The Mall Kicks Off Columbia’s 50th Birthday Celebration

The Mall in Columbia launched Columbia’s 6-month 50th birthday celebration with fanfare on Sunday, March 19. The opening ceremony featured brief remarks by elected officials and Columbia 50th Birthday Celebration organizers. Representatives of each of Columbia’s 10 villages participated in the pageantry celebrating this milestone anniversary for the community. The Mistress of Ceremonies was Barb Nicklas, Senior General Manager of The Mall.

Speakers and presenters included U.S. Congressmen Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes, Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, Howard County Council Vice Chair Dr. Calvin Ball, Howard County Council members Mary Kay Sigaty and Greg Fox, Maryland State Senator Guy Guzzone, Maryland State Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary, Columbia Association President Milton Matthews and Karen McManus representing U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.

The speakers cited Columbia’s many successes in the past 50 years: its good schools, beautiful natural environment, many amenities and continuing economic development as witnessed by the revitalization of Downtown Columbia. Congressman Cummings, like the others, praised Columbia for its values of openness and inclusion. In his passionate remarks, he reminded the hundreds who had braved the cold that Columbia was sought out as a place to live because it welcomed people of all races. He received a standing ovation.

Before introducing the Young Columbians and students of the Columbia School of Theatrical Arts, who presented a stirring rendition of “This Land is My Land,” Sigaty praised Columbia residents for all they had given to realize founder James Rouse’s original high expectations and vision of the city.

Entertainment for all ages continued all afternoon inside The Mall.

Columbia opened on June 21, 1967, and has celebrated its birthday every year since. “Appreciating the Past. Imagining the Future” is the theme of the 27-week 50th birthday celebration. Community-wide events will be held weekly through Sept. 23.

Major funding for the celebration events and activities has being provided by Benefactor Sponsors Columbia Association and Howard County Government, Platinum Sponsors The Howard Hughes Corporation, WR GRACE Foundation and The Mall in Columbia/General Growth Properties, Gold Sponsor The Rouse Company Foundation, Silver Sponsors The Horizon Foundation, Columbia Builders, Williamsburg Homes, Tina & Vic Broccolino and The Orchard Development Company.

Small Business Gold Sponsors include Apple Ford, Brasher Design, Environmental Systems Associates, First Potomac Realty Trust, Whole Foods, Padraic and Ellen Kennedy, Milton and Barbara Matthews, Jean Moon & Associates and Steve and Lee Sachs. Small Business Silver Sponsor is Miles and Stockbridge and Small Business Bronze Sponsor is The Chaney Fund for Hope. Other local businesses, groups and individuals are also supporting the celebration via financial donations, services and resources.

For updated information and calendar of events, visit columbiamd50.com.

Pictured above:

The Mall in Columbia Senior General Manager Barb Nicklas welcomes the crowd to the Opening Ceremony of Columbia's 50th Birthday celebrations.

Young Columbians and students from the Columbia School of Theatrical Arts closed sang "This is My Country" at the close of the Opening Ceremony for Columbia's 50th Birthday celebration.

U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings brought the crowd to its feet after rousing remarks praising Columbia's openness and inclusion.