Walk Beneath This Columbus Landmark That Looks Like The Arc De Triomphe

October 17, 2022

Article originally published in OnlyInYourState.com, written by Sarah McCosham

In the heart of downtown Columbus, there is a place that will transport you straight to Paris. No, it’s not the Eiffel Tower (though Ohio is home to one of those!), it’s a Columbus landmark that looks just like the Arc de Triomphe. Welcome to McFerson Commons Park, a little escape to Paris right here in the Buckeye State.

Columbus is a Midwest city that’s often overlooked in favor of places like Chicago or St. Louis. But it’s a unique and charming Ohio town that should not be underestimated, as Columbus really does have it all: a thriving arts scene, highly respected culinary reputation, immense scenic beauty, and the kind of world-class attractions you’d expect from a major metropolis like New York or Los Angeles…
…or even Paris, France.

This is the historic arch at McFerson Commons, an iconic Columbus landmark that bears a striking resemblance to a certain French monolith.

See what we mean? This is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and we’d go as far as to say that the scenery *around* our Ohio arch is even better.
These beautiful brick streets by the arch? Don’t they look like a Parisian rue? But we digress.

The arch is located at McFerson Commons, a 2.2-acre park in Columbus’ Arena District neighborhood. Just like gardens you’d find in Paris, it’s a small greenspace for community activities, events, and recreation.The central point of the park is an arch salvaged from the old Columbus Union Train Station, which was demolished in 1979 to make way for the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

This architectural marvel was designed by the legendary Daniel H. Burnham of Chicago in the Beaux-Arts Classicism style in 1893. It came from the third and final Columbus Union Station, which was located at High Street and what is now Nationwide Boulevard; the first such station dated back to the dawn of railroad travel in Columbus in 1850.
Today, the arch is a striking landmark in Columbus that is a celebration of the history’s architecture, history, and legacy. It’s also a little European-style escape in the middle of Ohio’s largest city, and a delightful place to rest, recreate, and be reminded of just why our state is so special.

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