Tucked away on the corner of Town Street is a big history lesson on Columbus music in the 1970's.

Hosted by the Columbus Historical Society, the 70’s Music Explosion in Columbus is a new multi-room exhibit featuring many of the local sights and sounds of that era. With each room picking a different theme from the 70's — fashion, local musicians and radio stations, and the national scene — we’re giving you the lowdown on what you need to know before you go.

What

When you enter the Columbus Historical Society, the first thing you’ll see is a room completely decorated with staples from the 70's. This includes a mock stage with instruments of the decade including a piano, drumset, guitars, and bass. This room also features information about when The Beatles broke up, what large festivals like Woodstock looked like, and popular vinyl album covers including Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

The Columbus music room is where all things local shine. Did you know that ComFest started in 1972? Or that the Newport Music-Hall used to be known as The Agora Ballroom until the 80's? Perhaps most impressively, Columbus almost became its own version of Mo-Town with Capsoul, a local record label in the 70's. However, that dream quickly ended after the banks pulled out of their loans to the label. (Not very groovy of the banks if you ask me…)

With old print outs of music lineups from WCOL, a local radio station that played popular music in the 70's, visitors can see what was the top song of specific days in history. This list includes “Let It Be” by The Beatles on March 30, 1970 and “Love Will Keep Us Together” by The Captain and Tennille on May 26, 1975.

The fashion room shows off the decade’s popular polyester clothing — and yes, the bell bottom jeans are raging. And the movies and soundtracks room shows how the 70's are still influencing the world today with movies like with “A Star Is Born,” which was released in 1976 and was remade in 2018.

An original cheerleader’s uniform from Wehrle High School in Columbus in the 70s. | Photo by Mitch Hooper

When

The Columbus Historical Society will be taking a small break for the holidays, but will return on Tues., Jan. 4 for viewings. To find a date that best fits your schedule, check out their calendar here.

Where

717 W. Town St. Pro tip: There’s a parking lot surrounding the building with free parking.