Ohio Historical Center to dismantle trademark exhibit

Friday, February 03, 2006

Barbara Carmen

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Archaeologists and anthropologists were outraged that the Ohio Historical Center planned to dismantle its oldest, most venerated exhibit, the first step in overhauling its displays to attract more visitors.

 

Attendance at the center off I-71 near the state fairgrounds has dropped 58 percent in five years.

 

"It’s a disgrace to dismantle it," said Olaf Prufer, a Kent State University anthropology and prehistory professor said. "The material is first-rate. It’s one of the better exhibits that’s out there."

 

Full Story at:

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/03/20060203-D1-04.html

I went to the Ohio Historical Center this summer and was...well, underwhelmed.  It seemed like it was pretty much geared to elementary school field trips.  For a state like Ohio that has such a rich and diverse history--especially industrial history, there could be more exciting exhibits with broader appeal.  However, minerals and fossils and stuff like that don't really do much for me, so I guess those that enjoy that sort of thing probably have a different opinion of the museum.  Also, I'm sure it has been a difficult time for the museum with state budget cuts, so hopefully these changes will help increase attendance.

The Ohio Historical Center is a joke, plain and simple.

 

From the horrible brutalist building surrounded by parking, to the abandoned Ohio Village next door, the Center has become a complete embarassment. I remember visiting the center twice: once for a holiday event and once for my elementary school's history fair. I recall the exhibit that they are bringing down, and honestly it's a very good and informative display...it just needs to be updated. The exhibit they want to bring in to replace it sounds interesting as well, but given the ineptitude of those running the place, I'll probably never go there.

 

In my opinion, they need to fire all current management, knock down that horrible structure, and start all over again...either at the fairgrounds or at a new location. I think most would agree that the parkland on the southern bend of the Scioto, next to COSI would be the optimal place for a new historical museum. They would have much more flexibility for exhibits, and be in an area more condusive to attracting visitors. However, such a task requires money, and as stated earlier, the state doesn't really have the funds for such an endeavor.

I used to think the Ohio Historical Center was one of the better state historical museums until I saw that new Indiana History Museum over on the canal, in Whitewater Park, in Indianapolis.  That was a impressive museum (tho there was a bit of an "agenda"...they sort of minimized the labor unions and the fact that one of the great labor leaders came from Indiana), with some impressive exhibit design (designed by the people who did the Holocaust Museum in NYC).

 

The Ohio museum is probably better than the one in KY, which could have been a lot better (using animatronic figures in their displays was pretty lame...probably popular with kids, though.)

 

I do recall the Ohio museum had one industrial display...a woodworking shop with old belt-driven equipment.  That was sort of interesting.  But also sort of weak given the very major role of industry in the states development (the Youngstown Museum of Industry and Labor, also a OHS museum, does a much better job, though its focused on just the steel industry).

 

 

But the aboriginal Ohio exhibits where pretty impressive...especially those big terrain models of the mound builder earthworks....I'm not particularly interested in that history but did like the models.

 

 

Probably one of the big losses due to funding cutbacks was the closure of Ohio Villiage.  I actually visited there once, during a Civil War re-enactors event, ate at that restuarant they had on-site.  I thought that was one of the better things they had, an open-air museum.  I'm not sure how common these are in the US, but open-air historic museums are quite popular in Europe, in Germany and England, at least.

 

 

 

 

Part of the blame lies with an Ohio General Assembly that has no sense of history and can't see beyond a way to cut budgets.  Ironic, since the Ohio Historical Museum could be so much more than it already is as a tool for education..... oops, the General Assembly doesn't care about education either. 

 

This place could be such a showcase, especially sitting at such a highly visible and well-traveled location next to I-71 and the State Fairgrounds. Sadly, the Historical Society either lacks the will or the creative energy to turn Ohio Village into a destination point... and a possibly revenue generator.  Instead, they reacted to budget cuts like a scolded dog with tail between their legs.  Lack of an adequate budget is an obstacle, but that's when they should be looking for ways to make up for some of that loss and show why they deserve better funding.

 

Keep in mind, these folks are also responsible for preserving and protecting some very significant Ohio historical artifacts. With what they've been left to work with by the G-A, it's a wonder they can even achieve that mission.

 

 

Of course attendance has dropped 58% As Noozer said, the general assembly is at this point organ harvesting the Historical Center.

Bitch about the design, can the arguement about parking (it's next to the state fairgrounds and Crew Stadium, guess where excess parking from events at those locations go), and find some other state program to kill.

 

A damn shame.  :cry:

I became a member of the Ohio Historical Society last year and love visiting the museum.  The exhibit that is being demantled was the stalest of the museum so I can see why they chose it.  I've been very impressed by the temporary exhibits the museum's had over the past few years.  I agree that the General Assembly seems to have no sense of history and is short-changing the museum. 

What I would like to see is an historic trolley line that would serve and tie together the State Fairgrounds, Ohio Village/ Historical Society and the Crew Stadium. 

 

Think about it... you have three major venues in a very accessible location that is active almost all the time... especially the various venues at the Fairgrounds.  A trolly system would not only be an attraction in and of itself, but could encourage visitors to the Ohio Exposition Center (its proper name) to visit the other attractions.  It could also serve those vast parking lots for large events like the State Fair, Quarter Horse Congress and the Hot Rod shows.  It might also serve to help revive Ohio Village, a place which always seemed to be missing a transportation element among its displays.

 

 

What I would like to see is an historic trolley line that would serve and tie together the State Fairgrounds, Ohio Village/ Historical Society and the Crew Stadium. 

 

Think about it... you have three major venues in a very accessible location that is active almost all the time... especially the various venues at the Fairgrounds.  A trolly system would not only be an attraction in and of itself, but could encourage visitors to the Ohio Exposition Center (its proper name) to visit the other attractions.  It could also serve those vast parking lots for large events like the State Fair, Quarter Horse Congress and the Hot Rod shows.  It might also serve to help revive Ohio Village, a place which always seemed to be missing a transportation element among its displays.

 

Would there be any chance of the Railway Museum moving down to the 17th Ave/Vilma Ave/I-71 area, or would that cause more problems than it would solve?

Would there be any chance of the Railway Museum moving down to the 17th Ave/Vilma Ave/I-71 area, or would that cause more problems than it would solve?

 

I think that would be wonderful, actually, since it would somewhat complement some other recent additions to the historical society's roster.

 

I don't know how many of you remember, but there used to be a small aviation museum located at Port Columbus. The museum became somewhat obsolete, and with attendance at a trickle, it was closed down. A Hilton Garden Inn now sits on the site, but apparently most of the collection was supposed to go to the Ohio Historical Society. As to whether that actually materialized, I never found out, but if so, making a wing dedicated to Ohio's roll in transportation would be great. It could combine everything from the Ohio canal system, to the riverboats, the lake barges, the intricate rail system, the Wright Bros., Curtis-Wright, and others. I would love to see that, however I don't know about the likelihood of such an idea.