Only In Columbus, Georgia: Fun Facts, Unique Landmarks, & More

In a city as rich in history and heritage as Columbus, Georgia, there are plenty of cool facts, unique landmarks, and historic sites to learn more about and find around town! Read on to discover what makes Columbus, Georgia, different from any other city in the country, and all the sites to see during your next trip with us!

Big City Amenities, Small Town Hospitality

In 2021, Columbus was officially declared the second-largest city in Georgia by the U.S. Census Bureau, second only to the state capital, Atlanta! Columbus consistently ranks among the top cities in the state with over 200,000 residents. Columbus is a city on the rise, and there are plenty of reasons why.

Downtown = Uptown

In Columbus, the central city area that would normally be referred to as “downtown” in other towns is known as “Uptown” in Columbus. This began in the 1980s, when multiple nonprofit organizations and local community groups sought to revitalize the once-empty, underdeveloped downtown area. Today, Columbus’ Uptown area is a bustling district filled with notable shops, restaurants, and attractions like the 22-mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk, drawing thousands of visitors to the city each year. Check out this guide for more on where to go and what to do in Uptown Columbus.

Fountain City

Columbus is nicknamed the “Fountain City” because of the many public fountains that can be found around town. There are nearly a dozen fountains within a three-mile radius of Uptown Columbus, and it’s a popular activity to walk around and take a photo with each of the fountains you find.

World-Class Rafting Course

Columbus is home to the longest urban whitewater rafting course in the world! Located on the Chattahoochee River, the Whitewater Express course stretches approximately 2.5 miles and has been described as “Wild as Colorado and as Warm as Costa Rica.”

Zipline to a Completely Different State (and Back)

One of Columbus’ most popular attractions allows you to zipline from Georgia to Alabama, and back! Columbus sits on the border between both states, and the Blue Heron Aerial Course allows true adventurers to zipline from Columbus to Phenix City, Alabama!

Home to the #1 Best Free Museum in the U.S.

Columbus’ National Infantry Museum is not only considered one of the top military museums in the country, but also one of the top museums overall, voted as the #1 Best Free Museum in the U.S. in the 2025 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Columbus is a true military heritage hub, also offering visitors the chance to see the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus and the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning.

The True Birthplace of the Coca-Cola Formula?

While Atlanta is the birthplace of Coca-Cola as we know it today, it is widely believed that the original formula for the iconic drink was created in Columbus. John Pemberton, the creator of Coca-Cola, was a practicing pharmacist in Columbus and is buried in historic Linwood Cemetery. There’s no doubt. The first glass of modern Coca-Cola was sold in Atlanta in 1886, but the original prototype, known as "French Wine Coca," is said to have been created in Pemberton’s Columbus laboratory/pharmacy in the 1860s/1870s. You can learn more about Columbus’ place in soft drink history, including as the founding location of the brand RC Cola, on the Soft Drink Heritage Trail.

Rooted in Rhythm, Blues, & Culture

Columbus is a city with deep ties to Black American music, including jazz and rhythm & blues. Ma Rainey, the “Mother of the Blues,” was born in Columbus, lived here, and performed here, beginning her career at the historic Springer Opera House. Several other iconic Black musicians also performed in Columbus, specifically at the Liberty Theatre, the city’s first Black theatre, including Marian Anderson, Ella Fitzgerald, Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Columbus’ own Ma Rainey, her protégé Bessie Smith, and the big bands of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Fletcher Henderson. Columbus visitors can learn more about Black music and other history in the city on the Black Heritage Trail.

A 20-Foot Cow (Named Kadie)

One of Columbus’ most iconic local landmarks is Kadie the Cow, a 20-foot fiberglass statue of a dairy cow. Placed in 1967, Kadie originally stood as a mascot for the former Kinnett Dairy plant, standing in the same place for 50 years. Kadie was moved to her current home in Uptown Columbus’ Chattahoochee

RiverWalk in late 2022, where she now stands as a unique photo attraction and a reminder of Columbus’ history.

Eight Museums, All-In-One

One of Columbus’ most unique attractions is The Columbus Collective Museums, which brings together eight museums in one location. Visitors can experience the Lunchbox Museum, featuring more than 5,000 lunchboxes, trays, and thermoses; the Georgia Radio Museum, which honors the men and women of broadcasting in Georgia; the Car Museum, which showcases a collection of classic cars and rare vehicles; and five other unique and interactive museums!

A Southern Riverside Dining Destination

Columbus is home to a dynamic and versatile culinary environment, with over 500 restaurants serving cuisines from all around the world. From vibrant rooftop bars serving creative cocktails and dishes, like Eighteen85 Rooftop Bar & Kitchen, to upscale establishments serving award-winning cuisine next to the Chattahoochee River, like Epic Restaurant, the only Georgia AAA Four Diamond Award winner outside of the Atlanta area, Columbus offers a dining landscape that’s worth a trip to the city alone. Some of Columbus’ more casual standout eateries include Ruth Ann’s Restaurant, which was featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Guide on the ‘Best Diners in Georgia,’ and Banks Food Hall, which features seven unique food and drink vendors.

Columbus is also the birthplace of the iconic Scrambled Dog, a unique hot dog that both President Jimmy Carter and the United Kingdom’s King Charles have indulged in. Originated in 1908, scrambled dogs remain one of Columbus’ signature dishes to this day, with both locals and travelers visiting Columbus eateries like the long-standing Dinglewood Pharmacy to enjoy them.

 Read more about Columbus’ restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, and more here.

An Art Scene Worth Traveling For

Along with its outdoor and riverside adventures, recreational attractions, dining options, and more, Columbus is also known for its robust art scene. The Columbus Museum, which is the second-largest art museum in the Southeast, offers free admission and showcases local history and heritage.

Columbus is home to a variety of art galleries both large and small, from Columbus State University’s Bo Bartlett Art Center and Ilges Gallery, to fine art venues like Highland Galerie, smaller, artist-led galleries like Gallery on 10th, and the philanthropic Do Good Fund Gallery, which tells the history of the American South through art.