Columbus is a hidden gem just 75 miles southwest of Atlanta that boasts a unique blend of small-town charm and big-city fun without the big-city traffic. With its rich history, vibrant arts scene and abundance of outdoor recreational activities, Columbus is the perfect destination to host your next sporting event while providing tons of fun things to do in your off time.
Here’s the short version of the story of Columbus: It’s a former mill town that is home to corporate heavy hitters, institutions of higher education and a U.S. Army base that dates back to 1918. But the longer, unabridged version is more interesting, closer to a New York Times bestseller that tells a tale of revival, renewal and rebirth. As in old times, the waters of the Chattahoochee River are driving economic prosperity, and the cheers of baseball fans can once more be heard at the historic Golden Park, which has been renovated and renamed Synovus Park.
It has been Amy Sherald’s fate to be known for one painting only. Her portrait of Michelle Obama, commissioned in 2018 by the National Portrait Gallery, brought the artist overnight fame. Ignoring the conventions of academic portraiture, a genre associated with pale men standing in front of burgundy drapes, Sherald liberated America’s first lady from the fusty, cigar-brown rooms of the past. Obama, dressed in a sleeveless gown, leans forward in her chair, channeling Rodin’s “Thinker.” The background, a featureless expanse of powder blue, suggests fresh air.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - More than two million people are expected to travel through Columbus in 2025, leaving millions more dollars behind at area businesses.
With summer almost here and on this National Tourism Week, VisitColumbus leaders are stressing the importance of southern hospitality and its economic impact on the Chattahoochee Valley.
Kristen Hudson is the director of marketing and public relations at The Columbus Museum. She sat down to discuss the museum’s dual focus on American art and regional history and why it makes the museum such a special place.
Listen to this exclusive interview between John Clark of Georgia Focus and Director Marianne Richter, as they dive into the details of the recently renovated Columbus Museum!
Chattahoochee Connections’ Bob Jeswald caught up with Kristen Hudson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at the Columbus Museum to discuss the current exhibition, American Made: Painting and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection.
Spanning 250 years of American art, this collection includes masterworks of portraiture, landscape, and still life that have previously been featured at prestigious institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Over 100 works by renowned American artists such as Benjamin West, Thomas Cole, Mary Cassatt, Robert Henri, and Charles Alston are on view.
Alma Thomas wasn’t just an artist—she was a disruptor, a radical force in a world that continuously denied Black women a seat at the table. While the art world prided itself on its “modern” ideals, it often refused to acknowledge the talents of Black women like Thomas—talents that redefined the very essence of art itself. Her work was not merely about color; it was a declaration of power, a fight against systemic exclusion, and a testament to the possibilities of Black futures.
Columbus, Georgia, is a city that weaves together the threads of history, culture, and modernity into a vibrant and welcoming community. I still remember the first time I set foot along the banks of the Chattahoochee River—the gentle lapping of water against the shore and the timeless beauty of the riverwalk left an indelible impression on me. Over time, this city grew on me, not just as a place to live, but as a living storybook of experiences, traditions, and endless possibilities.
The Best Black Art Books of 2024 explore many artists and themes including, Alvin Ailey, Elizaveth Catlett, Tschabalala Self, Sargen Claude Johnson, the Harlem Renaissance, African photographers, Carribean makers, and queer designers.
The Columbus Museum received top honors as one of USA Today’s 10 Best Museums for 2025. The recognition follows a makeover and reopening last May. The top 10 winners were nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best new or newly transformed venues.
The Columbus Museum in Columbus, GA, is starting off the new year with a win! It has won first place as USA Today’s 10Best New Museum for 2025!
The Columbus Museum reopened in 2024 featuring a new look and new spaces. Museum officials say this national recognition celebrates COMU’s transformation into a more vibrant and visitor-centric space where art, history, and community come together like never before.
The votes are in, and The Columbus Museum has won first place as USA Today’s 10Best New Museum for 2025! This national recognition celebrates COMU’s transformation into a more vibrant and visitor-centric space where art, history, and community come together like never before.
Columbus Museum wins prestigious national award from USA Today for ‘best museum’
Sundi Rose reports that the Columbus Museum has been named the Best New Museum for 2025 by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, marking a significant milestone for the recently reimagined cultural institution. This prestigious recognition comes after an extensive renovation that transformed the museum into a more dynamic and visitor-oriented space.
☕️️ Cheers Columbus! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! In today's newsletter:
Columbus Museum wins national recognition
Discover Muscogee school salaries in Columbus
Teen faces court for Victory Drive shooting
Also on today's calendar: CALL - Columbus Academy for Lifelong Learning and 1 other events.
The Columbus Museum has been named the Best New Museum for 2025 by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, marking a significant milestone for the recently reimagined cultural institution.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - The Columbus Museum has received national recognition several months after a public grand reopening showcasing a brand new look and several new additions.
They won first place in USA Today’s “10 Best New Museums” for 2025.
The Columbus Museum is proud to announce its nomination for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award in the Best New Museum category. This national recognition follows the Museum’s recent reimagining, which transformed the space into a vibrant hub for art, history, and community engagement.
The Columbus Museum has been nominated for USA Today's 10Best Readers’ Choice Award in the category of Best New Museum 2025! This recognition celebrates the Museum's recent reimagining and its commitment to providing innovative and inspiring experiences in art and history. Voting is open now through December 23 at 11:59 AM, and you can help us claim this honor by voting daily. Learn more about this exciting nomination and how you can support The Columbus Museum.
The Columbus Museum has been featured in The Tech Edvocate's list of the *"Best Things to Do for Adults and Kids in Columbus, Georgia." Celebrated for its engaging exhibits and family-friendly programming, the Museum is highlighted as a must-visit destination for both locals and visitors. Discover why The Columbus Museum continues to be a cornerstone of cultural and educational experiences in the Chattahoochee Valley.
The Columbus Museum has been featured in the Los Angeles Review of Books' insightful article, "Rejecting the Siege Mentality in Higher Education." The piece explores the transformative role of cultural institutions in fostering community engagement and educational collaboration. Highlighting The Columbus Museum as a model for bridging art, history, and education, the article underscores our commitment to creating inclusive spaces for learning and dialogue. Read more about how the Museum is making a national impact.
Chattahoochee Connections’ Bob Jeswald caught up with Kristen Hudson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Columbus Museum to discuss a current exhibit.
Reckonings and Reconstructions: Southern Photography from The Do Good Fund is free and open to the public through February 2nd. In celebration of The Do Good Fund’s 10th anniversary, this exhibition presents selections from its sweeping photography collection to tease apart the tangled cultural memory of the American South. This show features 125 photographs by 73 artists, ranging from Guggenheim Fellows to emerging artists.
Beautiful and thought provoking, this exhibition brings the best of contemporary Southern photographers to the public.
The Columbus Museum speaks about the recent exhibition Reckonings & Reconstructions: Southern Photography from The Do Good Fund.
The Columbus Museum is proud to announce the opening of Reckonings and Reconstructions: Southern Photography from The Do Good Fund, a landmark exhibition showcasing a compelling range of images that explore the diverse social, cultural, and historical narratives of the American South. The exhibition will be on view at COMU from October 19, 2024, to February 2, 2025.
Amy Sherald shot to superstardom when her portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama debuted in 2018, and now the artist will have a homecoming of sorts at a major museum show at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Opening in September 2025, “Amy Sherald: American Sublime” constitutes the most expansive exhibition of the artist to date.
"It's been a really challenging year," said Liz Wolverton, the head of consumer banking at Synovus Financial, who ticked off pressing obstacles that include high interest rates and rival financial institutions with more resources to invest in technology.
The powerful portraits of Barkley L. Hendricks (1945-2017) are in a category of their own. Key elements characterize the late artist's paintings, including his masterful use of color. "Miss Brown To You" (1970) by Hendricks, pictures his subject wearing a red top against a red background. When he employed his stylized approach, Hendricks described the portraits as "limited palette" paintings.
This Fall, The Columbus Museum will welcome a loan of seven pieces from the Museum of Modern Art. The loan has been orchestrated through The Columbus Museum's participation in a national program through The Art Bridges Foundation.
Situated on the Chattahoochee River across from Phenix City, Alabama, the Columbus, Georgia metro area spans six counties in Georgia and two in Alabama. Columbus is the second-most populated city in the state after Atlanta, and a weekend trip promises abundant history and culture. Nicknamed the “Fountain City” for the number of public fountains located along its streets, this town will leave you thirsting for more adventures.
Local historical researcher Daniel Bellware will give a presentation on Columbus natives who have made their mark on Hollywood at The Columbus Museum next week.
It is part of a new recurring monthly series called Columbus Creatives under the museum’s Lifelong Learners program.
Local historical researcher Daniel Bellware will give a presentation on Columbus natives who have made their mark on Hollywood at The Columbus Museum next week.
It is part of a new recurring monthly series called Columbus Creatives under the museum’s Lifelong Learners program.
Beat the summer heat with the latest GAM newsletter. Enjoy a preview of the 2025 conference, learn about the work of your GAM committees, and explore the newly renovated Columbus Museum!
Chattahoochee Connections and Bob Jeswald made a trip to the Columbus Museum to talk with Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Kristen Hudson. The topic of conversation was the new traveling exhibit, Our Own Work Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection.
When the Columbus Museum reopened in May as “COMU,” community was the focal point of its rebrand. Now, the museum has secured more than $35,000 in funds to help with its mission.
The money comes from the Bridge Grant and an Arts Education Grant through the Georgia Council for the Arts.
The Columbus Museum was awarded a Bridge Grant and an Arts Education Program Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts.
The Georgia Council for the Arts is a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, totaling over $35,000 for fiscal year 2025.
In this episode, Libba chats with Kristen Hudson and Rebecca Bush from The Columbus Museum in Columbus, Georgia. They engage in a great discussion about the city of Columbus, the starts of their careers in the museum field, the founding of The Columbus Museum in 1953 and the exciting new renovations and exhibits currently on display.
With current exhibitions dedicated to women artists of the 20th century, local blues and folk music legends, and the whimsy of Andy Warhol, there are plenty of good reasons to visit The Columbus Museum this summer.
But the best reason of all? To check out the "reimagined" museum itself, which just went through its first major renovation in 35 years.
Big things are happening in Columbus. From headline-making baseball news that will create a “mini-Truist Park” in the city to a major industrial expansion and the complete reimagination of a museum, Columbus’ spot on the state map is turning into a star.
Yesterday, the community had the chance to see the reimagined Columbus Museum. The doors opened Saturday morning for the public to view the newly renovated space that promised more than just artifacts and history.
From Interactive activities, Columbus History, Vibrant painting, and more, The Columbus Museum reopened to the public with something for all to see.
The Columbus Museum's ribbon-cutting ceremony was May 4, 2024. The museum had various activities, such as a scavenger hunt, collaborative art-making, performances from local ensembles and a “silent disco” dance party. Here are a few of our favorite photos from the day.
The Columbus Museum (COMU) is a local gem, and a recent "polishing" has refreshed its brilliance. After five years of planning, fundraising, construction, and big dreams, COMU is ready to open its doors, revealing dazzling results.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A local museum is back and, according to staff, better than ever. After more than a year of updates, the Columbus Museum will officially reopen Saturday, May 4 with a totally new look
Yesterday, the community had the chance to see the reimagined Columbus Museum. The doors opened Saturday morning for the public to view the newly renovated space that promised more than just artifacts and history.
From Interactive activities, Columbus History, Vibrant painting, and more, The Columbus Museum reopened to the public with something for all to see.
It’s the same location and the same size — and admission still is free — but when the 71-year-old Columbus Museum reopens to the public, people will see essentially a new facility. “We reconceived pretty much everything from top to bottom,” museum director Marianne Richter told the Ledger-Enquirer. “… It really is a transformative change. … It’s going to be a completely different feel.”
Calling all art enthusiasts! After a $25 million renovation — The Columbus Museum is ready to reopen its doors. A Grand Reopening Celebration is coming up so you can explore the new and improved space.
After more than a year’s worth of efforts, the reopening of the Columbus Museum is just weeks away. Although members will have the opportunity to celebrate early with a sold-out gala, the museum also has unique opportunities for guests who would like to visit on opening day.
Columbus Museum reopens after being closed 18 months for a $25 million renovation, folks will see essentially a new facility. Sure, the museum still displays American art and regional culture and history, but it’s done in different ways in a revamped building with additional amenities.
Columbus Museum’s Reimagined Space –
Since 1953 The Columbus Museum has opened its doors to the community, offering an array of artifacts relevant to American art and regional history. One of the largest museums in the Southeast, the Columbus Museum showcases both permanent collections and temporary exhibits, and is always free and open to the public.
As summer approaches, Columbus GA parents are on the lookout for fun and educational activities to keep their kids engaged. Enter the best summer camps – filled with tons of activities like sports, art, STEM, academics, and more! Whether your child is an aspiring artist, a budding scientist, a burgeoning athlete, or an adventurous spirit longing for outdoor escapades, Columbus GA’s summer camps offer a plethora of opportunities to explore, learn, and grow.
In various ways, all articles mentioned in this review meet the expectations of ‘The Public Historian” editorial policy. Each one of them demonstrates the vital role public history plays in discovering more evidence of past events by using oral history or archeology to support suppressed public topics or giving marginalized groups a voice. All these contributions are providing a deeper understanding of the field of public history.
