American Sign Museum

American Sign Museum History of America through a century of signage! The museum is home to the history of American signage over the last century. http://www.americansignmuseum.org
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Signs from the late 1800's are hand painted and gold leafed. Milk glass letters illuminate the electric age alongside bare bulbs. The thirty's gave rise to neon signs and a rainbow of new signs. Post war, plastics became quite popular. All these era's come together on Main Street, where we've recreated a streetscape you'll have to see to believe! It's a great family activity, and the most unique party space in Cincinnati! For information on guided tours and event, please visit our website!

The Frisch's Mainliner is coming back to life!The ASM’s conservator, Bing, was recently able to get both sides of the “F...
05/29/2026

The Frisch's Mainliner is coming back to life!

The ASM’s conservator, Bing, was recently able to get both sides of the “Frisch’s” porcelain script back up and we're loving how the red enamel pops against the original gray-white enamel!

The “Frisch’s” neon units came with the sign, but many needed help with proper fitting and correcting electrode orientations. When the sign was retrofitted to LED, the neon units that illuminated the plastic “MAINLINER” letters were discarded so Bing has been hard at work rebending all of those letters…x2!

The neon for the east side of the sign (pictured here) has been installed and tested and will be glowing bright on Main Street once the wiring is complete!

Become a member to support the ASM's restoration and preservation of the signs that shape our culture all year long.

Visit americansignmuseum.org/membership to join today.

With another year of learning coming to an end, we have a message to all the students and teachers who came to the Ameri...
05/28/2026

With another year of learning coming to an end, we have a message to all the students and teachers who came to the American Sign Museum for a field trip - Thank you for an incredible school year!

With close to 2,000 students served this year so far, the ASM is proud to support learning beyond the classroom. Our hands‑on programs bring history, art, and storytelling to life through the world of signs.

From developing an understanding of inflation by looking at a 1963 McDonald’s sign to creating a brand, students from across the region applied critical thinking skills while being dazzled by the bright colors and glow of the signs.

Whether you’re planning for the summer or looking ahead to next year, consider booking early for guided tours, curriculum‑based activities, neon demos, scavenger hunts, and more!

Find out more at americansignmuseum.org/learn

June is going to be more colorful than ever! Join us for Glow in the Dark: PRIDE! and see the American Sign Museum as fe...
05/27/2026

June is going to be more colorful than ever! Join us for Glow in the Dark: PRIDE! and see the American Sign Museum as few get to – fully lit at night!

Celebrate Pride month at one of the most colorful places in town – glowing rainbows and all. Explore the indoor collection, take a guided ROYGBIV tour, join Drag Queen story hour with The Lady Phaedra, check out a neon demonstration, dance to DJ BoyWife, and feast your eyes on a Hoop Dance performance with Ruby Roulette.

We'll have snacks, crafts, and even Johnny's Creamy Whip ice cream truck!

Wear your brightest neon colors and join the fun Thursday, June 11 from 4 - 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk or online at https://www.americansignmuseum.org/event/glow-in-the-dark-pride/. Pre-purchasing eTickets is not required in order to visit the ASM.



Allyn’s and the Precinct have new neighbors on the Monmouth Ave. grid!Last weekend we installed three local LED-illumina...
05/26/2026

Allyn’s and the Precinct have new neighbors on the Monmouth Ave. grid!

Last weekend we installed three local LED-illuminated plastic signs to the Cincinnati Sign Garden:

→ Holtman’s Donuts sign made by Triangle Sign Co. in the early 2000s.

→ Kroger sign made by Cummings Signs, Inc. circa 2018.

→ Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home sign. While this local business has been operating since 1906, this particular sign was erected in 1996 when they opened their third location in Florence, Kentucky.

Take a look next time you visit the ASM!

Big thanks to Klusty Sign Associates for their help with this install.

05/22/2026

Team building with a spark! 🔥

Give your team an unforgettable experience that blends the art, science, and history of neon tube bending in our 3-hour workshop for your business or group.

Get a feel for what it takes to be a neon craftsperson, get up close and personal with the flame, and assist in making your own neon light!

Each experience is designed for up to 8 adults with everyone getting a chance to create a neon “flyby” sculpture.

Book your neon experience: https://bit.ly/ASMNeonTeamBuildingRequest

When artists move between sign companies, they take their style with them. Robert Barnett’s colorful gouache and waterco...
05/21/2026

When artists move between sign companies, they take their style with them.

Robert Barnett’s colorful gouache and watercolor renderings--seen here from his time at Heath and Company and Valley Neon--showcase that migration of talent.

Heath and Co., which began as Heath & Gorsich Sign Contractors in 1948, was founded by Wayne Heath and Tony Gorsich. Heath and Gorsich brought expertise developed during time at Chicago's Beverly Sign to LA, blending it with emerging Googie aesthetics. After Heath bought out Gorsich in 1952, the company became synonymous with progressive sign design through the 1950s and 1960s.

These sketches are some of the only surviving records of Valley Neon’s work.

Catch Back to the Drawing Board: The Art of the Sign Sketch 1925-1975 before it closes June 11 and take a closer look at these watercolor sign sketches from Heath and Company, Valley Neon, and more! Included with price of admission.

Summer is around the corner and regulars of the ASM know what that means - Jazz in the Camp!For the 4th year and countin...
05/20/2026

Summer is around the corner and regulars of the ASM know what that means - Jazz in the Camp!

For the 4th year and counting, Jazz Alive presents Jazz in the Camp every Wednesday May 27 - July 1 from 6:30 - 8:30 at the American Sign Museum. Spend those hot summer Wednesdays listening to cool jazz by an amazing line up of musicians.

Beverages and snacks are available for purchase at the ASM bar and guests are welcome to bring food from home (note that no outside beverages aside from water are permitted).

Jazz in the Camp is FREE to the public. Doors open at 6 pm.

Visit americansignmuseum.org/event/jazz-in-the-camp-2026 for the lineup!

05/15/2026

Spotted! The Ohio Tour Man in his natural habitat. Watch until the end!

The Ohio Tour Man should be approached with curiosity as he loves to answer all of your question about the ASM’s collection.

You can have your own up-close encounter by booking a private tour for your next group outing. Contact the Group Tour Manager (Alex Anderson 513-701-2180 [email protected]) with any questions or when you are ready to book your visit.

There may be an additional fee for tours performed on stilts 😊

Join us in the ASM Classroom Saturday, May 23, from 1 - 3 pm for Sign Crafting Saturday! Each month we discover new ways...
05/14/2026

Join us in the ASM Classroom Saturday, May 23, from 1 - 3 pm for Sign Crafting Saturday! Each month we discover new ways to make signs from materials you might even have at home.

☀ This Sign Crafting Saturday we will make paper suncatchers like these beautiful examples made by our Education Coordinator, Cidaruh! No experience needed, just bring your creativity. Included with admission.

Looking for more creative activities this summer? Sign Crafting Saturdays will be held every Saturday during the months of June & July. See you there!

Roughly six months after a devastating fire, the in Tucson is rising from the ashes—thanks to the determination of owne...
05/13/2026

Roughly six months after a devastating fire, the in Tucson is rising from the ashes—thanks to the determination of owners Jude and Monica Cook, a community of volunteers, and a GoFundMe campaign. While the majority of the large signs survived, many irreplaceable small treasures (salesman samples, tools, and equipment) were lost.

During a recent road trip, the Cooks stopped by the ASM where our founder Tod and Collection Manager Ben opened up our inventory of duplicate items. The Cooks selected a few dozen pieces to help fill the gaps in their collection. Ignite and the ASM have come together before – most recently the Cooks helped with the Main Street expansion in 2024 by painting some of the storefront signs. Sharing with our fellow museum leads to more signs preserved and more opportunities to educate on the importance of signs.

Want to help? If you have sign-related items that you are willing to donate, reach out to Ignite at [email protected] or call (520) 319-0888. Together, we can keep sign history alive.

Brighten your day with neon – just earlier in the day! We're switching things up to make it easier for everyone to catch...
05/08/2026

Brighten your day with neon – just earlier in the day! We're switching things up to make it easier for everyone to catch the glow.

Starting next Saturday 5/16*, our neon demos are shifting to 11 am & 1 pm. Watch as a member of the Neonworks team bends a tube of glass into a glowing work of art before your very eyes! No reservation needed, just drop in with your admission ticket. Follow the neon demo with a guided tour of the Museum at 12 pm & 2 pm.

Learn more about our public offerings at americansignmuseum.org/public-programming

*Tomorrow, Saturday 5/9, is the last day to catch neon demos at 1 pm & 3 pm

Address

1330 Monmouth Avenue
Cincinnati, OH
45225

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15135416366

Website

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