Columbus

Columbus is the largest city and the capital of the state of Ohio.  It was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers. Its population according the 2012 census is 787,000.  The city has a diverse economy based on insurance, banking, fashion, defense, and aviation among others.  It is the home of the government and The Ohio State University.

The LeVeque Tower or Citadel as it was called is a 47-story Art Deco skyscraper.  At the time of its completion in 1927 it was the tallest building between New York City and Chicago.  Its construction occurred along with a massive revitalization of the riverfront because the area’s proximity to the Scioto River had severe problems with flooding. At that time the Scioto River was widened, a new City Hall and the Ohio Courts were built.  The Lincoln-LeVeque Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.  It is known for its elaborate lightening with different colors depending on the occasion throughout the year.

The Ohio Statehouse was built based on Greek Revival style and features a central recessed porch with a Doric colonnade built of local limestone and influenced by the Parthenon of Athens.  A cupola adorns the top of the building and is used to light the interior of its rotunda.  The cupola shows direct influence by the Tholos of Delphi, a circular temple built about 360 BC.  Two of the statues inside the Statehouse honor Thomas Jefferson the father of American democracy and Cleisthenes the father of democracy who reformed the constitution and implemented this new form of government in 507BC in ancient Athens.

Today is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) one of the greatest and my favorite American President.  Lincoln visited Columbus three times.  In his first visit he spoke to fifty people in front to the Statehouse in 1859, regarding slavery.  In his second visit he addressed a joint session of the Assembly in 1861.  Columbus was one of the 13 cities honored to host Lincoln’s casket that lay in state in the Rotunda on April 29, 1865 following his assassination. 

Antrim Park, its little lake and the path that measures 1.2 miles are great places to walk, jog or fish. It is in close proximity to the Olentangy bike path and Olentangy River.  Engaging in any of these activities make a visit to Antrim enjoyable year around. 

The Olentangy River rises approximately 2 miles north of Galion, OH where it turns south into Delaware County. The river continues its southward course towards Columbus where it joins with the Scioto River.  Twenty-two miles of the Olentangy have been designated a scenic river.  The picture was taken at a point along the scenic route 315.  I had memorable moments walking and fishing the Olentangy with my children when they were small and now as adults.  Wading the river feels like going back centuries when the Delaware called it keenhongsheconsepung, word literally translated as "stone for your knife stream", because on the shale found along its shores.  Most of the people “leave their heart in San Francisco”, I left my heart in Olentangy.