PRIVATE AND GROUP TOUR ATTRACTIONS

GROUP ARCHITECTURE TOURS

ARCHITECTURE HIGHLIGHTS PRIVATE GROUP TOUR

This city tour showcases both historic and contemporary buildings as well as public art, interwoven with stories of the people instrumental in shaping our community.
Step-On Guide Service – Two Hours > A trained volunteer guide will step on your motorcoach and conduct a tour of the downtown and outlying areas with two interior stops. The tour will pass by approximately 40 buildings. Each interior visit will take 20 minutes. Charge is $15 per person, minimum 20 people (minimum $350), maximum fee for motorcoaches $450.
Step-On Guide Service – One Hour > A trained volunteer guide will step on your motorcoach and conduct a tour of the downtown area or other designated area with one interior stop. The tour will pass by approximately 20 buildings. An interior visit is optional and if included it will take 20 minutes. Charge $10 per person, minimum 20 people ($200), maximum charge for motor coach $300.
Subject to availability and should be arranged a minimum of four to six weeks in advance.
For reservations, contact Kate Todd, ktodd@columbus.in.us, or 812-378-2622.

MILLER HOUSE PRIVATE TOUR OPTIONS

Closed January and February for conservation and preservation activities – scheduling now for March and beyond

MILLER HOUSE & GARDEN PRIVATE GROUP TOUR

Group tours of Miller House and Garden, one of the most highly regarded mid-century modern homes, designed by architecture Eero Saarinen, landscape architect Dan Kiley, and interiors by Alexander Girard. This National Historic Landmark is available for private group tours.
All Miller House and Garden Tours start at The Columbus Area Visitor Center with an introductory video.
Tours are approximately 90 minutes (including video and transportation). For groups larger than 12, multiple tour rotations will be scheduled to start in 30-minute increments.
Tour price: $30 per person with a minimum charge of $360.
Subject to availability and should be arranged a minimum of four weeks in advance
For additional information, contact Kate Todd, ktodd@columbus.in.us, or 812-378-2622.

MILLER HOUSE AND GARDEN CURATOR GROUP TOUR

A private group tour of the renowned mid-century modern home and garden showcasing the work of Eero Saarinen, Alexander Girard, and Dan Kiley. Experience a more in-depth tour led by a knowledgeable member of the Newfields staff during this private tour. Tour size is limited to six people.
During this tour, still photography is permitted. Photos are for personal use only and cannot be used in any commercial manner. Flash photography, tripods, and other photographic equipment are not permitted on this tour. Miller House and Garden tours begin at the Columbus Area Visitor Center. The property is in a residential area and entry is by shuttle provided at the Columbus Area Visitor Center.
Tour length: approximately 2 hours
Tours are provided for private groups of one to six people
Tour price: $100 per person with a minimum charge of $400
Subject to availability and should be arranged a minimum of four to six weeks in advance
For additional information, contact Kate Todd, ktodd@columbus.in.us, or 812-378-2622.

MILLER HOUSE AND GARDEN LANDSCAPE GROUP TOUR

A private group tour of The Miller Garden, regarded as one of America’s most important modernist landscapes. Join a landscaping specialist for a more extensive, private tour of this landscaping by Dan Kiley. Since the Mid-Century modern architects and landscape architects often blurred the lines between the interior and exterior of their designs, this tour will take an abbreviated walk through the interior of the Miller House. The tour will include significant walking over varying terrain in outdoor conditions; please dress accordingly.
Miller House and Garden tours begin at the Columbus Area Visitor Center. The property is in a residential area and entry is by shuttle provided at the Columbus Area Visitor Center.
Tour length: approximately 2 hours, including video and transportation
Tours are provided for private groups of one to nine people
Tour price: $40 per person with a minimum charge of $360
Subject to availability and should be arranged a minimum of four to six weeks in advance
For additional information, contact Kate Todd, ktodd@columbus.in.us, or 812-378-2622.

MILLER HOUSE AND GARDEN GROUP PHOTO TOUR

A private photography tour of the Miller House and Garden provides an opportunity to capture the work of Eero Saarinen, Alexander Girard, and Dan Kiley. During this tour, still photography is permitted.
Photos are for personal use only and cannot be used in any commercial manner. Flash photography, tripods, and other photographic equipment are not permitted on this tour.
Guests on the tour are not permitted to deviate from the tour path or to ask for access to areas to obtain a particular shot.
Miller House and Garden tours begin at the Columbus Area Visitor Center. The property is in a residential area and entry is by a shuttle provided at the Columbus Area Visitor Center.
Tour length: approximately 2 hours, including video and transportation
Tours are provided for private groups of one to six people
Tour price: $60 per person with a minimum charge of $360
Subject to availability and should be arranged a minimum of four to six weeks in advance
For additional information, contact Kate Todd, ktodd@columbus.in.us, or 812-378-2622.

MUSEUMS, ART, ARCHITECTURE, ATTRACTIONS

ZAHARAKOS ICE CREAM PARLOR & MUSEUM, 329 Washington Street

Named The #1 Thing Every Hoosier Must Do by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.
Hours subject to change – see their website, link below
Elegantly-restored turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor and museum.
Enjoy soups, salads, sandwiches, sodas and sundaes.
Try the traditional favorite, a Green River, made the old-fashioned way.
Enjoy the music of the 1908 Welte Orchestrion, which mimics 182 instruments.
Find out more about Zaharakos

UTOPIA WILDLIFE

Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators is a state and federally permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility. Utopia offers educational experiences for the public about wildlife.
Come face to face variety of eagles, hawks, and owls. Learn about animals you might meet in the forests, fields, and back yards of Indiana, including foxes and even sometimes even skunks and opossums. There are many ways to learn and explore!
Learn about the animals’ amazing survival abilities and get a rare chance to see creatures that might only be seen briefly, at a distance.
Learn more about Utopia Wildlife >

ATTERBURY-BAKALAR AIR MUSEUM, 4742 Ray Boll Boulevard

The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum Complex preserves history, educates, and honors those in uniform who serve and have served.
The museum captures the history of the airport when it served as an Air Force Base. It displays scaled models of vintage aircraft, uniforms, and other historical artifacts from WWII, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Step into the video room (the room is scaled to the size of a glider) and see video of the WWII Gliders, then see the full-scale model of the pilot and a WWII Glider.
There is no fee for the tour, but donations are accepted.
Hours subject to change – see website
Find out more at The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum website.

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM, 524 3rd Street, Downtown Columbus

Visit the Bartholomew County Historical Society Museum, built in 1864, to see the newly refurbished house with new exhibits.
There is no admission charged, but donations are accepted.
Hours subject to change – see website
Find out more at the Historical Society Website

YELLOW TRAIL MUSEUM, Hope, Indiana

This is a unique museum in that nearly every artifact in the museum has been loaned or donated to the museum by present or past residents of the community and tells the history of this unique town.
Find out more at the Yellow Trail Museum website.

SHIREMAN HOMESTEAD

Group maximum 300, no minimum
This is a unique homestead with tours at the farm.
Call for more information: 812-372-294
Find out more about Shireman Homestead

TRI-STATE ARTISANS

Join a professional artist who will lead your group through step-by-step wine glass painting.
Classes conducted at Tri-State Artisans, downtown Columbus, or a private venue of your choice, including Simmons Winery Banquet facility
See website for details.

FOODIE EXPERIENCES

NOT JUST POPCORN, Edinburgh Indiana

Unique gourmet popcorn shop specializing in over 240 flavors, including chocolate mint, cappuccino, and dill pickle.
Featured on Food Network and in Midwest Living.
Tours available.
Find out more about Not Just Popcorn.

MICROBREWERIES

Experience one or all there of the area’s microbreweries: Zwanzigz, 450 North Brewery at Simmons Winery, Powerhouse Brewery
Each microbrewery offers tastings and a wide variety of brews.
Find out more about Columbus area microbreweries.

SIMMONS WINERY, 8111 E 450 N

Simmons Winery offers a wide variety of red, white, and blush wines, ranging from dry to sweet dessert wines. Viniferous, French-American hybrids, and Native American grapes are used to produce the wines. They offer processing room tours and wine tasting. Visit the farm market during the summer and fall for fresh fruits and vegetables produced on the 115-year-old family farm.
Find out more about Simmons Winery.

SHOPPING

ANTIQUES AND OUTLETS

Indiana Premium Outlets is the largest in Indiana, with over 85 stores.
Exit 76 Antique Mall has over 600 booths under one roof. Motorcoach parking available. Also enjoy exploring the charming boutiques and shops in the area.
View the antiques guide