Thurber House

Located in Columbus, Ohio, the Thurber House is the restored home of the author, humorist, and cartoonist James Thurber and his family. The museum is perfect for those who are fans of Thurber and his works as visitors have the chance to touch and interact with some of the items in the museum. Visitors get to become a guest of the Thurber family by sitting in the house's chairs and playing the family piano. The Thurber House is unique from other museums in this respect, as the Thurber family requested that it be a "living museum" for visitors to interact with and enjoy.

Best and Worst Times to Visit the Thurber House
The best time to visit the Thurber House would be between the months of April-October, because that is when Columbus shouldn't be experiencing any winter weather. For this reason, the worst time to visit the Thurber House would be between the months of November-March, because it may be too cold for visitors to go outside and enjoy the garden surrounding the Thurber House.

Must See/Do at the Thurber House
Visitors should step outside and walk through the Centennial Reading Garden, which features several large dog sculptures modeled after Thurber's cartoons, a fountain, and three Central Park benches.

Those who want to purchase a souvenir to remind them of the Thurber House should stop inside the Thurber Country Bookstore on the first floor of the museum, which sells exclusive Thurber memorabilia and books.

Visitors to the Thurber house should also venture to the elliptical park across the street, where they can see a statue of a unicorn which was modeled after the unicorn in Thurber's story, "The Unicorn in the Garden."

Admission to the Thurber House
Visitors can go on self-guided tours of the Thurber House for free every day (except for major holidays) from 1-4 p.m. Guided tours are available on Sundays or by appointment for a cost of $2-$4 per person.

Parking and Public Transportation to the Thurber House
There is limited free parking in the lot located behind the Thurber Center, which is adjacent to the Thurber House. Metered parking, which is enforced from 8 a.m.-10 p.m., is also available along Jefferson Avenue.

Visitors could also travel to the Thurber House by Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus. The nearest COTA bus stop is at East Long Street and Jefferson Avenue and is a three minute walk from the Thurber House.

Food at the Thurber House
The Thurber House does not serve food on-site, but there are a variety of restaurants located within a 10 minute drive of the museum.

Visitors should use the money they saved on admission to treat themselves at one of the area bistros. One of the best restaurants in the area is Buca di Beppo, where visitors can order classic Italian fare for a price of $6.99 for garlic bread to $38.99 for a large serving of Veal Parmigiana.

For the more budget conscious, there are also several chain restaurants near the Thurber House, including Subway and Max & Erma's.

Insider Tip for Visitors to the Thurber House
In his book "My Life and Hard Times", Thurber wrote about a ghost he thought he saw in the house. Since then, visitors to the Thurber House have reported their own ghostly encounters while walking through the museum. Those who are interested in the spooky nature of the Thurber House can actually take a haunted tour of the Thurber House and other supposedly haunted locations in Columbus each October through the Columbus Landmarks Foundation.

Author's bio: Miranda Roehler has lived in Northwest Ohio for her entire life. She studied Creative Writing and History at The University of Findlay and has been published in multiple international journals.