It's slim pickings when it comes to truly historic sites in Columbus, but Camp Chase Cemetery, a…read morelittle known piece of Civil War history located on the West Side of Columbus, is a storied place- especially among Civil War enthusiasts. The Civil War touched Columbus in subtle and unusual ways. In 1861, the federal government authorized the establishment of Camp Chase as a training ground for Ohio volunteers and militia units. Columbus was a centralized location with a good transportation system and lots of space, so Ohio's capital was an obvious choice for a military camp. Camp Chase was built on what is now the West side of Columbus, near the the Westgate neighborhood, bordered by present-day Sullivant Avenue, Broad Street and Hague Avenue. It eventually served as a prison for local Confederate sympathisers and higher ranking prisoners of war and remained in operation throughout the entire Civil War. Between 1861 and 1863, the number of prisoners bulged to a whopping 8,000, but upon completion of a POW camp on Johnson's Island in Lake Erie, most of the Confederate officers were moved, leaving only the "enlisted" men at Camp Chase. It is well known that the living conditions were terrible. Prisoners suffered a variety of diseases related to starvation and in the winter of 1863, hundreds of prisoners fell victim to a smallpox epidemic. The camp closed in 1865 with the close of the Civil War. When all was said and done, more than 2,200 Confederate prisoners died at Camp Chase, causing the prison to establish its own cemetery, where today approximately 2,260 soldiers are buried. The only part of Camp Chase that still exists is two acres of land containing the cemetery. In 1902, a monument to the Confederate dead was erected at the cemetery, which you can see today. The Hilltop Historical Society sponsors an annual Memorial Service in June to honor the fallen Confederate soldiers. I have chosen to list the Ohio Historical Society's web page as the link here because they maintains a variety of documents, burial records, headstone inventories and photographs related to Camp Chase. For cemetery and history buffs alike, Camp Chase is a haunting place to visit. It's a completely moving experience to pass behind the stone wall and see 2600 white headstones stretched across 2-acres. Easy to forget you are in the middle of the city. Ghost hunters have come here searching for the Lady in Gray, an alleged female spirit (dressed in gray or gray in appearance) searching Camp Chase her lost husband. I have not bumped into any ghosts here, but I sure did enjoy discovering one of the few tangible pieces of Civil war history in Columbus. It's a moving place.

A small piece of history, representing a huge war. Worth a stop if you are a history or cemetery…read morebuff. I've been past many times without even being aware of it; I knew it was down here somewhere, but wasn't sure exactly where. It is just tucked into the neighborhood along Sullivant. Inside are more than 2000 graves, mostly Confederate prisoners. Research the history a bit (and read Shawnie K's review for a start.) This is all that is left of Camp Chase, a large camp and one of several that were in Columbus. I've been to Johnson Island up on Lake Erie, and had a similar feeling here. These men fought on the losing side (and the wrong side, not always the same thing) but they were, as the memorial says, Americans. It is a quiet, sobering place to visit on a cold late-winter morning.

Stress sculpture is a downtown Columbus Ohio Public art piece that sits outside of a short north…read morecommunity art museum in a small little sculpture garden. Of the pieces their this stress sculpture is probably the most basic. It features concert blocks stacked on top of each other. Overall this little sculpture garden has some awesome pieces in it and the short north community is crawling with all kinds of cool public art.

Located directly opposite the back of the Ohio Statehouse, this marker is in fine condition and is…read moretribute to an important organization. I mean, where would you be without breathing? The marker reads, "The Breathing Association was founded in 1906 as the Tuberculosis Society under the leadership of public health advocate Carrie Nelson Black. The society provided nutrition, medical care, and sanitorium services to people who could not afford proper medical care. A tuberculosis dispensary was operated at 40 South Third Street in Columbus for Ohioans needing consultation and treatment. Tuberculosis, known as the White Plague, killed one out of nine persons in Columbus during the early 1900s. An Open Air School was established on Neil Avenue in 1913 for children in homes where there were one or more cases of tuberculosis. In 1931, the Nightingale Cottage was opened on Brice Road as a tuberculosis preventorium for children. As tuberculosis became controllable, the agency became focused on emerging lung health issues. Today, The Breathing Association continues as a leading resource on lung health issues and preventing lung disease." [Review 11290 overall, 1067 of 2019.]

LuckyEgypt sculpture is a downtown Columbus Ohio Public art piece that sits outside of a short…read morenorth community art museum in a small little sculpture garden. This uniquely shaped sculpture is also unique tot eh sculpture garden as it is the only non metallic silver metal piece in the garden. This coral looking piece has a bronze color to it instead. Overall a real cool garden and a fun public art piece for the short north community of Columbus that feature's all sorts of public art pieces.

A neat sight in the middle of the city. Take a stroll to the top of this ancient mound and reflect…read moreon its history.

It's always wonderful to find preserved history, and that's exactly what is here in the small…read moreCampbell Memorial Park. You can't miss it: it's a large cone shaped mound in the center. The park is just off the street - parking is literally a pull off with room for just a few cars. There's a small stone entrance way, and then the mound in the center of a grassy area. There are some trees and a few benches around, along with a few plaques and a historical marker that share some history about it. It is a burial mound built by the Adena people approximately 2000 years ago, which is just amazing to think about. I'm so glad this one is still around today to appreciate. Well worth a stop.

Took a tour of this with the Columbus Historical Society. I've been driving by for decades,…read moreinterested in it, so when they had an event I signed right up. It's currently the Columbus Firefighters Union hall, and they, and previous tenants, have not just kept it in great shape but made it shine, and added an event space off to one side. Preserved history but kept it useful. The outside is beautiful, and the historic portions inside are impressive. It started as a train station, and tracks still run alongside it on an elevated platform added 15 years or so after it was originally built. So you get the feel of rail transport, and can see much of the original infrastructure (or well-done updates.) Parking is on the street (the firefighters have a small private parking area.) The tour and lecture by CHS were great. The event space is elegant, and would be good for a party, maybe even a wedding. I'm glad this has been preserved and yet is still being used. The design is unique (though there were several similar structures in town that have since been knocked down.) There is a historical marker out front for the station and, on the back, the architecturally similar hotel that was once next door.

A unique if not weird building of interest for architecture and history lovers this building on…read moreBroad Street is striking in orginality. Built to be a station for the old Toledo and Ohio Central Rail, it was designed by Frank Packard and Joseph Yost, designers who have birthed many notable buildings in Columbus and Ohio State. Built in 1895, the structure is noticable for its pagoda tower, a Japanese front adorned by Art Nouveau stylings. Its off-beat front sticks out between COSI and the railroad which today is risen. The pagoda didn't always clash so with the background, in fact it was kin with that of the Macklin Hotel. The Macklin once sat to the west of the station in the days the railroad was on the ground. It was pure Japanese in design and featured a couple pagodas that matched T&OCRS. The two had a cenergy, one for travel and the other provided logging. Of course the railroad does not transport people today, although it still opperates as freight. Today the Macklin is long gone and Station is owned by the city having been a Volunteers of America in the 1970s. The inside is not original having been redone after a fire in 1975. Yet it features a vaulted room with plaster cherubim ornaments, and light fixture arching over much like the High Street arches. I really wish the city could do something cool with the building, but it is worth a stop-see and get a feel of unique architecture, an artistry little tried today.

Childhood home of Eddie Rickenbacker, there are ongoing efforts to preserve the home and perhaps…read moreturn it into a museum. Nothing has panned out yet, but it is kept in good shape and is a National Historic Landmark. For now, you can visit and walk around the outside, though you are not able to go into the house. There are display boards in the yard with biographical information. The house next door is preserved as well, and there is an educational center in the backyard. I wasn't able to go in there, but it sounds like they have some displays, and general community education stuff. There is a replica of the house at the Motts Military Museum which you can tour, and is worth a visit. But for an aviation nerd like me, or any local history buff, a pilgrimage to this site is worth it. Park at the library a few doors down.

I lived in this house in 1972-3. I remember Eddies name intials carved in the stone out back. I was…read morerobbed twice living here bad neighbourhood.

Chrysler sculpture is a downtown Columbus Ohio Public art piece that sits outside of a short north…read morecommunity art museum in a small little sculpture garden. The structure is medium sized and made of metal and very swirly designed with some blue colors mixed in. Overall a fun and interesting piece that my family and I enjoyed among with the other pieces in this cool little sculpture garden in downtown Columbus Ohio.