Posted August 14, 200420 yr A friend in Cleveland sent me this link to a sign museum opening in Cincinnati October 1. http://www.signmuseum.com/index.html
August 14, 200420 yr Never heard of it. This place has had zero coverage. I would be interested if it had a large collection of Cincinnati signs, but if it was some random signs from say Route 66 than I would have little interest.
August 16, 200420 yr Never heard of it. This place has had zero coverage. I would be interested if it had a large collection of Cincinnati signs' date=' but if it was some random signs from say Route 66 than I would have little interest.[/quote'] I get the impression that this place will be somewhere between Cincinnati specfic and random signs. I'm sure there will be a focus on Cincinnati/tri-state area signs, but will take anything they can find (though it appears to be business & retail signs instead of highway or industry) Example: There is a neon Planters Mr. Peanut sign on N. High St (if you attended the Columbus meet back in the spring you'll remember passing under it). That would be something the museum owners would like to have (if it were to be removed by the owners for some reason) This sign museum will likely be part of the burgeoning Roadside Archelogy field.
March 24, 200520 yr Though the museum has been open to the public since October, the "official" grand opening is April 28. This actually looks like a pretty cool place to kill some time. It's not just road signs and stuff, but also neon signs/roadside attraction stuff, business and theater signs from downtowns, etc. Actually, there is a virtual tour you can see ON THIS PAGE (look for the "Video Tour" links). Here's the grand opening press release: Grand Opening April 28 Plans for the American Sign Museum’s long-awaited Grand Opening, set for April 28-29, 2005 at Essex Studios in Cincinnati, OH have been announced. Anticipation of the event has been building since the Museum’s “soft opening” on October 1, 2004. The tremendous amount of press the Museum has received since then, including being named to OHIO magazine’s annual “Best of” issue and a feature in the L.A. Times Sunday (January 9) Travel Section. Although tours have been continually offered over the last three months, and a “virtual tour” posted on the Museum’s web site, we are working to put the final touches on the original 4800 sq. ft. space. The addition of another 1700 sq. ft. in early January has expanded the museum to more than 6500 sq. ft. This newly acquired space will increase the lobby area and enable an indoor garden for displaying more of the collection’s larger signs. The schedule of events begin with the Gala Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 4:00 pm on Thursday, April 28. Celebrants will gather in the newly enlarged lobby for refreshments around 3:00 pm. Those who elect may take part in an optional ticketed Riverboat Dinner Cruise on the Ohio River. The Museum will remain open until 8:00 pm. The following day, the Museum will sponsor a golf tournament. Lenny Diaspro of Cincinnati Sign Supplies is coordinating the scramble, which will begin with a 10:00 am tee time. Registration to the Grand Opening is FREE. Dress is casual. The Dinner Cruise and Golf Tournament are optional paid events. We are asking that everyone planning to attend either the Grand Opening and/or an optional event to register now. REGISTER NOW Space is limited and prompt registration will secure your reservation. http://signmuseum.org/grandopening/
January 31, 200619 yr The American Sign Museum (www.signmuseum.org), located in Walnut Hills, has outgrown its persent space at Essex Studios and is looking for an urban Cincinnati site. Our specifications include: 1) long-term lease or lease-to-buy 2) minimum 15,000 sq. ft. 3) interstate exposure and/or arts/entertainment district location 4) loading dock 5) tall ceilings (28-ft. minimum) for at least some portion of the building 6) 40-50 cars parking If you're interested in touring the present 6000 sq. ft. museum, call Tod Swormstedt @ 513-258-4020 to arrange for a guided tour by the founder. Tours are about 1-1/2 hours; donation of $10 per person is suggested. And yes, we do offer the museum as a venue for receptions/parties.
January 31, 200619 yr What is left of the Hudepohl Brewery? It seems like the ideal location for a museum and it has good frontage advertising space off I-75. A sign or billboard on top of the brewery would be seen by commuters on I-75 On another note wasn't the Cincinnati ownership group that bought back Christian Moerlein looking at opening up a Brewhouse in Over-the-Rhine. I think a sign museum in conjuntion with a local Brewhouse would be a great combination. I for one would enjoy looking at the signs while drinking some Christian Moerlein. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/04/01/biz_moerlein01.html http://www.christianmoerlein.com
January 31, 200619 yr How about the old produce building next to The Cincinnati Fire Museum on West Court?
January 31, 200619 yr Does the soon-to-be CityLink building have high ceilings? It would kill two birds with one stone.
January 31, 200619 yr We are already looking for him. Ceiling heights are the catch so far. I would think the 40-50 car parking would be the hardest catch in Over-the-Rhine.
January 31, 200619 yr we can get close enough to that I think. Bottom line is no place will be exactly perfect because he is moving into an existing space but I believe we will be able to get close enough for him. If anyone has not been to the existing sign museum I highly recommend going, it is a unique experience and will be a tremendous asset to OTR.
February 1, 200619 yr What about the carbarn-looking building next to the Blue Wisp? I would think it is large enough and there is plenty of parking around.
February 1, 200619 yr I will look into it but I believe we will fall short on ceiling height and total sq ft. The ceiling height truly is the hardest, keep in mind that 28 ft is the min. requirement. There are possibilities of modifying some buildings.
February 1, 200619 yr What about the carbarn-looking building next to the Blue Wisp? I would think it is large enough and there is plenty of parking around. Do you have a photo? Maybe we can get OTRFan to snap a few pics of prospects. Here is an aerial of the McMicken area.
February 1, 200619 yr The blue wisp is at 318 8th, are you talking about the one at 320? I might be thinking of a different building then you are.
February 1, 200619 yr I was going to suggest 607 W. McMicken, which has been for sale for forever. It may be too "officey" though, and I'm not sure how it would work. http://www.cbws.com/property/propertydetail.aspx?property=9f310035-72fc-431b-b98b-3a50d7d7bf3f
February 1, 200619 yr What about an old movie theatre or church with high ceilings or large, open volumes?
February 1, 200619 yr Michael, 320 E. 8th was the address I was thinking of but I'm not sure if it has 28 ft. ceilings.
February 1, 200619 yr I was going to suggest 607 W. McMicken, which has been for sale for forever. It may be too "officey" though, and I'm not sure how it would work. http://www.cbws.com/property/propertydetail.aspx?property=9f310035-72fc-431b-b98b-3a50d7d7bf3f Price: $399,900 Property Type: Commerical Unspecified County: Hamilton Square Feet: 17860 http://www.hamiltoncountyauditor.org/default-nav.asp Numbers from the Hamilton County Auditors Site: Tax Dist 001 CINTI CORP-CINTI CSD-001110 School Dist 1 CINCINNATI CSD Land Use 480 Commercial warehouse Finished Square Ft. 46888 Acres 0.412 Appraisal Area 02201 CUF 1 Mkt Total Value $235,800 Year Built 1920 Interesting that there was a transfer on this building in 7/22/2005 from URBAN SITES INC to URBAN SITES LIMITED LIABILITY for $0. In 7/5/2002 their was a transfer from SMITH CHRIS C to URBAN SITES INC. Dating back to 1987 this property has changed hands several times for a grand total of $0. What used to operate out of this building? Did it used to be home to an old brewery back in the day? I think the one problem with this building is that Tod is looking for all 15,000 sq ft. to be on one floor. He mentioned that he didn't want to have a multi floor museum - correct me if I am wrong Tod. I would think it would be worth a look though. With the Klotter/Conroy streets all restored one & two streets above McMicken. Redevelopment of this section of Over-the-Rhine is making progress. Parking would be a problem though...
February 1, 200619 yr I'm not sure on the exact specs of this building but it is located in Pendelton within plain sight of I-71. It is located on 12th and Reading Rd., and the owner of the bldg. is 'Mcguire Ruthanne'. Seems like it could be a good fit in an artistic area.
February 1, 200619 yr ^ I would agree, that building has so much potential for something like a "Sign Museum". Nice find...
February 14, 200619 yr Any word on how the search for a new building is going? I'm a University Heights resident and active in the CUF neighborhood association and would LOVE to see this museum move in or near my neighborhood (especially into the old Mohawk brewery buildings). Although It is probably out of your price range, another thought is Old St George. It has lots of attached parking, high ceilings and is in need of a new purpose to get it out of mothballs.
August 30, 200618 yr It appears that the American Sign Museum wants to move to Machine Flats at 3301 Colerain Ave. In fact, they are trying to get the City Planning Commission to alter the Planned Development District (PD No. 39) to allow for a "Cultural Institution" use. The Museum would be located in a one-story warehouse fronting on Monmouth St. They'll have 21,000 square feet of museum space and an in-house service shop, plus storage. Part of the museum space will be subleased for creation of new, and restoration of old, neon signs. Both the Business Association and the Community Council support this move. The zoning would require the museum/sign shop to provide 44 parking spaces. The entire development, including 60 apartments, has a 42-car garage and a 72-car surface lot in a courtyard area. This goes before the Planning Commission September 4 and should sail through.
August 30, 200618 yr Would that be located in Camp Washington? http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3301+Colerain+Ave+Cincinnati,+ohio&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=39.140146,-84.534044&spn=0.024565,0.059395&om=1 I don't get the location for a museum but I wish them luck. Seems like an area that would give him less exposure than Walnut Hills.
August 31, 200618 yr Would they be able to put up a sign on the four story building on the right of them, to tell passing motorists on I-75 (SB at least) of their existance?
August 31, 200618 yr Would they be able to put up a sign on the four story building on the right of them, to tell passing motorists on I-75 (SB at least) of their existance? They are looking at the erection of a large sign. However, I don't know what direction it will face or if it will be visible from the Interstate. The building's probably a good 1/8 mile from the highway but its view is partially obstructed by ODOT's salt dome, plus the overpass: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=39.143209,-84.53855&spn=0.003869,0.007231&t=h&om=0
August 31, 200618 yr I remember it being in CLifton. I always wanted to check it out. It wasn't in Clifton, that part of town is still Walnut Hills.
August 31, 200618 yr It's in Walnut Hills, surrounded by properties also in Walnut Hills, but it is near the Walnut Hills/Corryville border, and the Walnut Hills/Avondale border...but it's a long ways from Clifton.
September 1, 200618 yr Most people that go to UC consider fairview and university heights to be "Clifton". I technically live in "Clifton" because I live on Riddle Road by McMicken but Clifton proper is really like Ludlow and Mt. Storm area, where all of those really nice houses are. I don't think you'd ever hear someone say they live in fairview or university heights, it's all Clifton. They're usually aware of Corryville though but because the demographic there is so different it makes it distinguishable. I wasn't sure where Walnut Hills and Avondale started though.
September 1, 200618 yr Most people that go to UC consider fairview and university heights to be "Clifton". I technically live in "Clifton" because I live on Riddle Road by McMicken but Clifton proper is really like Ludlow and Mt. Storm area, where all of those really nice houses are. I don't think you'd ever hear someone say they live in fairview or university heights, it's all Clifton. They're usually aware of Corryville though but because the demographic there is so different it makes it distinguishable. I wasn't sure where Walnut Hills and Avondale started though. You might not actually live in Clifton even technically...a number of those places down at Riddle and McMicken are actually in CUF. Have you checked your pad on the auditor's site?
September 1, 200618 yr my zip code is 45220...is that for Clifton or all of CUF? My apt. building's business cards all say Clifton on them.
September 1, 200618 yr Zipcode doesn't map to neighborhood...I don't know that there's a completely definitive source, but the best source out there is the auditor's webside. Go to http://www.hamiltoncountyauditor.org/realestate, then search by Address, put your house number in and street name, then on the first page that comes up, it should give a neighborhood area...will probably either be CUF or Clifton...
September 1, 200618 yr If you live on Riddle Road down by McMicken, then you live in University Heights, the "U" in CUF.
September 1, 200618 yr I think Camp Washington would be a good fit for the museum. They will need good signage to direct people there. But, who better to do that ? There is a ton of deveopment going on around Colerain at the Hopple St Exit. Cincinnatians might actually one day know where the Camp is.
September 3, 200618 yr I think Camp Washington would be a good fit for the museum. They will need good signage to direct people there. But, who better to do that ? There is a ton of deveopment going on around Colerain at the Hopple St Exit. Cincinnatians might actually one day know where the Camp is. New development? What, a 5/3rd bank? That's about it. That area has so much potential.
November 17, 200618 yr Mail Pouch Tobacco sign chewed up, moving to Cincy By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Nation A decaying barn's "Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco" sign - a familiar sight in southern Indiana for at least 60 years - has been salvaged to be put on display at a Cincinnati sign museum. Two carpenters and two barn experts removed the sign yesterday by prying away the weathered boards onto which the words were painted decades ago on the hillside barn. The sign, which features in capital letters "Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco. Treat Yourself to the Best," will be reassembled for display at the American Sign Museum. To ensure museum staff can accurately reassemble it, the crew wrote numbers on the unpainted inside of each board with felt markers before prying them off with crow bars. Read full article here: http://www.bgnews.com/media/storage/paper883/news/2006/11/01/Nation/Mail-Pouch.Tobacco.Sign.Chewed.Up.Moving.To.Cincy-2414028.shtml?norewrite200611171501&sourcedomain=www.bgnews.com
January 30, 200718 yr Sign Museum plans bigger home in Camp Washington Habig's bubbling neon champagne glass latest addition The American Sign Museum is heading west. The museum plans to leave its original home in Walnut Hills in the fall for a Camp Washington building on the National Register of Historic Places. "We're out of room where we are," said Tod Swormstedt, the museum's founder. The museum has only 120 of its 250 signs displayed at its Essex Place location. "We only have 6,300 square feet in Walnut Hills," said Swormstedt. "We'll eventually have 40,000 square feet in Camp Washington." To make the move official, Swormstedt must poll his board of trustees about plans for the new space, "sign a mountain of legal papers and get the zoning changed. Then, we can move." Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070130/NEWS01/701300355/1056/COL02
October 14, 200717 yr American Sign Museum closes on property, to open in 2008 Building Cincinnati, 10/11/07 The American Sign Museum has closed on its purchase of property in Camp Washington and hopes to open by August 2008. Having outgrown their current Walnut Hills location, the museum will move into an unoccupied one-story portion of the Machine Flats building at Colerain Avenue and Monmouth Street. The move had been delayed by a year due to fundraising efforts. The museum also had to await a zoning change within the City's Planned Development District 39 to allow for the cultural institution use. Museum founder Tod Swormstedt estimates that $1 million will be spent on the renovation, which will include an in-house service shop. At 40,000 square feet, the new space is nearly seven times larger than the current Walnut Hills location. The four-story portion of the building was recently renovated by Middle Earth Developers into 60 market-rate apartments. The building began as the Oesterlein Machine tool plant and was later the home of the Fashion Frocks clothing plant. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The American Sign Museum opened in 2004 with the goal of educating the public about the sign industry and its contributions to the American landscape, as well as the preservation and display of America's sign heritage. http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2007/10/american-sign-museum-closes-on-property.html
February 23, 200817 yr Neat article in USAToday. Congrats on the positive press. Museum showcases 'sign garden' By Lisa Cornwell, Associated Press An old brick building just north of downtown Cincinnati gives little hint outside of the treasury of nostalgic icons within its walls. Some unlit motel and restaurant signs line the nearby street, and a 20-foot fiberglass genie that advertised the Aladdin Carpeteria carpet cleaning company in 1960s Los Angeles looms near the door. But that doesn't prepare visitors for the burst of color, motion and memories greeting them inside the American Sign Museum. A tour of the more than 200 signs and other items that include sign makers' tools is a journey through decades of America's evolving cultural taste, technology and commercial design — at times evoking fond remembrances of family road trips. Vivid pinks, greens and other hues light up the foyer that museum founder and president Tod Swormstedt calls his "Sign Garden" — the appetizer for a sign smorgasbord spanning the late-1800s to the 1970s. To read more: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2008-02-23-signs_N.htm
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