Top Things to Do in Columbus, Indiana

One of America's best displays of architecture waits in Columbus, where the downtown mixes 20th-century masterpieces with 19-century structures. Names like I.M. Pei and Eero Saarinen left their mark here, earning Columbus recognition from the American Institute of Architects as America's sixth-best city for architectural innovation.

How is a town of 45,000 people packed with buildings and art created by designers known even by people who know little about design? The answer: J. Irwin Miller. In the 1950s, the local Cummins Engine Company executive set out to draw world-class workers to Columbus by elevating the entire town's attitude via design. He subsidized public buildings, as long as a renowned architect designed them, because he believed that, "Mediocrity is expensive."

The result is a town filled with more than 70 buildings created by famed architects-including churches, fire stations, schools, homes and office buildings. That means the anchor of any weekend here (45 miles south of Indianapolis) should be an architecture tour.

A free self-guided tour covers more than 70 works including public art such as Henry Moore's Large Arch. For a fee, bus tours with volunteer guides bring character to buildings around town. The Columbus Visitors Bureau can connect you with all tour options.

The glass-enclosed community space includes restaurants and a play area with a huge children's climbing structure.

Considered a leading example of modernist architecture, the 1950s Miller House and Garden feels like it could be a set for Mad Men; visitors gush over the groundbreaking conversation pit and the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beautifully manicured grounds.

Related: Modern Design Lessons From the Iconic Miller House Garden

Beers like the Copperhead Amber pair with pizzas cooked in a brick oven at this gem surrounded by vineyards and farmland.

Breaded pork tenderloins share the menu at 4th Street Bar and Grill with mahimahi tacos and burgers with kimchi.

Look for live weekly entertainment as well as standout pub food and 14 beers on tap at The Garage. 

Enjoy handmade ice cream served under the glow of Tiffany-style lamps at this classic soda fountain, opened in 1900.

Check out the extensive wine list and steaks or seafood at the swanky club. 

Midcentury modern touches show in the furniture, artwork and color scheme at this 85-room hotel. Rooms are gorgeous, with hardwood floors.

An early-20th-century Italianate-style inn features the original Edwardian furnishings and sunken gardens designed to resemble the ruins of Pompeii. Breakfast includes fresh-baked rolls, egg dishes and parfaits.

Related: Overnight Getaway to Columbus, Indiana