Itineraries

History & Heritage Itinerary

Columbus History & Heritage Horticulture Itinerary

Columbus, Ohio’s state capital, is rich in history. Explore many of the city’s notable sites and take time to smell the flowers (in many cases, roses) at all of them.

Day One

Start your tour at the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden . Built in 1925, this Jacobean Revival style home is surrounded with well-manicured gardens of plants native to Ohio’s diverse ecosystems including a cranberry bog and Lake Erie sand dunes. Tours, available by appointment on Tuesdays, include the gardens and public rooms of the residence.

Visit one of Columbus’ restored Underground Railroad stops, Kelton House Museum & Garden , once home to abolitionists Fernando and Sophia Kelton. Many slaves found shelter at the Kelton House before resuming their flight to Canada. Hear their stories, including the one child who never left. Take time to explore the garden, filled with flowers and sculptures collected by the Kelton’s granddaughter, Grace.

Learn about some of Columbus’ earliest residents in historic German Village , a charming restored village with brick streets leading to unique shops, bakeries and several of Columbus’ top restaurants. Explore the village’s two public gardens, Huntington Gardens in 23-acre Schiller Park and the tranquil Frank Fetch garden. Get inside private gardens during the annual German Village Haus und Garten Tour on June 25.

Learn more about the state’s history at the Ohio Historical Center . Ohio’s gardening past and current landscaping trends are showcased in “Ohio’s Garden Path,” on display through Sept. 3, 2007.

Stay overnight at The Westin Great Southern, a Columbus landmark and AAA Four Diamond award winner for nine consecutive years. Among those staying here since its opening in 1897 have been Presidents William McKinley, William Taft, Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Spend the evening next door at the gilded Southern Theatre, home to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.

Day Two

Begin the day with breakfast at the North Market, the oldest public market in Central Ohio. Browse for unique — and delicious — souvenirs. The 35-plus merchants are known for offering just-made goods: Watch as chocolates are hand-dipped

or see gourmet ice cream being created with ingredients like lavender and fresh ginger.

See and smell thousands of varieties of roses at the Park of Roses, one of the country’s largest metropolitan rose gardens. Be sure to stroll through the heritage garden, full of fragrant rose bushes.

For more history and heritage happenings in Columbus visit www.experiencecolumbus.com.

For a downloadable version of this itinerary in .pdf format, click here.