American Sign Museum

1330 Monmouth Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225, USA

Address:	1330 Monmouth Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225, USA
Phone:	+1 513-541-6366
Site:	americansignmuseum.org
Rating:	4.5
Working:	Closed Closed 10AM–4PM 10AM–4PM 10AM–4PM 10AM–4PM 12–4PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 18

Jon Hall

A bit smaller in terms of physical dimensions than what I had originally imagined, but they pack so much into a small space. I was able to come during a Wednesday afternoon when there wasnt many people there. The didactics for each sign are very informative and you can get a sense of history throughout societal changes and sign design changes. The neon sign making tutorial was the best part. The neon sign makers worked with neon and argon gas during the demonstration and walked the tour through every stage of the process. Terrific. The tour guide we had for the signage was subpar, I was hoping for more stories about the signs and more technical facts, but it was perfect for kids and people are new to sign design. (Im a designer and have a pretty good sense of art and history in terms of environmental signage). Great museum experience

Karol King

What a delightful gem in the Queen Citys crown! For a long time, I have heard about this wonderful little museum in North Side, and finally we had a chance to visit it yesterday. It is a real treasure trove of nostalgia, and gives us a chance to again experience our childhood wonder at magical colored and blinking lights that decorated the street and roadsides of our youth, luring us to known and unknown pleasures of eating, travelling, and of buying and participating in all kinds of delights! There were a couple of lighted church signs, indicating that even God was amenable to a little flash and sparkle! Our guide, Kevin, was personable and knowledgeable. I am SO GLAD we spent about an hour and a half perusing the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio!

Dave Odell

If I could, it would be 0 stars. Planned vacation from out of state, went to Cleveland, then drove 5 hours to Cincinnati, to do 2 things, one being this museum. I had heard from many people in Cleveland and Cincinnati this was a great experience. Pulled up to the museum, to be told it was closed for the next 2 days. Keep in mind, I had been to their website over a dozen times prior to this and there was no mention they would be closed to the public. As a business owner myself, I cant begin to believe the lack of communication with potential clients. Will never go back.

Barb Harding

Amazingly interesting!! What a hidden treasure. You will never look at a sign the same way. Great tour .. such knowledge about and passion for signs. Be sure to stick around for the Neon Shops demo of the Neon Sign building craft. Very fascinating, cool and youll learn something. Very fun. When I went there, the tourists were about age 40+ .. however teens + would be find it fun, cool and interesting too. Reasonably priced. If you do the tour, expect about 1 1/2 hours. Some chairs available for those needing to sit. I highly recommend it.

Frank Jung

Great little museum dedicated to the history of signs. Showing signs ordered by type from wood to modern plastic, you can explore on your own, but the greatest thing is the tour. The guide was enthusiastic, very knowledgeable and last but not least entertaining. The tour lasts about an hour and makes the visit really worth it. The tour doesnt cost extra. They said they are looking into doubling the space, do it will be worth checking back again later.

Evelyn Benson

If you like history and bright lights! Great for my artistic family to explore. Signs from history, all over the country, some local Cincinnati favorites too. Tours are informative (might be a little talky for younger children, not a lot of touching either). Great location for photos! You can rent the building for events too, really cool! Parking is free, tickets are reasonable. Good for a weekend day trip towards the city.

Beth Backman

The signs exhibited were interesting and Terry was an amazing tour guide connecting signs to the American history of the time. He is obviously passionate about preserving this piece of American history. Also, the science geek in me appreciated the practical aspwct of seeing the guys at Neonworks show us the artistry of bending tubes and filling them with neon or argon.

Kevin Wallace

Really enjoy the museum. Its a must see if you love Americana, Route 66, or the American Pickers. I highly recommend the guided tours, as it fills in some of the gaps and there are some neat stories behind the signs. And if you go on a weekday, there is actually a demonstration from Neon Works of Cincinnati and they showed how they actually made neon signs!

Michael Smith

I was reluctant to go to the American Sign Museum since I couldnt imagine how a "sign museum" could possibly be entertaining or informative. Wow! I was totally wrong. The museum is amazing. Highly recommend it. Be sure to do the guided tour at 11am or 2pm. You learn a lot about the history of advertising in the USA. Dont miss it.

Joe Wehry

There is a large variety of signage here, from wooden to glass to neon. Unless youre knowledgeable about materials and history, do try to attend a guided tour. Itll help you better appreciate the importance of some displays. I was surprised to learn you could rent the place for events. That sounds like a lot of fun.

Julia Reil

The American Sign Museum is a cool place to appreciate nostalgia. An optional 45 minute tour about the history of advertising with signs and other fact is included in the admission price. I felt admission for an adult was a bit high at $15.00. The restoration shop is open to the public with paid admission.

Michael Berger

Cool to check out, yes. $15 admission though?! I get that they have to keep the place open, and they probably have astronomical electric bills, but $15 is asking a lot. The "museum" is very small, it is more of a collection. Nicely done, but Id like to restate that the admission fee is far too much.

Amy Catching

This was a neat find in Cincinnati. We are a little young to remember a lot of the signs, but they were interesting to see. We enjoyed watching a neon sign being made right in the museum. The museum staff are also really fun & friendly. The museum is small, so we saw it all in an hour.

Scott Kremer

If you like signs, you will like this place. Your best bet is to try to time your visit with the tours that they offer. (Check their website). The tour really helps to fill in information and give context for the evolution of the signs. A good place to spend an hour.

Ropert Smith

I seriously cant love this place more. It has such a unique atmosphere and feel to it. The glow of different neon, florescent, and led lights really give a sense of wonder. Perfect place for a reception, party, or event. It surely is a gem in Cincinnatis crown.

David V

Great way to remember signs from my childhood as well as others even older. Very interesting to see and learn the history behind the types of lighting. Also, one of the few places where you can watch a skilled craftsman create the neon letters and shapes.

A Capaccio

This one-of-a-kind museum guides you through the history of signmaking. From carved wooden letters and painted signs to flashing exposed bulb signs to neon and plastic signs. Not sure what times the tours are, but we managed to catch one when we visited.

Eric Schwartz

Had a couple of hours to kill on a Saturday afternoon on the way down to Cincinnati. This was a good way to spend our time. Make sure you go when they are offering a tour. It was very informative and made the visit much more interesting.