German Heritage in Columbus

Columbus’ early identity was shaped in part by substantial numbers of German immigrants who arrived in the early 1800s, and German Village, the neighborhood where many of them settled, receives due recognition as a place charged with preserving American history. The entire neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is also a federally designated “Preserve America Community.”

The original character of the neighborhood has only been enhanced by the restoration and preservation work of recent decades: distinctive red brick buildings, traditional German restaurants, and Victorian inns of the charming “Queen Anne” style line the tree-shaded streets. Locals and visitors relax in the public gardens and—when the weather permits—ride along the well maintained bike paths.

Many people might say the greatest cultural experience you can have in German Village is a visit to Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus (as seen on the Food Network and the Travel Channel). If you can’t do justice to the famous German Autobahn Buffet, go “light” with some Bavarian cabbage rolls, a Schnitzel platter, or one of the signature Jumbo Cream Puffs.

Photo Credit: German Village, Columbus, Ohio (Wikipedia)

Experience Columbus

As one of the first destinations in the U.S. to develop a comprehensive “experiential tourism” program, Columbus is fully committed to proving that there’s more to it than meets the eye. From German Village to the Columbus Italian Festival, whether dining on farm-to-table cuisine or putting on the team colors and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes, here are four authentic, only-in-Columbus experiences.

Go Buckeyes!
With one of the largest university populations of any city in the U.S., Columbus sees a ton of excitement around college athletics. All the Ohio State teams are the Buckeyes, but if you want to see school spirit at its most frenzied, come and cheer on the Big Ten football team at Ohio Stadium—familiarly known as the ‘shoe.

Kelton House History
Get a somber yet inspirational American history lesson at this authenticated Underground Railroad stop. Back during the Underground Railroad era, it was a crime in Ohio to hide slaves or assist in their flight, but Fernando and Sophia Kelton remained firm in their beliefs and their actions. Not only did they shelter fleeing slaves in their home, but Fernando was also a “conductor” who would help them on the next leg of their journeys.