Random Columbus Photos 9




For the Random Columbus Photos 9 edition, we take a not-so-distant look back for a change.

Photo Location: High and Broad intersection, looking north.
Photo Date: August 31, 1991
Photo History: The Celebrate Them Home Columbus parade occurred as an event to honor returning Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm veterans, as well as veterans of previous wars. The event was held only one time. National patriotism was unusually high during this short war, and helped to revive Lee Greenwood’s 1984 song “God Bless the USA”, which often played on the radio during the conflict.
Contrary to what may be popular belief, the Beetle Bailey character represented in the balloon does not date back to WWII. Instead, he first appeared in comic strips in 1950 and continues to run today.
Random Columbus Photos 9 Columbus, Ohio

The same view today.

Not much has changed since the 1991 photo. A few buildings have been renovated and the streetscape has seen improvements, but otherwise, the view is largely the same.

Random Columbus Photos 6




A new Random Columbus Photos after a multi-year absence!

Photo Location: Aerial photo of North High Street between Smith Place and 7th Avenue.
Photo Date: Around 1985
Photo History: Located just north of the Short North and south of the OSU Campus, this part of High Street was often left out of revitalization and development efforts. By the 1980s, much of the urban fabric had already been torn down, leaving mostly parking lots and vacant lots, with only a smattering of buildings.
Random Columbus photos 6 Columbus, Ohio

And the same view today.

The Kroger, while realigned and larger, still retains a large surface parking lot, as does the business across the street, but otherwise, the area is significantly more filled in than it was in the 1980s. That trend will continue with more- and larger- projects planned for the stretch.