ABOUT THE COLUMBUS AREA VISITORS CENTER
CONTACT
HOURS
Sundays
- 12:00 to 5:00 pm (EST)
- closed Sundays Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Monday – Saturday
- 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
THE VISITORS CENTER IS CLOSED:
- New Year’s Eve Day
- New Year’s Day
- Easter Sunday
- Memorial Day, open 12 – 4 pm only, no tours
- Fourth of July
- Labor Day, open 12 – 4 pm only, no tours
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
The Visitors Center includes a gift shop, as well as the Yellow Neon Chandelier and Persians by glass artist Dale Chihuly, and serves as the starting point for city tours, which feature architecture, public art, the Miller House and Garden, and landmarks.
The Visitors Center building is the former home of John V. Storey. The home was built in the early 1860s, renovated in 1973, and renovated/expanded in 1995.
STAFF
- Karen Niverson, Executive Director
- Eric Marvin, Director of Sports Tourism
- Don Nissen, Director of Information Resources
- Becky Harper, Director of Sales and Hospitality
- Erin Hawkins, Director of Marketing
- Robin Gray, Operations Manager
- Joyce Orwin, Volunteer and Tour Program Manager
- Jan Banister, Retail Manager
- Lisa Westmark, Visitor Experience Manager
- Pat Bridgetts, Retail Staff
- Jane Cashen, Retail Staff
- Judie Lahr, Retail Staff
- Sonya Greathouse, Retail Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Cindy Waddle, President
- Justin Booth, Vice President
- Brenda Vogel, Secretary/Treasurer
- Jenny Kim, Governance Committee
- Lisa Shafran, Governance Committee
- Chad Cockerham
- Michael Dean
- Kelsey DeClue
- Kim DeClue
- Alan Degner
- Lynne Hyatt
- Amit Patel
- Beth Booth Poor
- Diane Robbins
OUR FRIENDS
OTHER MISC.
- Guides and Maps
- Board meeting schedule
- Tour Guide Resources (password required)
APPLYING FOR
TOURISM GRANTS
Visitors Center Inc. (VCI) maintains a grants pool from which tax-exempt organizations may request support for programs and events that will bring visitors into Bartholomew County, positively impact the quality of life in Bartholomew County, and/or support the mission of VCI. Since the source of these funds is the county innkeepers tax, a tax paid by visitors to the community and collected by hotels, all grants made from these funds must fall under the accepted uses as defined in Indiana Code 6-9-18-1.
Grant requests are evaluated by the VCI Tourism Development Committee for recommendation to the VCI Board of Directors.
Download grant forms:
Questions regarding our grant program should be directed to:
Erin Hawkins
ehawkins@columbus.in.us
812-378-2622
APPLYING FOR
SPORTS EVENT
GRANTS
The Columbus Area Visitors Center recognizes the importance sporting events provide in making a positive impact on the quality of life in our community. We can assist your organization, providing your sporting event meets one or more of the following criteria:
- generates year-round overnight visitations
- generates media exposure for the City and County
- contributes to the quality of life in our community
For more information, please contact sports@columbus.in.us.