The Columbus Historical Society has an eventful summer planned. Beginning July 11, it will offer its signature summer bus tours, capped off in August by its second annual fundraiser and auction at the Peter Sells Circus House.
Founded in 1990, the Columbus Historical Society (CHS) acts as Columbus’ premier stop to the rich history of the capital city. The CHS Gallery, located at 51 Jefferson Avenue in the Discovery District, is open noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and admission is free. The current display, running through October, features memorabilia from the Sells Brothers Circus, which was based in Columbus and was one of the largest circuses in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
On Aug. 7 from 5:30-9 p.m., the CHS will hold its 2nd annual fundraiser at the Sells Circus House, on the corner of Dennison and Buttles by Goodale Park. “An Evening Under the Big Top: A 3-Ring Event at the Historic Peter Sells Circus House” will benefit the CHS through ticket sales and a live auction.
“The auction has great entertainment and live music, and we’ll also do a short presentation on the history of the house,” says Jeff LaFever, executive director of the CHS.
The house’s history is intriguing since, according to LaFever, Peter Sells and his wife divorced shortly after moving into the mansion — a shocking action at the time.
LaFever adds that items up for sale include historic circus posters, other circus-themed memorabilia, vacation packages, private cooking classes and a behind the scenes look at the Ohio Statehouse.
The event is open to the public but requires prepaid reservations, which are $80 per person or $150 per couple.
Also scheduled this summer is the Columbus Discovery Tour, which begins July 11 and runs every second and fourth Saturday through October. The tour visits Downtown, the Short North, German Village, Franklinton, The Arena District, the King-Lincoln District and Franklin Park.
LaFever says the tours aren’t just for out-of-towners.
“There have been people who grew up in German Village but had never been to the east side just to see what’s going on,” he adds. “And though Columbus has a long and interesting history, the tours aren’t 100 percent about what happened 100 years ago. It’s a good mix of things.”
The 90-minute bus tour is nonstop and leaves at 10 a.m. from the CHS on Jefferson Avenue. Tickets are $30 per person, $27 for senior citizens and $24 for CHS members.
Tickets for both the fundraiser and the Columbus Discovery Tour Series can be purchased online at www.columbushistory.org or by phone at 614-224-0822.