Take a Walk Down Memory Lane at the American Sign Museum in Ohio

Las Vegas isn’t the only place in the United States full of flashing neon and in-your-face signage. In the heart of Cincinnati Ohio, one of the Buckeye State’s most unique museums has bright lights and signs waiting around every corner.

A museum dedicated to signs? Yes, you read that right. The American Sign Museum celebrates more than 100 years of signage in America from hand-painted signs and milk glass letters to neon signs and everything in between.

For curious travelers and museum enthusiasts alike, the American Sign Museum is the perfect place for a day trip and a one-of-a-kind experience that takes visitors on a unique tour of American history.

A Shrine to American Signage

In their 1971 hit “Signs,” Canadian rockers Five Man Electrical Band famously sang, “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign.” That’s certainly true at the American Sign Museum, visitors of all ages can literally see signs everywhere, thanks to the dedication of one man who’s devoted decades to signage.

The American Sign Museum is located at 1330 Monmouth Ave in Cincinnati and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum’s genesis began with the work of Tod Swormstedt, who began his project in 1999. Swormstedt worked for Sign of the Times Magazine and turned more than two decades of knowledge into what eventually became the museum. The museum opened in 2005 and found a permanent home in 2012.

Stretched across 20,000 square feet of space, the museum takes visitors on a journey through not just the history of signage but the process used to make signage, which includes signage materials, equipment, catalogs, photos, and much more.

This was a very cool museum to visit! I loved seeing the signs from different eras. It was a unique and fun experience. I thought it was bigger, but other than that, I recommend coming here, it’s a nice way to spend an hour.

– Daniela via. Google

Signs, Signs Everywhere

As the premier museum dedicated to the history of American signage, the American Sign Museum is packed with things to see. In fact the museum’s permanent collection spans over 100 years of history and includes nearly 4,000 objects, including 800 signs and 1,500 photos.

DID YOU KNOW: It’s estimated that the average American sees an average of 5,000 ads per day.

With such a big collection, there’s something to see everywhere one turns and countless displays that offer unique glimpses of the past. The collection includes Las Vegas showcards, and signs from well-known businesses like Coca-Cola, Howard Johnson’s, Earl Scheib, Budweiser, and Kodak.

The museum also has an extensive library and resource center collection that includes over 1,000 books related to signage. The library is free with admission, but it open by appointment only.

Visitors can also see different varieties of signage, including a fiberglass Frisch’s Big Boy statue with a slingshot in the pocket (something omitted from later statues), a single arch McDonald’s sign from 1963, a rotating windmill from a former donut shop, and a 20-foot fiberglass genie that greet visitors at the entrance.

Cincinnati residents can also see several signs that give an interesting glimpse into the Queen City from an older time, including signs from the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, letters signage from Cincinnati Gardens, and Cincinnati Barber Collage.

A fun colorful look at the past. The museum has a wide collection of different types of signs and gives you [a] glimpse into the prior century. Very fun. We had to walk through several times because we kept seeing new things with each pass.

– Anna via Google

A Glowing Look Behind the Scenes

The museum site is also home to Neonworks of Cincinnati, the city’s only full-time neon sign shop. Not only does Neonworks create a range of creative custom signs, it also offers visitors a look at how the scenes.

Visitors of all ages can watch craftsmen bend neon tubes as they build and repair neon signs during weekday tours. 

The museum itself offers public tours on weekends along with group visits. Visitors can also book a Speaker Series session, where a member of the museum staff can join private gatherings in person or virtually to share stories of the museum’s signs. The series includes presentations on McDonalds, Big Boy, Howard Johnson’s, and other iconic American companies.

DID YOU KNOW: The museum’s collection is housed on one floor and is accessible for visitors with limited mobility. Two wheelchairs are available on a first come, first serve basis and there are multiple chairs located in the museum as well.

Fun at the Museum and at Home

Signs of all sizes and shapes can be fun to look at, but they can also be valuable educational tools. Visitors of all ages can learn about pop culture, history, technology, and much more. To that end, the museum offers several at-home activities and downloadable scavenger hunts for visitors to challenge themselves when they visit.

Make Plans to Visit the American Sign Museum in Ohio

With every inch of its space covered in signs, the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati has something to offer everyone. Not only does it chronicle decades of history in a fun and unique way, it acts as a portal through which visitors can explore history, technology, pop culture, and so much more.

Ohio has many unique museums, but the American Sign Museum is unique in its own way and worthy of a visit. For visitors of a certain age, a trip here is a trip down memory lane, but one that will leave a smile on the face of anyone who visits.