COLUMBUS, OHIO Columbus,Ohio A PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT A PHOTOGRAPHICPORTRAIT RANDALLLEESCHIEBER Columbus, Ohio, The Discovery City, is one of America’s great, capital cities. Photographer Randall Lee Schieber captures the very character of this vibrant metropolis with spectacular images that tell the story of our country’s heartland, where American values have built one of the country’s great cities. TWIN LIGHTSPUBLISHERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY Randall Lee Schieber Columbus,Ohio A PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY Randall Lee Schieber Copyright © 2007 by Twin Lights Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permis- sion of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned and no responsibility is accepted by producer, pub- lisher, or printer for any infringement of copy- right or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with infor- mation supplied. Photography © Randall Lee Schieber. All rights reserved. First published in the United States of America by: Twin Lights Publishers, Inc. 8 Hale Street Rockport, Massachusetts 01966 Telephone: (978) 546-7398 http://www.twinlightspub.com ISBN: 1-885435-78-9 ISBN: 978-1-885435-78-1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Capitol Square (opposite) The Ohio State Capitol’s Greek Revival style building is located in downtown Columbus. The Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts and the Hunting Center office complex are to its north. (jacket front) Broad Street Bridge and Columbus Skyline (jacket back) North Bank Park Images on pages 60–61 are courtesy of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Editorial researched and written by: Francesca and Duncan Yates www.freelancewriters.com Book design by: SYP Design & Production, Inc. www.sypdesign.com Printed in China hen the glaciers melted in Ohio twelve thousand years ago, their rivers ran through the state like liquid gold, W rushing to the Ohio River, the greatest tributary of the Mississippi. They left in their wake the richest farmland and forests in America. Columbus was founded in 1812 on Wolf’s Ridge, a high bank of the Scioto River, an Ohio River tributary. Located in the geographic heart of the state, Columbus proved to be the perfect choice as a cap- ital city. When the first railroad came to Columbus in the 1850’s, the city was energized as a Midwest transportation hub and soon became known internationally for distribution and manufacturing. Since then, Columbus has never looked back. Today, Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in the coun- try, with a metro area population of 1.7 million and a reputation as one of America’s most livable cities. Columbus, the state’s largest metropolis, is home to 100,000 college students, half of which attend The Ohio State University, the largest state university system in the country. Headquarters for five major insurance companies, it also nurtures a growing industry of research and technology companies. Columbus, or The Discovery City, is proud of its year-round festivals, professional and collegiate sports teams and acclaimed cultural ven- ues. A revitalized downtown with gentrified historic, residential neighborhoods, a new Arena District, and the vibrant arts district, Short North, are just some of the many unique characteristics that draw so many to live, work and play in this great city. Photographer Randall Lee Schieber, a long-time resident of Columbus, captures the very character of this vibrant city with spec- tacular images that tell the story of our country’s heartland, where American values have built one of the country’s most eminent cities. Navstar Sculpture A trio of enormous, gleaming sails of the Navstar sculpture in Franklin Park are filled with the winds of discovery in this graceful salute to Christopher Columbus. Its largest sail points to the North Star. The sculpture was created by acclaimed Ohio artist, Stephen Canneto. 4 5 Alexander Park (opposite) Goodale Park Gazebo (above) Bicyclists enjoy a mild autumn day along In 1851, Dr. Lincoln Goodale, Columbus’ the Scioto River Greenway as it meanders first doctor, donated this park to the peo- through Alexander Park. Located on the ple of the city. Used as a camp for Union downtown riverfront, the park is dedicated troops during the Civil War, the park is to Arvin J. Alexander, city council presi- surrounded by Victorian Village, a charm- dent and visionary who was devoted to ing neighborhood featuring extraordinary the betterment of the city. examples of Victorian architecture. 7 Inniswood Metro Gardens A Seat in the Garden Part of the Metro Parks system of Grace and Mary Innis donated their home Columbus, the ethereal public gardens of and land to the city in 1972. Since then, Inniswood blossom in a pristine nature Inniswood Metro Gardens has become preserve that covers over one-hundred a place of tranquility and beauty for the acres of woodlands, streams, and fields. people of Columbus. The gardens include Walking trails meander through wildflow- healing herbs that have been used since ers, roses, daffodils, hostas, and herbs. ancient times. 8 9 Franklin Park Conservatory Rainy Day in Schiller Park The Franklin Park Conservatory has been Created by sculptor Joan Wobst, this a Columbus jewel since 1895. The palatial whimsical fountain graces the gardens of Victorian conservatory introduced botani- Schiller Park. The park is the beautifully cal gardens to Columbus. Several green- landscaped focal point of German Village, houses display vegetation from diverse a neighborhood settled in the mid 1800’s. climates, such as the Himalayan Mountains, The historic district has over 1,600 archi- rainforests, and deserts. tecturally significant homes and businesses. 10 11 Torchiere (opposite) Niijima Floats (above) Franklin Park Conservatory became one Art and nature coexist at Franklin Park of the few institutions in the world to Conservatory with sculptor Dale Chihuly’s permanently house a major signature col- work entitled, Niijima. The colorful glass lection of Dale Chihuly’s art when they orbs, inspired by Japanese fishing floats, purchased their 2003–2004 exhibit of the bob in a pool of Asian koi, while glisten- world renowned artist’s work, including ing clusters of glass lilies majestically rise Chandeliers and Torchiere. among real flowers. 13 The Art of Topiary Topiary Treasures Artist James Mason’s unique topiary land- The vision of sculptor and Columbus scape is a recreation of the 1886 master- native, James Mason, became a reality as piece A Sunday on the Isle of La Grande Jatte he and his wife, Elaine, transformed the by French impressionist artist, Georges charred rubble of a former school for the Seurat. The garden sculptures include 54 deaf into one of Ohio’s most beautiful figures, 8 boats, 3 dogs, a cat, and a mon- attractions. key, all enhancing a tranquil pond. 14 15 Field of Corn Leatherlips The Sam and Eulalia Frantz Park in Dub- Commissioned by the Dublin Arts Coun- lin, Ohio, is dedicated to farmer, Sam cil, this limestone monument by Boston Frantz, who once used the land to devel- artist Ralph Helmick, honors the great ope varieties of hybrid corn. Sculptor Wyandot Native American leader, Sha-Te- Malcolm Cochran commemorates Dublin’s Yah-Ron-Ya, who was referred to by local agricultural heritage with a field of over settlers as “Chief Leatherlips” because he one-hundred concrete corn sculptures. was trusted to never break a promise. 16 17 Battelle Riverfront Park Heritage Garden A fanciful unicorn kneels gracefully in A tour of the Governor’s Residence includes Battelle Riverfront Park. It is one of six a stroll through the award-winning Heri- bronze wildlife pieces in the park by artist, tage Garden. Conceptualized by Hope Jack Greaves. Battelle is a lovely green Taft, wife of former Governor Bob Taft, oasis with a panoramic view of the city the garden is divided into distinct areas, and Scioto River. each with plants and flowers representing specific geographic locations across Ohio. 18 19 Butterfly in the Garden Columbus Park of Roses The Franklin Park Conservatory’s “Blooms One of the largest rose gardens in the and Butterflies” exhibit includes over country, the Columbus Park of Roses 100 varieties of local and exotic butterfly within Whetstone Park, has over ten thou- species, among fragrant and tropical sand rose bushes. Since opening in 1953, blooms. there have been many improvements and additions to the park including herb and perennial beds. 20 21 The Rose in Bloom (above) Sweet Showers (opposite) The highly-acclaimed Columbus Park of A pair of adventurous young girls cool off Roses is 13 acres of fragrant beauty. It was under a sprinkler in the Columbus Park of once the headquarters of the Amerian Roses. The site hosts an annual Rose Rose Society. USA Today honored the rose Festival attended by hundreds of garden garden with the top position in an interna- lovers. Weddings and other events are tional listing of “Ten places to admire the held regularly at the garden’s gazebo. bloom on the rose.” 22 23 Hayden Run Falls (above) Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery (opposite) Hayden Run creates a scenic gorge and The Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery is federate private, facing south. Legend has waterfall in the middle of a Columbus the final resting place of 2,260 Confed- it that the cemetery is haunted by the suburb. Three unique plant species that erate soldiers who died here as prisoners of “Lady in Gray,” who still brings fresh flow- flourish on the gorge walls are the rare war. At the turn of the 20th century, public ers to the grave of Confederate soldier Maidenhair Fern, Purple Cliffbrake Fern, donations built the memorial arch over a Benjamin Allen.