Adventures with Tracks: Peeling Back Time in Downtown Columbus

Some adventures take you somewhere new. This one invites you to see a familiar place a little differently.

Tracks’ next stop is the Discovering the Colorful History of Columbus mural near 26th Avenue and 13th Street, across from Frankfort Square. You may have passed it dozens of times—but have you stopped to discover the stories tucked inside?

Come along. We’re peeling back time!

One wall. Layers of history.

Created by artist David Reiser for Columbus’ 150th anniversary in 2006, this enormous artwork measures 26 feet high and 84 feet wide. Its design reveals eight layers of history, offering glimpses of the people, places, and changes that helped shape Columbus.

Think of it as a history book stretched across a downtown wall—with plenty of details worth a second look.

Follow Tracks’ clues

Start with the trains. Can you find both the steam locomotive and the more modern train? They point to the railroad’s lasting role in the community’s growth.

Next, look for Buffalo Bill on horseback. His place in the mural celebrates his connection to Columbus and the early history of his Wild West show.

Keep exploring. The bison and tipis reference the Pawnee people who lived in the region before Columbus was founded. Three of the city’s founders appear nearby, along with a covered wagon and oxen.

Other layers reveal the Loup power house, the Behlen Manufacturing water tower, and grain silos—connections to power, industry, and agriculture.

Above it all, the familiar Columbus arch recalls the gateways that once welcomed travelers along the Lincoln Highway.

Tracks’ challenge: How many of those details can you find before reading the interpretive sign?

A little surprise from the artist

Here’s one more thing to look for: the artist himself!

Reiser included a self-portrait on the right side of the mural, appearing to pull back the layers of time.

And notice the colors. The more recent scenes appear in black and white, while earlier history emerges in sepia tones and richer color. It’s a thoughtful detail that makes the journey into the past even more interesting.

Helping the story live on

The mural’s interpretive sign helps connect the images to their meaning. When the original sign became weathered and difficult to read, Columbus Morning Rotary stepped forward to donate a replacement, continuing its support for sharing this downtown treasure.

That gives visitors another reason to pause, look closer, and learn something new.

Make your own Tracks adventure

Take a stroll Trackside and spend a few minutes exploring the mural. Bring a friend, challenge your family to find the details, or simply enjoy discovering something you’ve never noticed before.

Then keep the adventure going with a meal, a little shopping, or another stop along downtown’s public art walk.

There’s always another story to discover.

Dine, Shop, Explore & Experience the Trackside District – Downtown Columbus.