Columbia Archives exhibit chronicles how Columbia began — with an idea and a gamble — 50 years ago

Columbia’s 50th birthday isn’t until June 2017, but the history of Columbia actually began in 1962 with the purchase of farmland, the first plots of what would soon become James Rouse’s planned community. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of that November 1962 purchase, Columbia Archives will be chronicling that story with a new series of exhibits and programs.

“Creating Columbia — The Idea and The Gamble” will be introduced at an open house on Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Archives, located at 10227 Wincopin Circle in Downtown Columbia. Photographs, maps, news coverage and correspondence from the time period of 1962 to 1963 trace the progression of Rouse’s thought process, analysis of the Baltimore-Washington area, his first forays into town planning and the first land purchases.

The open house is free and open to the public. The exhibit will continue until June 2013 and is open during regular hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Columbia Archives, a service of Columbia Association (CA), collects and preserves the history of Columbia. The public is welcome to visit the exhibit and spend additional time researching to get a deeper understanding of the history of Columbia. For more information, go to ColumbiaArchives.org, visit the Facebook page or contact Archives staff at Columbia.Archives@ColumbiaAssociation.org or 410-715-3103.