While summer is known as a time for family vacations, camp for kids and endless pool days, it’s also a perfect opportunity to explore the excellent museums of Southwest Ohio. Whether you hope to experience local history, inspiring artists or cultural artifacts, there are plenty of options throughout the Dayton and Cincinnati areas.
Before heading out on a local adventure, Washington-Centerville Public Library cardholders can check out a Culture Pass for up to two weeks from the Woodbourne Library. Each pass admits multiple people to the Dayton Art Institute, Carillon Historical Park and others. Many local museums also have special exhibits, activities and events scheduled for visitors throughout the summer and early fall. We’ve gathered a few to get you ready to explore!
Dayton Art Institute
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 hosts world-class special exhibitions, educational programs and unique special events such as Oktoberfest on September 27 and 28. This summer (July 12–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. Explore the museum for free on August 17, when DAI welcomes art lovers of all backgrounds to the museum for a special Art For All day.
American Sign Museum
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. “Signs and sign making are a fascinating reflection of America through the years. 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, we’ve done our job,” says Tod Swormstedt, founder and curator. This summer, enjoy guided tours and neon demonstrations every weekend, as well as sign-crafting activities in their classroom on Saturdays throughout July. Their first special exhibition, Glow & Behold, will also be on display through the end of July. All of these are included with general admission.
Taft Museum of Art
The Taft Museum of Art collection galleries are located in the Baum-Longworth-Sinton-Taft historic house. Built around 1820, it is downtown Cincinnati’s oldest wooden residence still in its original location. The mansion was home to generations of prominent Cincinnatians and contains over 800 works of art, featuring Chinese porcelains, American furniture, European decorative arts and major holdings of European and American paintings, including works by artists such as Francisco Goya, John Singer Sargent and James McNeill Whistler. They frequently host changing exhibitions and welcome summer visitors to enjoy The Crafted World of Wharton Esherick on view through September 7. The 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.
Carillon Historical Park
Dayton History’s Carillon Historical Park museum complex opened in 1950 to showcase the region’s industrial innovations, transportation achievements and Dayton’s contributions to world progress. The beautiful 65-acre campus was designed by the Olmsted Brothers (landscape architects of NYC’s Central Park) and contains dozens of museum buildings and countless artifacts. Plan your visits around Deeds Carillon Concerts in July, August and September or explore during special events like the Band Organ Rally on July 12-13 and 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 around 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.