From COSI’s swinging pendulum to tailgating with Brutus, these snapshots capture what life in Columbus used to feel like.
There’s something about a great vintage photo that stops you in your tracks. Maybe it’s the fashion, the backdrop, or the way it pulls you right back to a specific time and place.
And in Columbus, we’ve had no shortage of moments worth capturing. Whether you grew up visiting Wyandot Lake or you remember the Doo Dah Parade in its weirder-than-ever prime, these historic photos are little time capsules of central Ohio’s past.
We pulled together some of the most nostalgic images of Columbus over the past few decades and they’re SUCH a trip.
Watching the Foucault Pendulum at COSI
The Foucault Pendulum was the science museum moment back in the day. When COSI opened its doors on March 29, 1964, this hypnotic swinging pendulum was one of its very first exhibits, and if you grew up here, odds are you spent way too long watching it knock over those little pegs.
Tailgating in the ’80s, OSU Style
That vest. The red Solo cup. The Brutus tire cover. This scene outside Ohio Stadium is peak 1980s Buckeye energy. You can practically smell the charcoal and bratwurst.
COTA Buses and Downtown Throwbacks
Before the Short North had boutiques and rooftop bars, downtown Columbus was all about Argo & Lehne, Ohio Federal, and those yellow COTA buses. There’s so much to love in this shot, from the vintage ads to the classic street clock.
Stinger at the Library
Nothing says early 2000s quite like Stinger showing up at the library. The Columbus Blue Jackets teamed up with the Columbus Metropolitan Library for the Book Jackets reading program in 2004, and I’m kind of jealous that I was already in
Metro Mouse Mobile Rolls Into Town
Columbus Metropolitan Library
If you were a 90s or early 2000s kid in Columbus, you might remember this mouse-on-wheels. Metro Mouse was the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s adorable bookmobile, redesigned to connect with preschoolers and encourage early reading. It’s giving Reading Rainbow meets Columbus streets.
Wyandot Lake in the Sunshine
It’s hard to explain just how big of a deal Wyandot Lake was. This 1985 photo captures people lounging on towels while the Sea Dragon coaster and Twin Skippers slides loom in the background. We miss it so much. (Yes, we know Zoombezi Bay is cool, but nostalgia won’t let us rank it as highly)
The Santa Maria Docked in the Scioto
Did anyone else fully believe that we could sail this thing right out of Columbus? I can’t be the only one. The Santa Maria replica ship sat on the Scioto River from 1992 to 2014. It was part of the city’s 500th anniversary celebration of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. It was considered the most accurate museum replica of the OG ship.
Doo Dah Parade Chaos, Circa 2005
Short North weirdness at its finest. The Doo Dah Parade has always been about satire, chaos, and pure unfiltered Columbus creativity. This photo might be 20 years old, but I can assure you, the energy this summer will probably be the same. Some things (thankfully) never change.
Want More Columbus Nostalgia?
If you loved these photos, we’ve got more where that came from. From retro restaurants to old-school arcade spots, we’re always chasing that vintage Columbus feeling.
