6 Places to Stretch Your Mind Muscle
National Veterans Memorial Museum
300 W Broad St
History’s role is to tell the stories of those who came before us. To connect the past with the present. To help us learn, think, and remember. To strengthen understanding and respect between the generations. All this and more can be found in the moving and poignant narratives, first-person testimonies, and artifacts found at the nation’s only museum that honors all veterans from all branches of service, from all eras. More than a museum – this is the New Home of the Brave.
Ohio Statehouse
1 Capitol Square
There’s something big and stately about the place where government happens. And while the Ohio Statehouse is bustling with all sorts of lobbying and lawmaking, it also happens to have a long and fascinating history just waiting to be share. The best way to hear these stories is on one of the free guided tours, held every day on the hour.
Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library
65 S Front St
The Ohio Revised Code not on your reading list? No matter. You can still take a time-traveling trip without leaving this library. Start with the 11th floor’s Rare Books Collection for a peek at old and out-of-print books. Then, queue up the microfiche and browse back issues of presidential papers or court briefs from the Great Depression. Finish up with a listen-and-learn about legal topics via video- or audio cassette tape. Why the technology alone is worth the visit.
Columbus Museum of Art
480 E Broad St
If it’s been awhile since you’ve hit up the art museum, trust us when we say, “This ain’t your momma’s art museum.” Sure, CMA has amazing galleries rife with everything from folk to fine art. More than that, though, this is a place that encourages curiosity, invites conversation, and nurtures art exploration at every age.
OSU Urban Arts Space
50 W Town St
If there was ever a cool and artsy place to just hang out, enjoy art, talk art, and make art, this is it. Drop in for a self-guided gallery tour, book a guided tour of the green and gorgeous rooftop garden, or sign up for a crafternoon workshop.
Thurber House
77 Jefferson Ave
This combination literary arts center, museum, and gathering place is the former home of American humorist and cartoonist James Grover Thurber and a mecca for writers everywhere. Writers and non-writers alike can enjoy a self-guided tour of Thurber’s boyhood home, attend a scheduled author’s reading, or stroll a peaceful stretch of garden space that pays homage to Thurber’s best friend, the dog.
Columbus Metropolitan Main Library
96 S Grant Ave
Books aren’t the only thing the Main Library has to offer, though there are literally thousands upon thousands of them here. Also housed among its three expansive floors are a gift shop/bookstore, café, art gallery, digital lab, reading room, and a local history/genealogy area filled with 70,000 books, vital records, and military rosters.
