Summer’s winding down … with family vacays, kid camps and endless pool days accomplished. Need inspiration for one more outing? An original plan for the long weekends ahead? It’s never the wrong time to explore the wealth of museums practically in our own backyard. Whether you hope to experience local history, inspiring artists or cultural artifacts, options abound throughout Cincinnati and Dayton.
Before heading out, sign up for a library card through the Cincinnati Public Library to reserve a Discovery Pass for the American Sign Museum, Taft Museum of Art and others. Many museums also have special exhibits, activities and events scheduled throughout late summer and early fall. Adventure is calling—with a little bit of fun education for good measure.
American Sign Museum
AmericanSignMuseum.org
The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati’s Camp Washington neighborhood is on a mission to celebrate the rich history of American signage through preservation and education … not to mention stunning visuals and master craftsmanship. “Signs and sign-making are a fascinating reflection of America through the years,” offers Tod Swormstedt, founder and curator. “If your experience at the American Sign Museum causes you to be more aware of signs in your travels and of their value to businesses and communities, then we’ve done our job,” This season, enjoy 45-minute guided tours every weekend, plus neon demonstrations every Saturday. Every 4th Saturday, learn the art of sign-crafting, and explore the skills needed to become an expert sign-maker. All are included with general admission.
Carillon Historical Park
DaytonHistory.org
Dayton History’s Carillon Historical Park museum complex opened in 1950 to showcase the region’s industrial innovations, transportation achievements and Dayton’s unique contributions to world progress. This beautiful 65-acre campus was designed by the Olmsted Brothers (the same landscape architects of NYC’s Central Park) and contains dozens of museum buildings and countless artifacts. Plan your visits around Deeds Carillon Concerts in August and September, or explore special events like the Antique Fire Apparatus Show on August 30. For an extra special experience, attend their signature event, Dayton’s Concours d’Elegance, on September 13 … featuring nearly 200 antique and classic automobiles and motorcycles, it’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see some of the finest vehicles in the country.
Taft Museum of Art
TaftMuseum.org
The Taft Museum of Art collection galleries are located in the Baum-Longworth-Sinton-Taft historic house. Built around 1820, it’s downtown Cincy’s oldest wooden residence still in its original location. The mansion was home to generations of prominent Cincinnatians and contains 800+ works of art—Chinese porcelains, American furniture, European decorative arts and major holdings of European and American paintings, plus works by artists such as Francisco Goya, John Singer Sargent, and James McNeill Whistler. Exhibitions change frequently, but current visitors can enjoy The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick on view through September 7. This rarely loaned collection highlights the Pennsylvania artist’s career from his early woodcut illustrations to his revolutionary reimagining of furniture forms as organic sculpture. Admission is free on Sundays and Mondays.
Dayton Art Institute
DaytonArtInstitute.org
The Dayton Art Institute was founded in 1919 and has grown into one of the region’s premier fine arts museums. The museum’s collection spans 5,000 years of art history, including important American, Ancient American, Asian and European fine and decorative art collections. In addition to the permanent collection, which numbers more than 27,000 objects, DAI also hosts world-class special exhibitions, educational programs and unique special events such as Oktoberfest on September 27 and 28. Now through September 14, take in the Curtis Barnes Sr., Dayton Icon exhibit. A painter and educator, Curtis Barnes Sr., created bold, colorful, experimental paintings with a distinctive blend of naturalism and abstraction.