Columbus, Ohio is the state capital and the second most populous city in the Midwest. While the city is most well known for its university and college football (Go Bucks!), it is also home to a vibrant art scene and a rich history. No trip to Columbus would be complete without visiting some of the great museums that the city has to offer.
Whether you’re in Columbus for business or pleasure, here are a few of the top museums that you should check out.
The Center of Science & Industry
333 W Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is a Columbus staple that makes for a perfect family outing with the kids. The 320,000 square foot science museum features more than 300 interactive exhibits, separated into seven themed areas: Ocean, Energy Explorers, Space, Progress, Gadgets, Life, and the Dinosaur Gallery. It also has a planetarium and a giant screen theater.
Columbus Museum of Art
480 E Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
The Columbus Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the city. The museum houses late nineteenth and early twentieth-century American and European modern works along with folk art, glass art, photography, and more. Highlights include Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Norman Rockwell, the Philip and Suzanne Schiller Collection of American Social Commentary Art, and many more. For a special treat, visit on Sundays when admission is free.
The Pizzuti Collection
632 Park St., Columbus, OH 43216
This Columbus museum highlights art from around the world as a way to showcase diversity and different cultures. It features mostly contemporary art, with exhibitions including paintings, sculpture, film, photography, drawings, and prints.
Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
1777 E Broad St., Columbus, OH 43203
This beautiful conservatory and botanical garden showcases more than 400 exotic plant species, split into different biomes by climate zone. There is also a Bonsai Courtyard, Palm House, and other special exhibitions. The conversatory is also home to a collection of glass works by artist Dale Chihuly.
Kelton House Museum & Garden
586 E Town St., Columbus, OH 43215
The Kelton House is a nineteenth-century mansion that was built in 1852 by Fernando Cortez and Sophia Stone Kelton. The Keltons were strong Abolitionists and hid fugitive slaves in their home as a stop along the Underground Railroad. In 1976, the Junior League of Columbus began renovating and restoring the house to create a museum. About 80-90% of the furnishings you can see were actually owned by the Kelton family and the museum now serves to educate the community about the historical time period.
National Veterans Memorial & Museum
300 West Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
The National Veterans Memorial & Museum just opened in 2018 and is the first museum that is dedicated to U.S. veterans overall, rather than a specific war or branch of the military. Exhibits include multimedia experiences, letters, photos, personal artifacts, and films of veterans telling their stories.
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
1813 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43210
This unique museum focuses on all things cartoon and comic-related, and is the largest collection in the world of such items. It houses more than 300,000 original cartoons; 45,000 books; 67,000 serials; 3,000 linear feet of manuscript materials; and 2.5 million comic strip clippings and newspaper pages.
Where to Say in Columbus
If you’re planning a trip to this Ohio city, consider staying with Frontdesk. We have beautiful one and two bedroom suites in the heart of the city, so you’ll be within walking distance of some of the top museums. And great museums are just one of many reasons to visit Columbus! Stay a while and explore what the city has to offer.