The Woods and Waters campground was about 4 miles from the heart of Columbus, IN making it convenient to pop back home when I forgot my camera. The woodpecker below caught my eye as we pulled out of the campground. There were so many birds the place sounded like an aviary.
Thanks to a very nice partnership between the city government and Cummins, Inc., Columbus is home to over seventy buildings and public art pieces by internationally noted artists and architects.
The Chihuly glass, below, was on display at the Columbus Visitors Center.
"Persians" by Dale Chihuly
"Yellow Neon Chandelier" by Dale Chihuly
The works of the local artist were displayed and for sale at the Visitors Center.
The visitors center was more of a museum and gift shop than information center, but we did get a map and set out on foot to see some of the city's architecture.
First Christian Church, built 1942, was the first contemporary building in Columbus. I wish we could have gone inside to see the interior features designed by Charles Eames.
Columbia was rightfully proud of their modernist architecture, but it also had some very nice oldies.
The Cummins campus was exceptional! I was surprised we never saw any of the employees taking an outdoor break on such a beautiful day.
It was difficult to capture just how unique and magnificent the Cummins campus was.
When we finally found the main entrance, there was a nice lobby with many interesting exhibits. Who knew Al Unser won the Indy 500 once in a Cummins powered car?
When you find the entrance to the Cummins corporate offices (5th and Jackson), just go into the rotating door like you belong there, the guard will point you to the museum. It's worth a trip to Columbus, IN for this masterpiece alone.
"While de Harak might have been the artist, the sculptors were a team of Cummins engineers and tradesmen led by John Walter."
Below you see the same corner from the inside and then, below that, from the outside. The mirrors complemented the windows making the space seem very large.
The mixture of glass and mirror was brilliantly executed.
Columbus was a very walkable city.
You knew you were in a city that takes pride in its aesthetics when the alleys looked like this.
We had lunch at the world famous Zaharako's Ice Cream Parlor. Entering the place was like stepping back in time. Half of the place was a museum with soda machines dating back to the 1850's.
Joani had the root beer float and a Gom sandwich. As they say "When in Athens. . ." - I guess the saying was about Rome and Romans, but it still fits. Gom was Greek for "messy" and the sandwich was just a "sloppy Joe," but it was certainly tasty.
We will have to take our waitress' word for the translation of "Gom" being Greek for "messy." My translator says it is "ακατάστατος."
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