Columbus Indiana

How did this happen?

How did a farming and milling town in the middle of nowhere become such a center for architecture? Here's the word, from teh city's website:

"Modern Columbus is defined by a series of events that began in 1942 when the First Christian Church dedicated its new building. Designed by the Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen as a break with traditional Romanesque and gothic structures, the building heralded the beginning of modern architecture in Columbus.
The next step towards modern architecture occurred in 1954 with the construction of Irwin Union Bank, designed by Eero Saarinen. With the construction of Schmitt Elementary School in 1957 and in support of the concept that the built environment is crucial to a quality community, the Cummins Engine Foundation offered to pay the architect’s fee for any new school that was designed by an architect selected from a list supplied by the Foundation. Later, they expanded the program to include a variety of public buildings. Other companies and church congregations also decided to seek architects who would add to the community’s quality of design. Names like Eero Saarinen, Harry Weese, Richard Meier, and I.M. Pei led the American Institute of Architects to rank Columbus sixth in a list that included Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, DC, for architectural innovation and design. "

See the Columbus site for info on local festivals, Art, and more.

posted by TwistedNoggin @ 8:00 PM