Book excerpt: Founded in 1821, Columbus, Indiana, had grown into a thriving manufacturing region by the end of the 19th century. Columbus might have remained a community like most other small towns, but a group of citizens with an extraordinary vision developed a program to bring world-renowned architects to the city. Beginning in the mid-20th century, Columbus was transformed into a center of modern architectureranked sixth in the United States in architectural innovation by the American Institute of Architects (after Chicago, New York, Washington, San Francisco, and Boston). This collection of more than 200 vintage postcards features some of Columbuss earliest important buildings and its later architectural gems.