Life in Columbus

Culture and Leisure

Columbus has a number of museums and art galleries, including the Columbus Museum of Art, the Kelton House Museum and Garden, and the Columbus Center of Science and Industry. The Ohio State House, with its majestic Greek style, is one of the oldest working state houses in the United States.

As the capital of Ohio, Columbus is also home to many of the state’s cultural institutions, including the Ohio Historical Society, which has its own museum and the Wexner Center for the Arts. Columbus also has a thriving cafe culture and growing music and art scenes, all of which have been directly influenced by the student population in the city.

Transportation in Columbus

At present Columbus does not have a rail system, and is therefore the largest city in US to be without one. Although plans are in progress for an intercity and suburban rail service in Columbus, it is not set to be completed for some time. As a result, many native citizens and expatriates living in Columbus use bicycles as their main form of inner city transportation, and they are especially popular with the student population. In response to this, the city is planning to improve cycling infrastructure over the next few years. Columbus also has an inner city bus service. The main airport is Port Columbus International Airport, which has flights to destinations across America and around the world.

Education in Columbus

The American public school system offers free, compulsory education for children between the ages of five and 16, although many stay on until they complete high school at the age of 17 or 18. Whilst the public school system in Columbus is generally regarded as one of the best in the Midwest, many expatriates will instead choose to send their children to international schools, as these offer internationally recognized qualifications, and sometimes will teach the curriculum of their home country. The main international schools in Columbus are Columbus North International School and the International Academy of Columbus. The city is also home to two state colleges: The Ohio State University, which is ranked in the top 20 in America; and Columbus State Community College.