The Short North to Nationwide Arena Walk
Columbus, United States
This walk traces how art, architecture, and adaptive reuse reshaped Columbus from a nineteenth century civic capital into a lively arts corridor and warehouse revival district. From the creative energy of the Short North Arts District along High Street to the transformed rail and industrial lands of the Arena District, the route blends Italianate streetscapes, civic power, and entertainment-driven renewal. Expect stories of artists, architects, politicians, and everyday Columbus residents who left lasting marks on these streets.
The stops
- 01 Columbus College of Art & Design
A major influence on the artistic culture of the Short North and the broader Columbus area.
- 02 Library Park
A small but meaningful historic green space that helps anchor the walk with neighborhood-scale context. It offers a quieter pause between the arts corridor and nearby residential and redevelopment sites.
- 03 The Ohio Statehouse
The statehouse is not part of the warehouse district, but it is a crucial civic landmark in the same urban core and helps frame the larger downtown context in which these neighborhoods developed.
- 04 Hayden Building
A historic building in the Short North that exemplifies the area's architectural preservation and adaptive reuse.
- 05 Union Station Arch
A preserved remnant of the original Union Station, serving as a gateway to the Arena District and a symbol of its history.
- 06 Arena District
The post-industrial entertainment district whose warehouses, rail-adjacent blocks, and new venues helped reframe Columbus’s downtown edge as a place for events, dining, and public life.
- 07 Nationwide Arena
The catalyst project of the Arena District, symbolizing how sports and entertainment investment accelerated the transformation of former industrial land into a high-traffic urban district.
The narration at every stop is in the app — this is the map of where it takes you, with a line on each stop.
Walk The Short North to Nationwide Arena Walk with a voice in your ear.
Download Odyssey Guide on iPhone to start this walk.
Download on the App StoreiPhone · iOS 16 and later