I love taking a look back at Columbus and this footage from 1964-1965 is no exception.
The film was shot by Youtuber gothpapa and his brother and features a ton of sights, including the construction of the Ohio Statehouse underground parking garage, a political rally for Barry Goldwater, tons of scenes around OSU campus, and even some fireworks.
In case you weren’t around in 1964, let me help set the scene a bit.
The average new car cost just $3,500. A gallon of milk was $0.49, a loaf of bread went for $0.22, and gas was a mere $0.30 per gallon. The Chase Tower (then the Bank One Tower) had just been completed, dominating the skyline. Jerrie Mock had just begun her legendary flight around the world. And downtown Columbus was still a few years away from welcoming its very first Wendy’s in 1969.
The video is just under 5 minutes, but it’s packed with little moments that feel surprisingly familiar. Watching students walking around OSU or families gathered on the sidewalks, it hits you: while the hairstyles and hemlines may have changed, the spirit of the city hasn’t. People are still out and about, still building, still showing up for community events.
What makes this kind of footage special isn’t just the landmarks or events it captures — it’s the feeling.
The grainy film, the slightly jumpy camera work, the sense that someone was just out exploring their city, filming everyday life without knowing that 60 years later, we’d still be watching.
