About

Columbus has been blessed with a number of people destined for greatness here or who found greatness upon arriving here. Some have changed the world. Some became unquestionably the best in their field. Most exuded undeniable passion while others literally came out of nowhere to achieve greatness. And still others aligned with great mentors early and simply outworked their competition to achieve greatness.

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, Columbus did not exist.

At the dawn of the twentieth century, former Ohio governor William McKinley was president; Union Station was a bustling confluence of rail; Columbus Buggy Company engulfed a city block; beer was flowing in the south end Brewery District; and ground zero for the Social Gospel pulpit was right here.

At the dawn of the twenty first century, the Ohio Penitentiary had finally been razed; the Columbus Blue Jackets arrived; Easton Town Center opened in northeast Columbus; the university revitalization plan was well underway; Polaris Fashion Place opened on the north end; and Columbus re-connected to its Short North with the ‘Cap’.

Our intention is to revisit eras, explore landmarks, relive moments, give perspective, celebrate events, glorify the bold, shake our head at the obstinate, marvel at the talented, absorb the heartbreak, appreciate the driven, do a double take on the everyday, and learn about a city that has gotten a lot right, but has also at times lacked boldness.

We go into this endeavor realizing that one’s view of history can be subjective. The lens we have tried to look through is a broad one. Everyday is history. Every event is history. The question is what resonates with history.

– Rick Hetter

Editor & Columbus native