Columbus Museum
Columbus Museum
4.5
GardensArt MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
The Columbus Museum brings American art and history to life for the communities of the Chattahoochee Valley. Founded in 1953, The Columbus Museum is one of the largest museums in the Southeast and is unique for its dual concentration on American art and regional history, displayed in its permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, and educational programs. Located in the hometown of Ma Rainey, Carson McCullers, Alma Thomas, and Amy Sherald, the museum maintains and increases relevance through the quality of its interpretation of objects and by targeting partnerships that extend its ability to serve the community. Admission is always free.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles169 reviews
Excellent
108
Very good
47
Average
13
Poor
1
Terrible
0

cordyroy
Mobile, AL2,384 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Really 2 museums in one; Local history from Native American thru modern times, and a sensational Art Museum. The history section was very informative and well presented. We really loved the art section. It's larger than it looks and the collection is sensational. Permanent collection is mostly 19th and 20th century works of great quality by lesser known artists. (but NOT lesser ability!)
The "Alma W. Thomas: Everything Is Beautiful" special exhibit was excellent. Make sure to see the the Bio film 1st!
Free and free parking.
Written July 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review of The Columbus Museum! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your visit and our Alma Thomas exhibitions. We are gearing up for a large scale renovation of the building. During renovation, we will have new exhibitions and programming on tour at various locations throughout the Chattahoochee Valley. Our gift shop and temporary headquarters will be located in the historic home next door to the Museum - 1327 Wynnton Road. We hope to see you at some of our tour shows!
Written October 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Katrinka S
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
First time in Columbus and just checking out different places, we came across this museum and was impressed. The lady at the front desk was very professional, knowledgeable and helpful. Exhibits started off in a very early time frame of the area and went all the way up to the present. We enjoyed the entire thing.
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your first visit to Columbus and the Museum. We hope to see you again at one of our many exciting exhibitions and curated collections. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about our upcoming programming. Best, Kristen Hudson Director of Marketing and Public Relations The Columbus Museum
Written August 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mary Ellen V
Lilburn, GA7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
I am an interior designer and I just love going to the Columbus Museum. It is one of the few museums that believes in painted walls. I think everything looks better with color behind it and they do a wonderful job. The Indian exhibit is awesome, the movie about the river and how Columbus started is worth just going to that. Their permanent exhibits are fantastic. AND there is no charge but they do get a $10 or $20 from me when I leave. Sometimes I go just for their museum store because here are different gifts I have never seen before. You can spend one hour or 4 hours !!!.
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We greatly appreciate your review! We always love hearing from our returning visitors and supporters. The Museum is currently gearing up for a large scale renovation of the building. During renovation, we will have new exhibitions and programming on tour at various locations throughout the Chattahoochee Valley. Our gift shop and temporary headquarters will be located in the historic home next door to the Museum - 1327 Wynnton Road. We hope to see you at some of our tour shows!
Written October 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

bear1948
Columbus, GA24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Permanent & periodic traveling offerings.. Spend a while there. You will not be disappointed. Visited just museum at least 1/2 dozen times. t, but also been there for presentations, meetings, bridal reception. Top notch.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear bear1948 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We are glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. Please visit us again to see one of our many exciting exhibitions and curated collections! Sincerely, Brody Gaultney Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator The Columbus Museum
Written January 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TravelNYC212
New York City, NY80 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
I've been to Columbus many times, but have never visited this wonderful museum. First, staff was extremely helpful and friendly (actually, all of Columbus is friendly). I was with some family members and we decided to go slow and see everything available. Beautiful items and very nicely displayed. Highly recommend.
Written September 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear TravelNYC212, Thank you so much for leaving a glowing review! Our staff take pride in making sure each guest has a world-class experience. Next time you're in Columbus, please visit us again! Sincerely, Brody Gaultney Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
Written December 19, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

coldfeetSJ
Orlando26 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
My husband and I just visited the Columbus Museum and were pleasantly surprised. Our tip to Georgia had been less than thrilling so we made our way to the museum with low expectations.

We were greeted by a friendly woman at the front desk who gave us a brief rundown of the museum. We decided to forgo the guided tour and began exploring on our own.

The first exhibit gave a chronological tour through Columbus's past. Not coming from the south, I found this very interesting and quite enjoyed the display. The rest of the museum was filled with every kind of artwork under the sun. From furniture to sculptures to paintings, there seemed to be a little something for everyone. The ground floor even had a hands-on area for kids to create their own art such as puppet shows and chalk board walls.

This is perhaps Columbus's diamond in the rough, a definite must-see. And since there is no admission charge, there is one more reason to stop by.
Written March 9, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan R
Murrieta, CA334 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Friends
While waiting to see our son at Ft. Benning, we decided to spend some time at this museum, and we are so glad we did. First, it is FREE, but they do put out a container for donations. We donated about $5 per person in our group. The place is beautiful inside and well kept with many exhibits. It is really a museum for all ages. There is history of the Columbus area from the time of the Indians settlements to present day, and an art museum, too. I wish we had more time to see the art displays--maybe next time. I felt I really learned a lot about Columbus which prior to my visit, I knew nothing about. We watched a short film and walked at our own pace through the exhibit areas. The exhibits on the first floor are also easy for those in wheelchairs to see and there are elevators that will take you to the 2nd floor for the art exhibits. There is also a very nice gift shop. I am glad we went there.
Written June 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angierobrts
Albany, GA294 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
Museum is so-so. Visit was tainted by badgering by 3 different guards regarding masks. When we encountered other visitors (very few) we raised our masks, otherwise we had our noses uncovered. This is located in Columbus, GA. There is no statewide mask mandate. The museum put their own in place because, believe it or not, they are owned by the school board!! It will be a long time before we go back as we were not welcomed.
Written May 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Angierobrts, We greatly appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review! Your comments help us to make our guest experience more enjoyable for all. Along with many others over the last year, we have been adapting our health and safety precautions in order to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our visitors. We apologize that you felt unwelcomed and thus dissatisfied with your visit to The Columbus Museum. We hope you will consider visiting us again and providing us another opportunity to wow you with our revolving exhibitions and curated collections. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about our upcoming programming. Best, Kristen Hudson Director of Marketing and Public Relations The Columbus Museum
Written August 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sharon A
Columbus, GA41 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Family
It has some interesting exhibits. The staff provided interactive demonstrations. We were in a school group.
Written September 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting us! New exhibits will be opening this fall.
Written September 15, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

pcrodriguez78
Reston, VA69 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2017 • Family
This was a great museum. It had a bit of everything for anyone. I went with a friend and we both really enjoyed the visit. I especially enjoyed the WWI display they had. It told the story of not just the war, but how the town responded: the founding, relocating of then Camp Benning, local men who enlisted and served, women who joined the Red Cross, Navy, Army to serve,
There was an exhibit of the history of local African Americans as well as those who had called Columbus their home at some point. One of those was Eugen Bullard who flew for the French in WWI. When I read about him in the exhibit, I immediately thought of the 2006 movie Flyboys. We also saw the art of local artist Marth Clippinger, as well as their display of Portraits in Profile, and so much more. We were really impressed with the Chattahoochee Legacy exhibit. This is a big exhibit and is the history of the role the rive has played in the evolving life, cultures, societies, businesses etc. that have shaped Columbus. Really liked the 15 foot crocodile display, talk about Huge! When we left the museum we both agreed that we were amazed at how much the museum had to display and that from the outside it looked small but inside is big.
Written August 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review! We have a few exhibitions that will be opening this fall we are sure you will enjoy. You are always welcome to visit us!
Written August 28, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 163
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Columbus Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus Museum

Columbus Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sun 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Tue - Wed 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Thu - Thu 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
  • Sat - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM