Visit the second floor of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts to view Historic Columbus Foundation's third history exhibit in partnership with the RiverCenter and Cultural Arts Alliance! 

Throughout our second exhibit, Celebrate Columbus, we highlighted iconic figures, places, and stories of our town's cultural arts history. Our third exhibit, Industrial Columbus, takes you on the economic journey of Columbus from its earliest days in 1828 through the realities of the Civil War and Reconstruction to the middle of the twentieth century when industries such as bricks, soft drinks, and peanuts began their rise to success. It includes the important stories of those who built the industries in our town and those who labored to make them happen.

The Georgia Legislature established Columbus in 1828 specifically as a "trading town" at the head of navigation of the Chattahoochee River. Crossing the Fall Line at Columbus, the river drops 125 feet within 2 1/2 miles, producing at least 66,000 horsepower potential energy. This hydropower attracted entrepreneurs, investment capital, and laborers to Columbus.

On display through March 2024!