
Many know Columbus as the site of the global headquarters for Cummins Inc, a manufacturer of diesel engines, but it is also the home of Chuck Taylor, Tony Stewart, and Boudreax Butt Paste! Columbus is regularly in the news for national rankings and awards. To see a list of recognitions, please click HERE.
To find out what's new, and what's news, in Columbus right now, click HERE for a guide.
To see photos of the newly restored Zaharako's ice cream parlor, click HERE.
To see photos from The Columbus Farmer's Market, click HERE.
To see photos of the bear cubs that were carved into a fallen tree at Donner Park, click HERE.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste is an ointment known for its capacity to wipe out diaper rash and other skin irritations. Blairex Laboratories, Inc. manufactures the ointment.
Chuck Taylor, for whom the Converse All Star is named, was a basketball player, salesman, and shoe endorser from Columbus. He played on the Columbus High School Bulldogs team from 1914 to 1918. Until the mid-1970s, the beloved shoe design, nicknamed "Chuck's," comprised 50% of the athletic shoe market. To see how a local "canstruction" team paid homage to the Columbus native, with cans of food, click HERE.
Tony Stewart – 2007 Brickyard 400 Winner Tony Stewart is a local boy made good. What an unforgettable hero! He credits his return to his hometown with his success on the NASCAR circuit. See a mural of Tony at the downtown Dairy Queen, where the owner was an early Tony fan and sponsor.
Exploded Engine – The lobby of the world headquarters of Cummins, Inc. offers a mini-museum for car enthusiasts. Cummins is a world leader in diesel engine manufacturing. There are vintage cars and former Indy 500 race cars. The centerpiece of the exhibit is an exploded diesel engine by artist Rudolph de Harak. Each piece of the engine is artfully pulled away from the engine block by invisible wires, giving the piece a floating sensation.
Chaos I – World-renowned Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely's aptly-named Chaos I is large and loud. It spins and sputters slowly at first and, then, erupts as metal balls crash loudly down a wire chute. Formerly on public display in The Commons, it was built in 1974 from scrap metal Tinguely located in area junkyards. It is 30 feet high, weighing 7 tons. (Chaos will return, when the new Commons Mall re-opens.)
Award-Winning Park – Enjoy landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh's award-winning park design in Mill Race Park, located just steps away from downtown Columbus. Its curving drive follows the line of the river. From the 42-foot observatory, you can view the river as well as the downtown rooftops and steeples. With the spring rains, the entire park can be submerged. Every plant and every fixture in the park is designed to withstand significant floods.
Over the River and Through the Woods – The 19-mile People Trail system takes you over the river, through the woods and under the interstate. Along the river, you're likely to see a blue heron in flight. Along the western stretch of trail, you'll notice butterflies inhabiting the wildflower gardens along State Road 46. As you journey westward, two tunnels take you safely under Interstate 65. The trail system takes you through the natural beauty of several parks, past significant modern architecture and through quaint residential areas.
Back Home In Indiana – Local boy Tim Grimm went to Hollywood to be in pictures (movies, TV), but returned to his roots in Columbus to raise his family. He organizes the Driftwood Valley Music Festival, featuring many folk artists, writes music, performs his folk music throughout the Midwest and back east as well as performs in live theater.

Zaharako’s Victorian Soda Shoppe, fully restored!
One writer described Zaharako’s as “one of those Victorian-era soda fountains that looks like it should be in a museum.” The three Zaharako’s brothers opened the shop, warmly called “The Greeks” by locals, in 1900. When Lew Zaharako, the third-generation owner, died in June 2006, the future of Zaharako’s was uncertain.
Then, local businessman Tony Moravec purchased the shop and restored it to its original glory, just as it was at the turn-of-the-century, and also added an ice cream parlor museum.
For more information on Zaharakos, go HERE. |