The most underrated museum in Cincinnati that you need to visit

Cincinnati offers incredible museums throughout the city, but there is one museum in the city that tends to be known more by tourists than locals. That underrated museum is the American Sign Museum. The American Sign Museum provides education and celebrates the art of sign making. As a local, I was immediately mad at myself for not visiting the museum sooner! It truly is a unique gem that is very special to our city.

The outside of the building sets the tone of the vintage signs you will see.

The inside of the museum is like walking down memory lane. It’s amazing how the signs connect to the history of each person who visits. Our family walked around the museum for a bit on our own before taking the tour.

I highly recommend taking the tour to get the most value out of your admission.(Wednesday – Saturday 11 am and 2 pm -& Sunday 2 pm) You also get a better understanding of what you are observing during your visit. There were so many details that we missed on our own that were really eye opening during the tour. Pay close attention to find out which sign still has a bullet hole in it. The tour lasts about an hour. If you have a larger group, you can contact the museum about setting up a private tour.

The American Sign Museum is a labor of love from it’s founder Tod Swormstedt, former editor and publisher of Signs of the Times magazine. He wanted a place to preserve signs where guests could appreciate the art and untold stories of  these incredible time capsules of history.

The exhibit space is 19,000 sq. ft with ample space to showcase the signs up close.

The American Sign Museum has additional space available to develop. We got to take a peek at the additional 20,000 sq. ft of undeveloped space that has a lot more incredible signs that have yet to be displayed.

Admission Prices

*prices were current during our visit. Check website before visiting.

• Adult                                                 $15.00
• Children 12 and under free with accompanying adult
• Seniors (65+)                                   $10.00
• Students (with ID)                            $10.00
• Active Duty Military                          $10.00
• Groups of 10 or more                      Please schedule and reserve in advance

Tour Schedule 

Wednesday – Saturday       11:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m.
Sunday                                2:00 p.m.

You can find out more about the American Sign Museum from their website. 

The American Sign Museum is located at 1330 Monmouth Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225.

Thanks to the American Sign Museum for hosting our visit.