ABOUT THE COLUMBUS AREA VISITORS CENTER

COME INSIDE!

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.

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

CONTACT

506 Fifth Street
Columbus, Indiana
47201

Find us

800-468-6564
812-378-2622

Email us >

Media contact >

Meet the Visitors Center Staff

LINKS

• Architecture Tours
• Gift Shop
• Tripadvisor
• Yelp
  

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Visitors Center actively markets the uniqueness and advantages of the Columbus/Bartholomew County community while engaging and educating visitors, overnight guests, and residents.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Justin Booth, President
• Brenda Vogel, Vice President
• Cindy Waddle, Secretary/Treasurer
• Jenny Kim, Governance Committee
• Lisa Shafran, Governance Committee
• Michael Dean
• Alan Degner
• C. Jordan Hilber
• Lynne Hyatt
• Amit Patel
• Brian Payne
• Beth Booth Poor
• Diane Robbins

BOOK A TOUR

OUR FRIENDS

• City of Columbus, Indiana
• Columbus Chamber
• Greater Columbus Economic Development
• Columbus Parks and Recreation
• Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives
• Indianapolis Museum of Art
• American Institute of Architects
• National Trust for Historic Destinations
• Landmark Columbus
• Visit Indiana

OTHER MISC.

• Guides and Maps
• Board meeting schedule
• View our Annual Report
• 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:

• Tourism grant application
• Event support budget worksheet
• Grant report form

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.