Progressive Preservation Talk: Goins Hotel Edition

In celebration of Black Heritage Month, Landmark Columbus Foundation presents a special edition of its Progressive Preservation Talks series focused on the historic Goins Hotel. This program will feature research and insights from Cameryn Kent and Paulette Roberts , highlighting the site’s layered history and its role within Columbus’ Black Heritage Trail—a self-guided walking tour that traces the history of Black land ownership, businesses, and cultural life in Columbus from the late 1800s through the early 20th century.

Located at 415½ Fourth Street, the Goins Hotel was established in 1928 by Elmer and Lydia Goins as a 23-room boarding house serving Black travelers during segregation. The talk will explore the building’s evolution from its early years through 2023, when the site was reimagined as A Carousel for Columbus , an Exhibit Columbus project designed as an outdoor gathering space along Fourth Street.

Speakers Kent and Roberts have been conducting research on the Goins Hotel together since February 2025. Kent is an undergraduate researcher at Landmark Columbus Foundation and a student of Comprehensive Design at Indiana University. Roberts is the original creator of the Black Heritage Trail and a longtime advocate for its realization.

The event is produced in partnership with Black History Month Columbus and the Columbus Area Visitors Center . The evening will begin with a reception and light refreshments provided by Bespoke Events + Experiences, followed by the talk and time for audience reflection and discussion.