center. The Omnisphere Theater, the showcase public portion of the center, is designed for laser light shows, interactive media performances and programs featuring the nighttime sky. It is also a venue for live theater productions, musical concerts and special events. The center also includes a Mead Observatory and a gift shop.

Department of Art
Columbus State University
4225 University Ave.
Columbus GA 31907
706-568-2047
http://art.colstate.edu
The mission of the Department of Art is to provide undergraduate and graduate instruction in art history, studio art, and art education. The department will serve the educational, cultural, and creative needs of its region by the offerings in its curriculum and extracurricular events. Through its gallery, the department will provide students, faculty, and the community with a broad range of artistic presentations.

Department of Theatre
Columbus State University
4225 University Ave.
Columbus, GA 31907
706-568-2048
http://theatre.colstate.edu
The CSU Theatre Department offers a comprehensive undergraduate foundation in theatre, including acting, directing, lighting, computer-aided design, scene design, costume design, stage movement, and children's theatre. CSU Theatre program is small so the undergraduates get hands-on experience in a variety of areas. Our majors receive a solid foundation for their future careers in educational, professional, or community theatre.

Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center
Columbus State University
3491 South Lumpkin Road
Columbus GA 31903
706-687-4090
http://oxbow.colstate.edu
This unique facility allows visitors to touch a turtle, measure a tree, see a beaver's house or soar with a butterfly. It is a learning center where children and adults can see how the environment shapes our lives by focusing on the Chattahoochee River and adjacent wetlands.

Rankin Arts Center
Columbus State University
1004 Broadway
Columbus GA 31901
706-641-4000
Main Continuing Education Office-706-568-2023
http://rankinarts.colstate.edu
The Rankin Arts Center is the new downtown venue for Columbus State University's Continuing and Regional Education Services. Located in the renovated Rankin Hotel building, the Rankin Arts Center will serve as a focal point for the arts community in the UPtown area by offering classes in visual, performing, communication, literary, heritage, cultural, and culinary arts. The Rankin Arts Center includes a dance/exercise studio, three large art studios, a full kitchen for cooking classes, and multi-purpose studio space. A large lecture hall and conference rooms that preserve the historic integrity of the original Rankin Hotel, with hardwood floors and fireplaces, are also available for meetings and public functions.

Schwob School of Music
Columbus State University
4225 University Ave.
Columbus GA 31907-5645
706-568-2049
http://music.colstate.edu
Established in 1969, the Schwob School of Music is recognized regionally, nationally, and even internationally as a center of excellence in music. Our selective student body comes from throughout the U.S., as well as the world. The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, located in the heart of the business district in UPtown Columbus, is the new home of the Schwob School of Music. This facility will be one of the finest music complexes in the country.

UPtown

Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center
801 Front Avenue
Columbus GA 31901
706-327-4522
www.columbusga.org/tradecenter
Located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, this center was a pre-Civil War cannon manufacturer. It also produced farm implements, munitions and weapons used by the Confederacy. The renovation of the facility preserved timbers, exposed beams and old brick walls. The setting adds an historical ambiance to the meeting/dining rooms which can be set up to accommodate the smallest to the largest groups. The Convention Center has undertaken a $30 million expansion project, which will add 1000,000 square feet to the facility.

Columbus Riverwalk
Parks Services
706-653-4189
www.columbusga.org/parksandrec
Featuring red brick and ironwork, the Riverwalk is a popular promenade along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The 12-mile Riverwalk extends south to the National Infantry Museum and north to the Chattahoochee River Club. A two-mile segment of the Riverwalk continues north from TSYS to Lake Oliver Marina.

UPtown Columbus, Inc.
1017 1st Avenue, Suite 100
P.O. Box 1237
Columbus, GA 31902
706-596-0111
www.uptowncolumbusga.com
UPtown Columbus, Inc. is a non-profit certified development corporation serving as the catalyst and facilitator for developing the UPtown area into a 21st century model city where people desire to visit, live, work, shop, dine and enjoy. In addition to offering small business loans and a variety of special events, UPtown Columbus, Inc. is governed by a 25-member board that focuses on financial development, marketing and publicity, master planning and retention/recruitment. UPtown Columbus, Inc. also serves as facilitator of the Business Improvement District (BID).

UPtown Business Improvement District (BID)
1226 3rd Avenue
P.O. Box 1218
Columbus, GA 31902
706-322-9078
www.columbusbid.com
The new UPtown BID, designed to supplement city services in the Central Business District and market the UPtown Columbus area, was created by the property owners in a 47-block area of UPtown and began operation in January 2000. The BID Ambassadors, affectionately called the Purple People Greeters, and their clean team counterparts armed with Purple Litter Critters, make a significant contribution to the new vitality in the UPtown area by placing special emphasis on cleanliness, security and safety. A 15-member board of directors who represent the property owners governs the BID.

Organizations

Columbus Artists' Guild
www.columbusartistsguild.org
An organization of visual artists and interested people from throughout the region that pay a nominal fee to meet regularly and participate with others who have the same interests. Artists also receive reduced rates on show entry fees. The Guild also provides resource people to the community, i.e., schools and clubs. Also provides an assistance workshop program for needy high school students.
Free admission to most events, including Arts on the River, an annual event that takes place each October.

Columbus Ballet
The Rankin Arts Center
1004 Broadway
Columbus GA 31901
706-641-5030
Founded in 1995, the Columbus Ballet was established to promote classical ballet in the Columbus area. Guest soloists complement the work of the company dancers to provide audiences with a unique cultural experience.

Columbus Boy Choir
The Columbus Boy Choir was established in 1985 to further enrich the musical opportunities available to young people in the Columbus area. During the past fifteen years, the Choir has been steadily building a reputation for high standards of choral excellence. The Choir provides an opportunity for boys to study and perform quality choral literature, to develop singing technique, to augment school and church music programs, and to serve as ambassadors representing the quality of life in the Columbus area through local performances and concert tours.

Muscogee County Friends of Libraries
3000 Macon Road
Columbus GA 31906
706-243-2669
An organization comprised of concerned citizens to serve as advocates to Muscogee County's Bradley Library. They enrich and promote the public library in a variety of ways. There is a membership fee to join this group; however, meetings are open to the general public.

Southeastern Music Center
P O Box 8348
Columbus GA 31908-8348
706-649-7244
Established in 1982 to provide young musicians an opportunity to evaluate his/her talent against that of similarly directed students from this area. They assist serious music students in determining music's proper place in their lives by providing them with both educational and performance experience in orchestra and chamber group settings. This musical instruction is offered during the summer school break.

U.S. Army Infantry Center Band Operations
706-545-5313
www.infantry.army.mil/infantryband
The U.S. Army Infantry Center Band's history dates back to 1916. After several reorganizations and re-designations, the band was finally activated once again at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1955, as the 283rd Army Band. Currently the Infantry Band, with its eight performing groups, accomplishes more than 600 military missions a year that support the military and civilian communities in and around Fort Benning.

Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus
P O Box 8612
Columbus GA 31908-8612
706-256-3614
The Youth Orchestra and String Orchestra are two separate organizations operating in cooperation with each other under a single board of directors. The goal of both ensembles is to supplement the school music experiences of the most talented string, wind, brass, and percussion players in the Columbus area by performing repertoire of the highest quality and through special master classes and sectionals led by the area's top professionals.