Spent the day in Clifton Heights & O'Bryonville.  While we were in the area so we headed to the American Sign Museum.

 

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The American Sign Museum is located in Cincinnati off I-71 & Taft on Essex Avenue near the University of Cincinnati. The museum was founded by Tod Swormstedt and is a great addition to the Cincinnati Museum & Art scene. The museum offers an eclectic mix of signage from all over the country and an owner that is very passionate about his signs. He provides guided tours and is very friendly. The museum admission is on donations. Tod is currently scoping out a new location to put the museum in Cincinnati. He has expressed an interest in Over-the-Rhine and is looking for a building to fit his needs with high ceilings. If you happen to know a good location or a sign that is being thrown away or could use a new home, you can contact him at http://www.signmuseum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.pbase.com/montecarloss/signmuseum

Bonus sign not located at the Museum that I took last week when we ate at the Forum Grill:

Excellent! Thats on my list to see now. Do they know where the signs came from, I mean which McDonalds, etc.?

Tod has the signs broken down into decades and has photos of buildings where the signs originally were located. 

 

Does anyone know a good building in the city that has a large amount of floor space and high ceilings that would make a good fit for the relocation of the museum?  He has already outgrew his current location.

Looks interesting!

Very cool!  Maybe we could find a place for him up here in C-town!  Get to it, Cincy!

I visited the Sign Museum, with some friends, in January '05.

Interesting place.

 

BTW, Monte, did you pick up one of their "I (heart) Signs" buttons?

^ Yes

 

It would be great to get a hand on some of these vintage signs from Cincinnati's 5th Street:

 

Cool thread!

 

Michael Redmond might know of a building in the city that would make a good fit for the relocation of the museum.

 

 

Thats really cool....I must go check it out.  Up until now I had never heard of it.  It would be awesome if the museum would be able to find a location downtown to display its stuff...someone really needs to come through on this one.....

I have been in email contact with Tod and provided him a link to this thread.  Maybe when he has time he will chime in.  Here is the text from part of his email that he sent me, I don't think he will mind me posting it since it only adds to promoting his museum.  Anyone have any ideas on location?  Michael?

 

We are working at acquiring the Bank cafe sign on Vine around

14th Street, and the Habig's Restaurant sign on the West side . . .

Come back any time and thanks for posting the images.  I'll try to go

into the Urban Ohio bulletin board.  I've been looking for a new site in

OTR--especially West McMicken since it's the brewery district and the

bldgs. inherently have tall ceilings (for my big signs across the

street)--but nothing has turned up yet.  Bob, prez of Findlay Market,

has been trying to help also since it's in the Market's best interest to

have us located in OTR.

 

Tod Swormstedt

American Sign Museum

407 Gilbert Avenue (office)

Cincinnati, OH  45202

(513) 421-2050, ext 336

(800) 925-1110, ext 336

[email protected]

www.signmuseum.org

 

I take it that Tod is referring to this street:

 

 

Rear of McMicken taken from the West End:

 

Someone asked if we know where the signs originated: Yes, more often than not.  As Montecarlo noted, we have stainless steel plaques with etched images of the signs in their original locations.  I keep hard copy files on each object in the collection for back-up in addition to catalgoing each.  Since I have acquired all the signs, I pretty much know their origin and often what company manufactured them. 

The tour includes about 120 signs; the museum's collection is over 200 . . . not to mention signpainters kits, salesman's samples, etc., etc.  Just call me Tod (me) at 513-258-4020 or [email protected] to schedule a tour.

Thanks for your interest.

For a tour of the American Sign Museum, call Tod at 258-4020.  Tours are about 1-1/2 hours are offered weekdays or weekend; morning, day or night.  I do this full-time . . . well, more than full-time.  I ask for $10 per person, but groups are negotiable.  We are a 501 © (3) not-for-profit.  There's a virtual tour (8 minutes) on the website that was shot in October 2004 before the museum was complete, but you'll get the idea.  Grand Opening was April 28, 2005.  Oh yes, and we made the book WEIRD OHIO . . . and are proud of it!