Discovery District
Check out available properties in the Discovery District.
The Discovery District is flanked by 6th Street on the West, I-670 on the north, I-71 on the west and I-70/71 on the south. This area is a remarkable education and arts resource for Central Ohioans.
That Was Then
East Town Street represented one of the earliest “suburban” neighborhoods in early 19th century Columbus, as the city was slowly expanding. East Town Street presents a wide array of architecture including Classical, French Chateau and pre-Civil War Greek Revival.
This area has seen important historical events and served as stop on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.
Many of the homes, businesses and educational institutions in the area-from the Columbus College of Art and Design and the Columbus Metropolitan Library, to the Kelton and Thurber Houses-were built between the 1850s and the 1920s.
In 1989, a plan was developed by the City of Columbus, to bring together the various institutions in the Discovery District to create one cohesive campus between the Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus State Community College and the Columbus Museum of Art all located north of Broad Street, and to create a gateway that would attract visitors from downtown into this thriving district.
This Is Now
Many historic homes can be found in the Town-Franklin neighborhood, the residential section of the Discovery District. In addition to the historic homes and the newer apartments and homes, this area contains one of the largest green spaces in the area. Deaf School Park, bought by the state of Ohio in 1829, was originally the home to the Ohio School for the Education of the Deaf, but now contains a nationally-recognized topiary garden portraying scenes from Georges Seurat's famous post-impressionist painting, A Sunday On The Island Of La Grande Jatte.
Art enthusiasts will love the Discovery District. Between Columbus College of Art and Design and the Columbus Museum of Art, there is always a wealth of exhibits from student and faculty shows showcasing local talent, to internationally-renowned exhibits such as Renoir’s Women.
COSI, formerly known as the Center of Science and Industry, is a science museum that opened on in 1964 as a venture of the Franklin County Historical Society. Originally housed in Memorial Hall, COSI moved in 1999 to a location on the Scioto riverfront. Former NASA astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan serves as COSI science advisor.
COSI features a seven-story Extreme Screen theater, many live performances and large spaces for traveling exhibitions in addition to a wide range of permanent displays.
The Thurber House honors Columbus native and American humorist, James Thurber, with events that promote up-and-coming writers and bring established authors to the city.
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What's New
The Bar of Modern Art, or BOMA, named in a similar manner to New York’s Museum of Modern Art, or MOMA, is a project to revive an 1880s church in this downtown corridor. The project combines artist's lofts, a restaurant, bars and an art gallery.