How Columbus Got Its Arch City Name

Columbus earned its “Arch City” nickname in 1888 when eleven gas-lit arches lit up High Street for the Ohio Centennial and Civil War veteran gathering — a dazzling spectacle paid for by businesses. Though the gas globes soon blew away in the wind and the city nearly gave them away, the name stuck. Electric arches returned in 1896, sparking ongoing debates over who paid — until the city took over in 1906. By 1909, “Arch City” was officially embraced by the media, businesses, and even Thomas Edison, who endorsed it via telegram. Though the original arches vanished by 1912 and didn’t return until 2002, the nickname has endured — proving that a city’s identity can outlive its lights. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7c41a1451b6e115b