Columbus Museum of Art
Museum Art museum in Columbus with American and European collections
In downtown Columbus, the Columbus Museum of Art presents American and contemporary works, rotating exhibitions and family programs; visitors often combine it with Short North and riverfront walks.
The Columbus Museum of Art is an art museum located in downtown Columbus, Ohio, founded in 1878. It functions as a regional cultural institution with both permanent collections and rotating exhibitions.
Galleries present works spanning American and European painting, modern and contemporary art, and decorative arts, with a mix of permanent displays and temporary exhibitions. The museum runs educational programs and visitor services typical of a civic art museum.
Founded in the late 19th century as a local art institution, the museum has undergone expansions and building updates over the 20th and 21st centuries to broaden gallery and public program space.
The museum occupies a site in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is sited within the city’s cultural district.
- Founding: Established in 1878, the museum traces its origins to a late 19th-century civic art institution and has expanded its campus and programming since then.
What to See #
- Permanent collection galleries: Galleries devoted to the museum's permanent collections, which display American, European, and modern and contemporary works on a rotating basis.
- Temporary exhibition galleries: Spaces used for temporary and touring exhibitions that change regularly and host national and international loaned shows.
How to Get to Columbus Museum of Art #
The museum is on East Broad Street near the intersection with Gay Street, about a 10-15 minute walk from the Statehouse and in the vicinity of the Short North. Street parking and nearby paid lots are available; COTA buses serve downtown routes that stop within a few blocks.
Tips for Visiting Columbus Museum of Art #
- Check the museum's website for rotating exhibitions and late-night openings on selected Thursdays.
- Enter via the Broad Street entrance to be closest to the main lobby and current exhibitions.
- The museum's sculpture garden and outdoor installations are worth a quick visit in good weather; they change with temporary exhibitions.
Best Time to Visit Columbus Museum of Art #
Best visited year-round; evenings (Thursday late openings) offer fewer crowds and special programming.
Weather & Climate near Columbus Museum of Art #
Columbus Museum of Art's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (962 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm).
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February
February is freezing with highs of 5°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (100 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (107 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 30°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm).
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September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm).
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