Columbus streetcar arches

Streetcar arches at night on South High Street in Columbus, early 20th c.
A similar view, c. 1913, after arches were removed from South High Street

Columbus, Ohio has a legacy of using wooden and metal arches on its urban streets. Initially installed in 1888 for lighting during a national Grand Army of the Republic convention, the arches or more permanent replacements were placed on city streets until around 1914, used as overhead lines for electric streetcar wires, until more conventional poles became more favorable. Modern-day arches were installed in the city's Short North neighborhood in 2002, in an effort to unify the district, draw visitors, and increase business sales.