Columbus, Indiana, is a picturesque city known as the Athens of the Prairie.

Deciding where to live can be a difficult decision. You need to find a place that somehow balances affordability and opportunity, community and comfort, and—of course—both work and family. But that perfect balance doesn’t come about by accident. 

Beautiful cities like Columbus, Indiana, only happen by design. For decades, our community has intentionally worked together to make our home a better place. Local leaders such as J. Irwin Miller—former CEO of Cummins—invested in civic resources and patronized architects to make our city a work of modern art. 

This community-driven mindset has defined Columbus for generations. Because that’s the Columbus Way—a collaborative approach to community development that emphasizes the process of working together over the final product. 

Now, Columbus isn’t a big city. Our community has just about 50,000 residents. But we’re only 45 minutes south of Indianapolis, an hour north of Louisville, and less than two hours away from Cincinnati. That means living in Columbus offers all the benefits of small-town living with access to all the perks of the big city. 

And best of all, our city grows alongside its residents, as more and more people move here to enjoy a higher quality of life and stronger sense of belonging. 

So, what does it mean to be a city rooted in architectural excellence and community collaboration? What does it look like to embrace—not fear—but change and improvement? And in the words of J. Irwin Miller, what does it take to be “the best community of its size?”

Columbus is a destination for modernist art and architecture.

Our city might be small, but we’re known across the globe as an architectural mecca! Nicknamed the “Athens of the Prairie,” Columbus, Indiana, boasts over 90 buildings and public artworks from international artists and architects, including a remarkable seven National Historic Landmarks. 

In fact, the American Institute of Architects ranks Columbus 6th in the U.S. for architectural innovation and design—only behind much larger metros like New York City and Washington D.C.

Architecture is often one of the most underrated qualities in a city. But intentionally designed buildings help bring joy and beauty to our everyday lives. These architectural marvels create a strong sense of pride in our cities and inspire us all to be active participants in our communities. 

I believe that just like we shape our environments, our environments shape us. And I feel this every morning, when I’m dropping my kids off at a school designed by Gunnar Birkerts. We walk past the Large Arch by sculptor Henry Moore, and some days we stop in the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library by I.M. Pei. 

As I leave, I look across the street at the First Christian Church by Eliel Saarinen—one of the first churches of contemporary architecture in the United States. Driving home will take me past the Miller House and Garden by his son, Eero Saarinen. And all of these buildings remind me how lucky I am to raise my children in a community that values art in every aspect of our lives.

Moving to Columbus means becoming part of a community.

This rich history of design and architecture was a big part of what originally attracted us to Columbus. My husband and I relocated our family of four from Nashville in early 2022, and it didn’t take long for us to fall in love with our new home.  

Our family has moved a ton over the years, and the first thing that stood out about Columbus was how quickly and easily we integrated into the community. From our neighborhood to the kids’ school, we made incredible new friendships and found our place in the fabric of the community. 

Within a matter of months, we were going to local fundraisers, joining neighbors for backyard parties, meeting up with friends at the local park, and going on bike rides on the People Trail. What really sealed the deal for us was how willing people were to—not only accept us into the community—but to support us as we settled in.

We felt this so strongly that within less than a year, we convinced my in-laws to buy a house in our neighborhood and relocate to Columbus for their retirement!

We also found that residents here are sincerely interested in getting to know you and your work. Everyone offered to introduce us to people in the community, help us learn about the area, and build our network of resources. This helped us figure out how to get involved in the neighborhood and start successfully building our business in the Indy region.

Columbus is a place for making memories.

Now, the architecture is what drew us here, and the warm, welcoming community is what convinced us to stay. But the day-to-day excitement is what makes us love living in Columbus! Our city offers a variety of community events and public spaces where people can get together, have fun, and connect with nature. 

I love waking up on a warm spring morning and heading down to the local farmerʼs market for some fresh produce and flowers. We grab breakfast at one of the many amazing food vendors and just sit back, listening to live music and petting all the dogs.

Every First Thursday, the businesses around downtown Columbus stay open late for shopping and mingling, usually with themed activities and entertainment. In the summer, you can bring lawn chairs down to the library and enjoy their free concert series in the plaza. 

And our family often shows up for the Street Fests on 4th Street, where pedestrians can browse various, delicious food and drink vendors. We love strolling through downtown with a beverage in hand, bumping into friends and enjoying the neighborhood.

Want to spend the day outdoors? The People Trail offers over 30 miles of paved paths, connecting you with local parks, rivers, and woodlands. We often ride our bikes up to Hangar 5—a hidden gem near the airport that’s perfect for a Sunday breakfast. 

You can also participate in the annual Mill Race Marathon, which takes you through the heart of downtown Columbus. I’ll never forget cheering on my daughter at her first 5K and watching her celebrate with her friends at the awards ceremony afterward! 

Discover the endless things to do in Columbus!

Community events in Columbus are always a special occasion. But what I love about this city is that there are tons of everyday activities that brighten our days and make life more fun. 

Some of our favorite activities and memories we have made so far include:

• Taking the kids to see a movie at YES Cinema—a locally-run theater that focuses on indie, cultural, and educational films. Sometimes we even pop over to the kidscommons to check out the museum and enjoy some time at The Commons playground.
• Going out for a spontaneous date night! My husband and I love stopping at Blacksheep Pizza for a cocktail and appetizers before a nice dinner out at the Henry Social Club. And for dessert, you can’t miss out on ice cream from Zaharakos Parlor and Museum! 
• Heading out to NexusPark for some youth sports. They offer a bunch of classes and summer camps that are great for keeping our kids active. 
• Networking and learning new things at local art and entrepreneurship events! Organizations like Catalyst Columbus, Exhibit Columbus, and our Columbus Area Arts Council all host a variety of community-centric events to support and celebrate creators of all kinds.
• Making the short drive down to Brown County State Park to enjoy the beautiful fall scenery. On our way out of town, we usually grab a coffee at Lucabe, which operates out of an old bank building. (Locals fondly call it the “dead horse” building thanks to its iconic design by architect Harry Weese!)
• Attending any of the MANY family-friendly after-school programs here in Columbus! I recommend checking out the classes and events at the library, as well as craft clubs at our local makerspace: Propeller.

Best of all, we can enjoy these activities without the hassles of a bigger city, like getting stuck in traffic, struggling to find parking, and waiting in mile-long lines. And if we crave a “big city” experience, we’re just a short drive away. Even when we plan a trip to see my family in Germany, we drive less than an hour to the Indianapolis Airport for an easy connection. 

The Columbus Way means always growing and improving.

The truth is that intention matters, and when you put intention into city design, it carries us into the future. Columbus is the physical manifestation of this intentionality—of J. Irwin Miller’s dream to create the best community of its size. 

This city is the place we found comfort and inspiration. The Columbus Way emphasizes a collaborative approach to community development, working together to evolve and improve our city.  

To me, that’s what makes Columbus the best: being willing to take a look in the mirror, recognize the beauty and strength in what we have, and still identify areas we can grow on this journey of becoming.

One great example is the recent transformation of North Christian Church. This stunning building by architect Eero Saarinen was gifted to the Bartholomew County Public Library, turning the church into a community center focused on youth and teens. One of the reasons for this is the building’s location within walking distance of multiple schools, creating an opportunity to serve over 4,200 students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. 

I think this is such a powerful story of reinvention, using intentional design to create spaces for connection and belonging. And selfishly, I love the idea of my kids—on their own journey of becoming—being able to ride their bikes across the street to enjoy this incredible space in its newest incarnation.  

There are many similar stories of reinvention in Columbus, and I believe these stories of intention and collaboration—both big and small—show how a community becomes the best of its size. Again and again!