Honoring the Past

Named in honor of Christopher Columbus, Columbus was founded on February 14, 1812, on the “High Banks opposite Franklinton at the Forks of the Scioto known as Wolf’s Ridge.” The state legislature had decided that a new capital city located in the center of the state was necessary (having previously been located in Chillicothe and Zanesville) because of its central location within the state and access by way of major transportation routes (primarily rivers) at that time. The legislature chose Columbus as Ohio’s capital over a number of other competitors, including Franklinton, Dublin, Worthington and Delaware. At the time, this area was a dense forestland, used only as a hunting ground.
Source: Wikipedia

Other Resources:

ColumbusMemory.org – An online archive of Columbus history, presented by the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the Columbus Historical Society, providing access to thousands of images, primary documents, maps and artifacts about Columbus.

Ohio History Central – an online encyclopedia of Ohio history, presented by the Ohio Historical Society.

ColumbusNeighborhoods.org – The story of Central Ohio is told by residents who share their cherished photographs, favorite video clips, most amusing and poignant audio clips, memories and thoughts around their own particular neighborhood. Presented by WOSU Public Media and the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Digital collections from Columbus’ history, as provided by the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Items include Columbus in historic photographs and the Ohio Postcard Collection.

Columbus Historical Society – Protecting and sharing the history of the broad community, with an emphasis on the core city and county environs.