As connoisseurs of the quirky and unconventional, we put together a list of Columbus history, oddest characteristics, and more. Maybe you’ve lived here your whole life and know some of this, or maybe you’ll learn something new.
Either way, test your local knowledge with these 20 interesting facts.
Pop Culture
You can see fictional Columbus on the big screen with “Ready Player One,” or on the small screen with the retro show “Family Ties.”
Columbus is the home and headquarters for some of your favorite chain restaurants, including White Castle and Wendy’s. Other companies headquarters here are Chipotle, Charley’s Cheesesteaks, and Donato’s.
Columbus has 10 sister cities, including Accra, Ghana; Genoa, Italy; and Seville, Spain. Time to visit the distant relatives?
Columbus has star power as numerous athletes, actors, and authors hail from Cap City. This includes decorated Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, chef Guy Fieri, and actor Josh Radnor, better known as Ted Mosby on “How I Met Your Mother.”
The restaurateur continuously pays homage to his hometown. | Photo by @guyfieri
History
Columbus was once the buggy capital of the world, with reports of 20+ buggy companies in the city before the car boom. As one sharp local Redditor pointed out, this explains why so many areas in the city have horse-and-cart references, like Carriage Place on Bethel + Sawmill roads, or the Buggyworks building downtown.
The first woman to successfully fly around the world, Jerrie Mock, is from Columbus (Bexley, to be specific). Her faithful flight took off from Port Columbus Airport in 1964 in a single-engine plane dubbed “Spirit of Columbus.”
Native Americans have a rich history with Columbus, as people from the ancient Adena culture resided here from 800 B.C.-1 A.D. The Shrum Mound was constructed by this group 2,000+ years ago and is the last standing cone-shaped burial mound in the city.
The Scioto River played a major role in early communities when Columbus was forming. Native Americans + settlers used the river to transport crops, or build homes and farmland thanks to its fertile soil.
The Freedom Train, which helped enslaved Black people escape slavery in the 1800s, had five stops on the Ohio State University campus. The final point was a tunnel through Robert Neil’s home on Indianola + 15th Avenues where Kappa Sigma, a fraternity, now resides.
The hottest day on record was on July 14, 1936 when thermometers reached 107°. Conversely, the coldest day on record was on January 13, 1912 at -23°.
When Abraham Lincoln received the telegram informing him he’d been elected president, he was giving a speech in Columbus to Ohio legislatures. How many times do we have to say this — all roads lead back to Ohio.
Landmarks
Goodale Park is the oldest park in Columbus, which opened in the 1850s.
Legendary skater Tony Hawk also has roots back to Columbus as his father, Frank Hawk, designed the skate park in Dodge Park in the 1990s.
According to the Columbus Ale Trail map, the city is home to 60+ breweries, including home-brewed favorites like Columbus Brewing Company, or international brands with local headquarters like BrewDog.
The Southern Theatre is the oldest theater in the city + one of the oldest theaters in the state. The historic entertainment hall opened in 1896.
ComFest has been in Goodale Park since 1993. | Photo by CBUStoday
Sports
Ohio Stadium, capable of holding 102,780 fans, is the third largest football stadium in the country. However, the largest crowd size is 110,045 people in 2016 when the Buckeyes defeated Michigan in double overtime.
Columbus used to be where the NFL held its headquarters. From 1927-1932, the NFL occupied a building on the intersection of High and Broad Streets.
During the NFL’s time in Columbus, the city launched a team known as the Columbus Panhandles. This name was later changed to the Columbus Tigers, but this didn’t last long as the team folded in 1926 after little success.
In the same building as the NFL HQ was the American Basketball League headquarters. This now-defunct all-women league ran for two seasons from 1996-1998. Though a short lifespan, the Columbus Quest dominated + won the championship in both seasons.
Speaking of vintage sports, the Ohio Village Muffins are keeping the spirit of base ball, not baseball, alive and well. This Columbus-based team keeps things historically accurate as they dress in sharp uniforms, play by the original rules, and act like gentlemen.
Your turn. Think you can get one over on us? Let us know your favorite local trivia tidbit and you just might make it into the newsletter.
