Columbus' downtown  offers The Commons Mall, an enclosed shopping mall, community center, indoor playground and an interactive educational museum called the "Kids Commons".   

At the center of the mall is a 30' tall sculpture by the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely called Chaos I.    The Indianapolis Museum of Art - Columbus Gallery, a state-of-the-art facility, is also housed in The Commons and is opened every day except Monday. Every year, the Museum presents many fine exhibits and shows. 

Columbus City Hall is by Edward Charles Bassett, Principal Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1981. This striking  building has a commanding presence in downtown Columbus.

The Bartholomew County Courthouse represent architecture from another era. Constructed in 1874 in the Second Empire style and designed by Isaac Hodgson, this building is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Also downtown is the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library. The architect is a New York firm of I.M. Pei and Partners.  Many outdoor concerts and art shows have been presented on the plaza. The front plaza is dominated by a Henry Moore sculpture. 

The Columbus Visitors Center combines old and new construction in an expanded facility and is located adjacent to  the Library. The Visitors Center has regularly scheduled architectural tours. 

Highlighted in the center of the Visitors Center is a breathtaking glass sculpture by artist Dale Chihuly. The inverted cone sculpture is composed of 900 pieces of hand-blown glass in four shades of yellow.

The Architectural Tour begins at The Visitors Center. The Dancing C's on the sign serve as the logo for Columbus. One look at Columbus, Indiana and you’ll see the difference a vision can make on a community and its people.

One of the first stops on the tour is Lincoln Elementary School at 750 Fifth Street. The school was built in 1967 and is a work of Gunnar Birkerts. 

Another stop on the Architectural Tour is St. Peter's Lutheran Church located at 719 Fifth Street, built in 1988 a work of Gunnar Birkerts. The 186-foot, copper-clad spire provides a magnificent addition to the skyline of downtown Columbus.

The Columbus Inn is a wonderful Bed and Breakfast where with a reservation one can enjoy high tea.  It is noteworthy that in the last decade of the nineteenth century with this building obtaining a sturdy Victorian character.

The Main Office of Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company is located downtown. The Arcade of Irwin Union is shown here.

The Corporate Office Building of Cummins Engine Company is shown here. As you can see, the landscape is extraordinary and the architecture is exquisite. This 200,000 square-foot concrete and glass building spans a three-block area  in downtown Columbus.

Church Spires pictured are from left to right First United Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, North Christian Church, and St. Peter's Lutheran Church. These Churches and many others constitute some of Columbus' most outstanding structures.

Parkside Elementary School had  Norman Fletcher as Principal Architect with The Architects Collaborative. 

The Ameritech Switching Station Building has brilliant colors and interesting use of mirrored glass.  A two-story trellis wall, bordered by a row of Bradford pear trees softens the visual impact.

Hamilton Center is part of Columbus' enormous Parks & Recreation Department.   Hamilton Center Ice Arena offers public recreational skating, private skating, hockey lessons and leagues, figure skating lessons and more. Originally done in 1958 by Harry Weese with an addition in 1975 by Koster and Associates.

The Republic Newspaper is by Myron Goldsmith, Design Partner Skidmore, Owings & Merrill/1971 A.I.A. Honor Award.

The Bartholomew County Jail  is by Don M. Hisaka and Associates (1990) with Paul Silver, Silver & Ziskind as Security Consultant.  The design of brick and limestone materials were chosen for compatibility with the nearby City Hall and the County Courthouse.

Northside Middle School at 2700 Maple Street is by Harry Weese in 1961 with an addition in 1992 by Leers, Weinzapfel & Associates. 

Columbus East High School  has a 900-seat auditorium and a 4,200-seat gymnasium.  Designed  by Mitchell - Giurgola Architects in 1972,  it won an A.I.A. Honor Award. 

First Baptist Church  is another work of Harry Weese completed in 1965.  It has been built on a gently sloping knoll. This elevation combined with its peaked non-dimensional bell tower emphasizes the building function as a place of worship.

Irwin Gardens is a work of Henry Phillips, Landscape Architect (1910). This garden is exquisite. A major community goal, with continuing emphasis, is the preservation and revitalization of the historic Center City and the "heart" of Columbus.

Fodrea Community School  is by Paul Kennon, Truitt Garrison the Principal Architects at Caudill Rowlett Scott in 1973.  This  "people- centered" school was designed as a community center as well as a school