Located in the heart of downtown, the Visitors Center is the perfect first stop for your Columbus experience. Our first-floor staff can help you plan your visit, answer questions, share local recommendations, and point you toward the tours, attractions, restaurants, shops, and events that make Columbus memorable.
506 Fifth Street, Columbus, IN • 812-378-2622
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (view holiday hours)
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Park for free, then come inside for:
One Small City – Seven National Historic Landmarks!
Seven buildings in Columbus, Indiana, have been recognized by the National Historic Landmarks program, an extraordinary number for a city of over 50,000, and one of the reasons the unexpected Columbus collection…
Columbus Tour Options
Columbus is an extraordinary Indiana community celebrated for its remarkable collection of modernist architecture. While the city is best known for its midcentury design legacy, visitors will also discover impressive examples of…
The Miller House And Garden
The Miller House is one of the most important mid-century modern residences in the country. This unforgettable design is credited to architect Eero Saarinen, designer Alexander Girard and landscape architect Dan Kiley…
Downtown Is The Heart of Columbus, Indiana
Downtown Columbus is where locals gather for family fun, shopping, date nights, and cultural events—and it’s one of the best places for visitors to truly get to know our city. This colorful…
Chihuly chandelier, friendly assistance, clean restrooms, and $3 architectural tour brochure. Everything a visitor needs in one easy-to-find (and park) location. / posted on Google Maps by Stace
…when you stop into a small town Visitors Center. Beautiful, well staffed, full of information and a great gift shop! – posted Sep 2022 on Google Maps by Libby
…we did not know that in the middle of America such a city exists with interesting architectural phenomena. Strongly recommend to take the tour. – Tripadvisor reviewer from Los Angeles, posted Nov 2019
This is a must see, must do activity in Columbus. The tour provides a great introduction to this unexpected, unforgettable town. At the very least, enjoy the 8-minute video introduction to Columbus and … its architectural significance. This is the best way to start your visit to Columbus. / Yelp reviewer from Cape Coral, Florida, posted Nov 2019
For anyone visiting Columbus for the architecture, this should be the first stop. / Tripadvisor reviewer from Raleigh, North Carolina
An interesting building with world-class artwork, a helpful staff, clean bathrooms, and well-curated gift shop. What more could a traveler want? / Yelp reviewer from Louisville, KY
Coming to visit Columbus for the first time was a great experience! The visitor’s center had great staff and helped us get started on our self guided tour. They even had a great video to watch before the tour. Even their gift shop was full of wonderfully cute things from around the Columbus area. I had no idea there were so many things to see and do around town. / Google Plus reviewer
What an unexpected treat this entire stop was...
Chihuly alert! There is a gorgeous yellow Chihuly in the stairwell. What a treat! This visitor center is a mandatory stop in this town that surprisingly has a great deal of architecture offerings. Grab a little map, and take a self-tour of the town, but before you leave the center, don’t forget the gift shop . . . I collect tiles from Motawi Tileworks, and they had some for sale, as well as some wonderful Motawi tileworks cards. The folks who work here are also so very pleasant and helpful. What an unexpected treat this entire stop was! – posted on Google, Nov 15, 2023
Membership dollars are used by our organization to advance the incredible architectural heritage of Columbus, Indiana, and to educate people of all ages about the value of good design.
Member benefits include:
To join, visit the membership page >
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