Past
It all started when…
Columbus, GA was one of the first planned cities in America. Its location on the banks of the Chattahoochee River made it a main trading point for early Americans, helping them easily trade with Europe.
Industrial growth and the lure of wealth brought entrepreneurs from all over the world that helped make Columbus one of the largest mills towns in the south and Columbus continued to grow as jobs continuously became available.
As these immigrants arrived, so did a love of Arts and Culture that caused the community to embrace live theatre in a way they hadn’t before.
Enter Francis Joseph Springer. He was an entrepreneur and although his business at the time was groceries, he expanded into the theatre scene opening the Springer Opera House in 1871.
The opening of the Springer in 1871 helped the city thrive after the Civil War by attracting the most famous actors of the time from all over America onto our stage.
The creation of Ft Benning continued to help the city grow and has made Columbus the second most populated city in Georgia to this day.
This growth revitalized the community and in 1901, FJ Springer completed a remodel of the theatre, to increase it’s capacity to over 1000 seats.
Springer Opera House, turn of the Century
With the opening of the hotel, the Springer expanded as tourists traveled longer distances to attend performances.
