German Village
When visiting Columbus, Ohio, be sure to step back in time to visit the German Village. This neighborhood will immediately strike you with its mellow brick buildings and much slower pace of life. Most of the buildings in the village were built in the period between the 1840s and the 1890s and was placed on the Register of Historic Places in 1974. It was settled by mostly German immigrants but suffered decline through the first half of the twentieth century.
From the 1960s onwards, determined efforts have been made to preserve the buildings and the streets of the village. The rebirth of the area was led by Frank Fetch who founded the German Village Society. Such has been the success of the campaign to preserve and promote the German Village that it was declared by the White House in 2007 as one of the USA’s Preserve America Communities.
The German Village district is separated from downtown Columbus by Interstate 70. Just stand on the bridge that leads from downtown to the German Village and look around you. Immediately you will see that the German Village comprises mostly three and four storey buildings while in the downtown area, skycrapers are predominant. 
The tallest building you will see in the heart of the German Village is the spire of St Mary Church which is 197 feet tall.
What is there to see and do in the German Village?
Oktoberfest
This German tradition was kept in the German Village from the earliest days. It developed into a major event and today is held on the Ohio State Fairgounds site. A smaller, more intimate, Oktoberfest is still held in the village itself at the Germania Singing and Sports Club.
Schiller Park
Schiller Park is named after the German poet, writer, and philosopher Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. There is a statue of him in the park which was cast from the same mold as the statue which stands in Munich, Germany. In one section of the park is the Grace Highfield Memorial Garden where visitors will find the Umbrella Girl statue. This stands in the center of a pond and is a replacement for an original statue that vanished in the 1950s. Every holiday season sees the statue draped in a red cloak yet no-one seems sure why or who is responsible.
The park also includes an amphitheater which hosts Shakespearean plays during the summer. These are performed by the Actors’ Theatre of Columbus and are free to attend. The performances are popular with both visitors and local residents.
Entering the park through the main entrance, visitors step into the Huntington Gardens. These are sttractive gardens wholly maintained by dedicated volunteers. Sponsorship to keep the gardens going is provided by the Huntington National Bank.
Schwartz Castle and the streets of the German Village
When walking through the quaint streets of the German Village, look out for one particularly grand house that towers above its neighbors. This is Schwartz Castle which boasta a four-storey tower at the front.
While you are walking notice how many of the streets are paved with bricks. The residents of the Village are proud of their brick streets and work is constant to keep them in good repair. Many of the houses have lovely gardens, often in very small spaces. The houses in the German Village are densely packed, a feature which adds charm to the area.
Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum
This a speciality museum that will interest every automobile enthusiast. There are vintage vehicles to see and admire, plus a superb collection of motoring related artifacts from days gone by. Visits are by appointment only and are limited to evenings and weekends, but it will be an hour of sheer enjoyment.
Eating in the German Village
The German Villlage has an impressive range of cafes and restaurants scattered throughout the area. You might choose to call in at Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus which has been owned and run by the same family for 120 years. When the weather is warm get yourself an ice cream from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Coffee and stunning pastries are available from Fox in the Snow or Stauf’s Coffee Roasters. High-end dining can be had at Barcelona for Spanish-inspired cuisine or G Michaels for seafood and pork dishes.
For something a little out of the ordinary call at Katzinger’s Delicatessen where you can order a sandwich called “President Bill’s Day at the Deli”. This was created to mark the visit of President Bill Clinton to the German Village in 1994.