Columbus Collective Museums — Attraction in Columbus

I can't recommend this place enough. If you appreciate folk art, old technology, vintage cartoons, nostalgia, antiques, music, RC cola, and/or eclectic finds you should go here stat.

I really didn't know what I was getting into. Didn't know it was also an antique shop. Didn't know it was family owned. Didn't know that I would be floored!

We were greeted by the loveliest host, Ren, to begin with - he explained the entire set up. We started at the folk art corner, and then got to meet the owner - coincidentally it was his 91st birthday! We got to listen to one of his favorite records with him on a gorgeous vintage sound system. My husband's an audiophile and low key flipped out. We then journeyed through the lunchbox collection. As a millennial I didn't know that I was going to feel so much nostalgia - there was memorabilia from properties ranging from the Lone Ranger to Barnie and Friends. I took so many pictures like it was a TV show scavenger hunt. The next few rooms were dedicated to RC cola and it's predecessors, complete with vintage (ala 1920s) adverts. If you like Art Nouveau, you will especially appreciate the calendar room. There was also a soda jerk set up with props that were actual antiques. The last section we looked at was the radio room. I wish I could have stayed there and examined them all for hours. There were antique radios from the early 20th century with the coolest art deco designs. There were radios that were more pop culture focused. There were walkmans I definitely owned as a kid. There was reel-to-reel and other recording equipment from the middle 20th century. Me and my husband thoroughly geeked out.

I will most definitely be returning and I am so excited to share this...

"THE Lunchbox Museum" is a very unique tourist attraction. I was able to meet the owner, Mr. Woodall. This was an unexpected surprise. Mr Woodall had a career in broadcasting. Thus, he shared captivating and informative memories on the origins of his unique museum. At 87 years old, he is able to recall with vivid details the origins of his acquisitions.

There are other smaller museums located into the same building. They include radios, RC Cola, classic cars, general store items and other antiques. It's clear Mr. Woodall is a local historian. He was able to take me on a oral historical journey. I was grateful he took the time to provide a very special and memorable experience for me.

*Tip: The museum's sign is very small. You will see antiques outside of the building from the main road. There's a red light where two roads intersect. The building is painted gray. From the main road (Hamilton), you turn in between two one story buildings. Drive, through the alley. The museum is one of a few buildings in...

We planned our visit here as a little detour on the way to the beach the weekend prior to the 4th of July. A few months ago I read an article online in Garden & Gun magazine about quirky Southern museums. We’ve been to a few of them but the Columbus Lunchbox Museum caught my eye. It is the main feature inside the Columbus Collective along with a few small museums featuring RC Cola, Nehi, radios & cars. If you want to step back in time & have a bit of time to spare, do yourself a favor & make a little day trip or detour here. There was constant chatter from the 3 of us as we all spotted favorites, lunchboxes from shows we’d long forgotten about & just really bizarre ones. The owners were incredibly personable & we enjoyed talking with them. We discovered this place is not air conditioned, but fortunately it was not uncomfortably warm. I also enjoyed perusing some antiques & some local art before heading out to...