The American Sign Museum houses hundreds of signs, many of them neon signs like this Howard Johnson Restaurant sign. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

If you like bright lights, the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati is a spectacular place to visit. Even if you’re not drawn to bright lights, the place is pretty darn amazing.

Established in 1999, the museum displays several hundred neon and lighted signs from the past 100-plus years. With a total of more than 3,800 items catalogued, the collection is the largest in the nation.

View a video showing many signs I’ve photographed, including those at the American Sign Museum.

We visited the museum several years ago and it is well worth a visit and even a return visit, especially with the facility’s recent expansion. It’s an ideal place to cure your winter doldrums.

The museum recently completed a $5.5 million, 20,000 square foot expansion of its space to house more of its sign collection. The new space, in addition to its existing 42,000 square foot building in Camp Washington that opened in 2005, also includes a theater, classrooms, and a gallery for temporary exhibits and events.

The heart of the museum is its Main Street, with huge McDonald’s and Howard Johnson signs, a Frisch’s Big Boy and dozens of boldly colored neon signs. The museum also includes a working neon glass and lighting workshop, where visitors can watch artisans at work creating, repairing and restoring neon lighting. They recently acquired a Frisch’s Big Boy Mainliner sign from a closed restaurant.

Another video with more signs I’ve photographed over the years.

Signs at the museum go back to the 1870s with hand-carved wooden signs such as those with shapes like shoes, glass signs using gold leaf lettering, early electrically-lit signs, and the classic colorful neon signs from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

The museum also offers group tours, special events and classes. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Membership is offered; admission fees are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+), $10 for military, first responders, students/youth; free for members and children under 12.

The museum is located at 1330 Monmouth St., Cincinnati (513) 541-6366.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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