[ back ]
Columbus celebrates its 200th birthday at COSI
(by Sandi Latimer, staff writer - February 15, 2012)
 |
| Messenger photo by Sandi Latimer |
| The Columbus Histoical Society opens its first exhibition at its new location inside COSI on Feb. 14, just in time to celebrate the city’s 200th birthday. Pictured above is an early car model manufactured in Columbus in the early 1900s, which was the focal point of the exhibition. |
The Columbus Historical Society (CHS) celebrated the 200th birthday of the city of Columbus with the debut of its first exhibition inside the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) on Feb. 14.
“It’s only fitting that we open this exhibit on the same day this area was designated the state capital and the city was founded,” Mayor Michael Coleman said.
The exhibit features major milestones made during the city’s first 100 years. The focal point of the exhibition dealt with the manufacturing of automobiles.
One of the city’s largest employers in the late 1800s and early 1900s were buggy manufactures. As the nation moved into the auto industry, most buggy manufacturers went out of business.
The Columbus Buggy Works retooled to the fledgling auto business, but the flood of 1913 helped make that type of business a footnote in history.
This exhibit, running through Labor Day, covers the initial establishment in Franklinton, through the War of 1812 and into the Civil War. A display of the second 100 years will open immediately after Labor Day.
Doug Motz, president of the CHS board of trustees, said the society began planning for this exhibition four years ago. Motz recognized local businessman Mike Frush with the CHS President’s Award, and thanked him for helping make the exhibition possible.
Motz also announced earlier in the day he attended a luncheon where the Columbus Foundation surprised him with a donation of $100,000, which will be used toward the exhibition.
“I was floored,” Motz said.
Visitors also had the opportunity to get a first look at a documentary on Franklinton, the first community in central Ohio, which was established in 1797.
The state’s population spread slowly northward from the Ohio River until 1803, when Ohio became the first state carved out of the Northwest Territory. The government was located in Chillicothe, its most populous area. In 1810 when legislature convened in Zanesville, lawmakers said the state needed a permanent capital.
Nearly every community put forth a proposal, but many did not meet the criteria of being in the center of the state and on a navigable river. Franklinton was ruled out due to frequent flooding of the Scioto River.
By a close vote on Feb.14, 1812, the legislators chose a location on the high bank of the Scioto River opposite Franklinton.
Sullivant’s brother-in-law Lyne Starling and three other men put together a plan to donate some of their land and the promise to build two buildings as well as a prison. A week later, the legislators approved the name of Columbus for the settlement.
| Comments (1) |
On February 17, 2012 susan said:
Sandi,
Thank you for the knowledge and for people really caring. Keep up the good work! |
| |
[ back ]
