Downtown Columbus, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Downtown Columbus
Neighborhood
Fireworks in Downtown on July 4, 2009.
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Muscogee
City	Columbus
Population  (2007)
• Total	8,080
ZIP codes	31901, 31902, 31908, 31993, 31997, 31998

Downtown Columbus, Georgia, also known as "Uptown", is the main center of business in Columbus, Georgia. It's like the heart of the city where many important buildings and activities happen. This area has grown over time, especially near Broadway and 2nd Avenue. When people talk about "Downtown Columbus," they often mean this busy part with lots of restaurants and fun nightlife.

South of Broadway, you'll find more homes. This area has old historic houses and some newer buildings. Many hotels are located here, especially along Front Avenue. Broadway is the main street for businesses in this part of Downtown.

What Can You Find in Downtown Columbus?

Tall Buildings in Downtown

Downtown Columbus has several tall buildings. Here are some of the highest ones:

Historic Places and Homes

Downtown Columbus is home to many historic spots. You can find two special Historic Districts here: the Columbus Historic District and the Columbus Historic Riverfront Industrial District. Buildings like Columbus Ironworks and the former Ledger-Enquirer Tower are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Columbus Battlefield is also nearby, stretching across the Chattahoochee River.

The Mott House memorial facade, built in 2016.

Many old homes from before the American Civil War are in Downtown Columbus. Some famous ones include the 1839 Goetchius House and the Illges House. The Mott House was sadly destroyed by fire in 2014. A memorial facade was built in 2016 to remember it.

Fun Things to Do in Downtown Columbus

Downtown Columbus offers many interesting places for visitors and locals. These include places for arts, government, museums, outdoor fun, and sports.

Arts and Performances

• The Springer Opera House is Georgia's official State Theatre. It opened way back on February 21, 1871. Today, you can watch plays and musicals on its two stages all year long. The main theatre, Emily Woodruff Hall, shows popular new plays and classic Broadway-style shows. Foley Hall is a smaller space for Studio II Series and Children's Theatre shows, often featuring talented student actors.
• The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts opened in 2002. It has hosted many amazing performances since then.

Government Buildings

Columbus Public Buildings.

• The Columbus Consolidated Government Center is where the city's government works. The Muscogee County Board of Commissioners meets here. Many county offices are also in this building. It's located between 9th and 10th Streets and 1st and 2nd Avenues.
• The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse is a historic building. It's still used as a post office today and is just two blocks from the Government Center.

Museums to Explore

• The National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus opened in 1962. It shows items and information from the Battle of Columbus. You can see two real American Civil War ships, uniforms, and weapons used by the Union and Confederate navies.
• The Coca-Cola Challenger Space Science Center opened in 1996. It teaches people about science, physics, and astronomy. It has seven flight simulators and a planetarium where you can learn about stars and planets.

Outdoor Fun and Recreation

• The Chattahoochee RiverWalk is a 15-mile (24 km) path for walking and biking. It connects downtown to other parts of Columbus and Fort Benning.
• Whitewater Express offers rafting trips on the Chattahoochee River. This 2.5-mile (4 km) course is the longest urban whitewater rafting course in the world. USA Today even called it the world's best man-made whitewater course! You can also try the Blue Heron Adventure, a zip-line that takes you from the Georgia side of the river to the Alabama side.

Sports Venues

• The Columbus Civic Center is the biggest indoor sports arena in Columbus. It can hold up to 10,000 people. It's home to the Columbus Lions, the city's indoor football team, and used to be home to the Columbus Cottonmouths hockey team.
• Golden Park is a baseball stadium with 5,000 seats. It doesn't currently host a minor league baseball team.
• A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium has a rich history. It hosted football games between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers for many years. Now, it hosts rivalry games like Fort Valley State vs. Albany State and Tuskegee vs. Morehouse. Local youth and high school football and soccer games are also played here.

Places to Worship

Downtown in 1880, showing the Church of the Holy Family.

Downtown Columbus has many historic churches. The Church of the Holy Family was Columbus' first Roman Catholic parish. Other old churches include First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church.

Getting Around Downtown

It's easy to get around Downtown Columbus. The METRA Transit System offers bus service that connects downtown to other parts of the city. Many people also drive. You can reach Downtown Columbus directly from Interstate 185 using J. R. Allen Parkway. Two main roads, Veterans Parkway (north-south) and Victory Drive (east-west), also serve the area.

"Downtown" vs. "Uptown"

You might hear people use both "Downtown" and "Uptown" when talking about Columbus's main business area. "Uptown Columbus" is the name of a group that works to help the area grow. It also refers to a specific part of the Downtown district that is expanding, located between Broadway and the Chattahoochee River. So, "Uptown" is a newer, growing section within the larger "Downtown" area.

Tornado Event

On April 20, 2009, a strong tornado hit downtown Columbus. It had winds up to 135 miles per hour (217 km/h). The tornado damaged the Columbus State University Campus, the Springer Opera House, and the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. This was the first time a tornado had touched down in downtown Columbus since weather records began in the 1890s. Luckily, no one died, though many people were injured.

Images for kids

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  CB&T headquarters

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  Ledger Enquirer Tower

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  SunTrust Plaza

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  Corporate Center

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  Shops on Broadway

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  A fountain in Downtown

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  The Synovus Centre, as seen from Phenix City

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  The Columbus Consolidated Government Center from Broadway

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  Downtown in the 1950s

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  U.S. Post Office and Courthouse

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  Carmike Cinemas headquarters

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  Ralston Tower