Columbus Riverwalk - Strolling through History on the Chattahoochee

What began as a sewer project as turned into one of the most remarkable heritage attractions in Georgia.

The Columbus Riverwalk winds along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, linking many of the city's historic sites, museums and points of interest. It grew from a visionary plan developed when the federal government required the city to do massive upgrades to its sewer systems. Engineers, planners and concerned citizens saw it as a chance to do something beautiful that could be enjoyed by city residents and visitors for years to come.

The original downtown stretch of the Riverwalk opened in 1992, but the project now extends for 22 miles, from Lake Oliver on the northern edge of the city all the way to the National Infantry Museum and Fort Benning to the south. Along the way, visitors can learn about the history of the city, the Battle of Columbus, the site where the ironclad C.S.S. Jackson was built and much more.

Among the major attractions that can be visited along the Riverwalk are Heritage Corner, Heritage Park, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the scene of the Battle of Columbus, the National Civil War Naval Museum, Oxbow Meadows Environmental Center and the stunning new facilities of the National Infantry Museum.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/gacolriverwalk.

Heritage Park - Columbus, Georgia

One of the most unique historical attractions in Georgia is actually a park and outdoor exhibit in the Chattahoochee River city of Columbus.

Heritage Park was jointly developed by the Historic Columbus Foundation and the City of Columbus to help visitors and residents learn more about the unique industrial history of the city in an outdoor setting in the heart of the Columbus Historic District.

In addition to providing green space that links the city's beautiful Riverwalk with its famed Heritage Corner area, the park features life-sized exhibits that explain the unique connection between Columbus and the Chattahoochee River. The city is located at the Falls of the Chattahoochee, a now-dammed stretch of rapids that provided power for early mills and eventually for manufacturing plants.

Exhibits in the park include a water feature recreating the flow of the Chattahoochee River through the city, factory settings were sculptures show employees at work in factory settings, a simulation of the paddlewheel riverboat, an original brick kiln and even a statue of the city's beloved Dr. John Pemberton, inventor of Coca-Cola(R).

Because of its unique features, falling waters and other exhibits, the park is popular with both children and adults. Its location in the center of a wide array of attractions and historic sites, along with its well-designed interpretive facilities, makes it an outstanding place to learn more about the heritage of Columbus.

To learn more about Heritage Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/GAColHeritage.