A beloved Christmas tradition in Columbus is moving a few blocks up the street.

The historic life-size Nativity display at what became known as State Auto’s Christmas Corner, 518 E. Broad St. in downtown Columbus, is relocating to the lawn of St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St., it was announced Tuesday, Aug. 1.

The donation of the Nativity, which includes 80 pieces depicting the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, to the diocese’s Museum of Catholic Art and History will include an additional $250,000 from the insurer to assist in preserving the tradition for years to come.

“This is a joyous moment for our Catholic museum,” Bishop Earl Fernandes said. “Receiving this beautiful Christian artwork that is so historic and meaningful to the Columbus community is a genuine honor, and we rejoice at the opportunity to preserve this display and bring it to the people of central Ohio for generations to come. 

“Such a momentous display of a vital part of the chronicle of God’s love for all people, when He humbled Himself to share in our humanity so we can share in His divinity, visibly invites us into a deeper relationship with our Lord.”  

The Christmas exhibit spanned almost a century, bringing visitors and central Ohio residents of all backgrounds downtown by the thousands during the holiday season to drive past or stop with their families.

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State Auto Insurance founder Bob Pein started Christmas Corner as a display of evergreens and lights in 1931 in what he described as his way of giving back to the community.

A manger scene is one of the highlights of the Nativity display moving from State Auto to St. Joseph Cathedral. CT file photo by Ken Snow

In 1962, the Nativity was added to what Pein called a “Christmas card to the community.” Choirs from across central Ohio have enhanced the atmosphere through the years with performances of seasonal music. 

"As a long-standing member of the central Ohio community, we’re proud that Christmas Corner and the life-size Nativity scene have been a storied part of the city’s holiday traditions,” said Kyle Anderson, a State Auto spokesperson. 

 

“Over the past several months, we’ve been working closely with the Diocese of Columbus’ Museum of Catholic Art and History on this transition and are thrilled to see the Nativity scene continue at its new downtown location in their caring hands.” 

Preparations for the 2023 Christmas season will begin immediately. Further details on the display will be released soon by the diocese and the museum.

“Receiving this remarkable Nativity scene fits perfectly into the mission of our Catholic museum,” museum director Shawn Kenney said. “One of our goals is to make our Catholic museum everyone’s Catholic museum, so we look forward to bringing this beloved Columbus tradition to the community every year.”

In addition to the outdoor Nativity coming to the cathedral later this year, the Museum of Catholic Art and History, which is located nearby at 275 E. Broad St. on the first floor of The Catholic Foundation building, offers an annual display of nearly 500 Nativity scenes from throughout the world during the Advent and Christmas seasons.   

“This also beautifully complements our very popular Nativity display, and we look forward to welcoming the people from all around Columbus to the Nativity scene’s new home in front of St. Joseph Cathedral,” Kenney said.

The museum, originally founded by Columbus Holy Family Church as the Jubilee Museum and Catholic Cultural Center in 1998, opened at its current location on Nov. 9, 2021.

In preparation for the Jubilee year of 2000, Pope John Paul II requested that dioceses across the world dedicate space to preserving the historical heritage of the Church and their dioceses. In response to the Holy Father’s request, the museum was started as a parish project for Holy Family and was housed in the former parish school on South Grubb Street, west of downtown. 

The museum began as a modest collection that filled four rooms of the old school but grew to fill more than 20 rooms and included three fully functioning pipe organs, more than 60 oil paintings from 1600 to the present, several significant collections of stained glass and vestments from the 1700s, including sets of French damask given by several of the royal families of Europe to the Holy Land.   

For more information about the Museum of Catholic Art and History, which is open year-round, visit www.catholicmuseum.org or catholicmuseumcolumbus on Facebook.