Last Updated: January 27, 2022
Best Museums in Ohio
Ohio is America’s seventh most populous state and worthy to be recognized as much more than a “flyover state.” Visitors to this midwestern state enjoy the beaches of Lake Erie, outdoor recreation and history at state and national parks, and touring the Amish countryside.
Ohio’s largest cities are home to a long list of must-see museums that celebrate everything from prehistoric Native American culture to Rock & Roll music. Here are some of the best museums to explore while traveling around the Buckeye State.
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Ohio Craft Museum
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Ohio has produced many great artists and crafters. The city of Columbus honors their efforts and talents at the recently renovated Ohio Craft Museum. First opened to the public in 1993, the museum is an exhibition of contemporary craftsmen rather than a history museum of crafts. It became the display for an organization founded in 1963 called the Ohio Designers Craftsmen.
Several permanent collections at the museum showcase art genres from a variety of works including ceramics, glass, fiber, and wood. Five major exhibitions are presented each year along with a rotating display of permanent collections. Additionally, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen sponsors four exhibits and sales each year featuring works from other parts of the country that includes painting, photography, jewelry, and more.
The museum also has a craft research library and gift shop. Visitors can also attend scheduled workshops and classes to create arts and crafts in different mediums.
The Ohio Craft Museum is located at 1665 W. 5th Avenue in Columbus.
Toledo Museum of Art
Called TMA for short, the Toledo Museum of Art is an impressive privately endowed non-profit institution with a global reputation. Founded in 1901, the campus is historically significant, and its collection is open to the public with no entrance fees. It’s comprised of six buildings over 30 sprawling acres. It features over 30,000 paintings photographs, sculptures, and other works of art. Don’t miss the Glass Pavilion building with its classrooms, courtyard, and coffee shop.
TMA regularly holds lectures, workshops, gallery tours, and other special events. Its partnership with the University of Toledo’s Department of Art enables the museum to offer a 90,000 volume art reference library to the public.
The museum is open every day except Mondays. Find it at 2445 Monroe Street in Toledo.
MAPS Air Museum
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With its motto “Where History Takes Flight,” the MAPS Air Museum is an internationally recognized aviation museum and the center of Northeast Ohio’s aviation history. Located in the city of Green, its fascinating collection includes two galleries with more than 130 displays of historic artifacts along with fun and educational interactive exhibits and a library of historical archives.
The MAPS Air Museum is operated by the Military Aviation Preservation Society. It houses over 50 aircraft mostly on loan for restoration by the US Air Force and Navy. It’s located on the west side of the Akron-Canton Regional Airport.
Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum
The Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum is a must-see for car enthusiasts. A bit of a hidden gem in Columbus, visitors who discover it find that it’s one of the best museums in the city. The museum’s display showcases pre-war military jeeps, antique gas pumps, lots of interesting neon signs, and an unusual license plate collection. Auto-industry trivia and other information are posted throughout the museum. Steve Wagner, owner, and curator helps visitors relate the history of automobiles to the present day.
Many originals are featured in the car collection with in-depth information about design and why it was chosen for the museum. The exhibits rotate regularly so no two visits will be the same.
The auto museum is located at 476 E. Kossuth Street in Columbus. The museum is small, so call ahead to arrange a tour.
National Veterans Memorial & Museum
One of Columbia’s newest museums, the National Veterans Memorial & Museum offers visitors a unique experience. The programming gives personal insight into American war veterans who fought in combat on the front lines. The museum relates their experiences through multimedia displays, photos, and letters throughout the decades from veterans and their families. Exhibits are both permanent and temporary.
A stroll along Memorial Grove lined with elm trees leads to a rooftop sanctuary that honors soldiers killed in combat. The memorial and museum are located at 300 West Broad Street in Columbus.
Children’s Museum of Cleveland
Located in a beautifully restored historic home, the Children’s Museum of Cleveland is an experience for children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The staff at CMC believes that children learn best in an open-ended learning environment and self-discovery. The hands-on exhibits and interactive programs give them a chance to imagine, experiment and problem solve.
The CMC strives to be a vital community resource for children and their families. Children get to pretend in an adventure city, engage in water play, explore the science lab, and more. A miniature museum upstairs provides a special area for children ages three and up to build their own miniatures.
The museum is free for children 11 months old and younger. Located at 3813 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, the museum experience is currently by reservation only.
Columbus Museum of Art
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The Columbus Museum of Art specializes in American and European art from the 19th and early 20th centuries as well as contemporary works including paintings, sculptures, folk art, photography, and glass. It holds the world’s largest collection of works by renowned artists from Columbus such as Elijah Pierce, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, and George Bellows. Learn about art through the ages by browsing the many galleries.
In recent years, CMA has evolved into a place where visitors can engage in art as well as admire it. In the Wonder Room, children can tap into their inner artists and create art to be displayed next to famous textile artists.
Exciting community events such as festivals, lectures, and jazz performances are often held in the atrium. There is a cafe on the main level with entrees as creative as the museum’s artwork.
The CMA is located at 480 East Broad Street in Columbus. Admission is free on Sundays.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Located on the Lake Erie waterfront in Cleveland, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a pilgrimage site for music lovers of all ages. The museum has seven floors of rock memorabilia and offers a comprehensive look at the history of the genre on a decade-by-decade basis. Browse the galleries to view the interactive exhibits and artifacts.
The rotating exhibits feature iconic artists from several time periods. Artifacts on display include instruments, clothing, dated memorabilia like pinball machines, and much more. Don’t miss the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees wing where visitors can connect with their favorite rock artists old and new.
Located at 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd in Cleveland, the building that houses the museum is also noteworthy. It was designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei and has become one of the city’s most iconic structures.
There is no admission charge for children age 5 and under.
Cleveland History Center
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The Cleveland History Center is headquarters for the Western Reserve Historical Society. Its focus is to provide a place to discover Cleveland and Northeast Ohio’s unique history and an awareness of the region once known as the Western Reserve. Permanent exhibits include Bingham-Hanna Mansion, Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel, Hay-McKinney Mansion, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Kidzibits Playzone, and WRHS’s original Cleveland Starts Here.
The Cleveland Starts Here exhibit was implemented in 2017 in celebration of the city’s 150th anniversary. Visitors of all ages can experience Cleveland’s stories from the 1790s to the present. The museum uses the latest technologies for interacting with rare artifacts and documents. See Cleveland’s first map and survey tools, LeBron James’ championship shoes, a lunar descent engine,
Visit the Cleveland History Center at 10825 E. Blvd in Cleveland.
Cleveland Museum of Art
An institution in the city since 1916, the Cleveland Art Museum is one of the nation’s top comprehensive art museums. Its collection acquired international recognition by the 1950s for quality and scope. The collection continues to grow and change, and the original Neoclassical building has been expanded and renovated a number of times.
Today, the museum’s collection includes nearly 45,000 works and spans 6,000 years of the arts. It focuses on various areas with outstanding collections of American, European, and Asian art. Programs and special events are scheduled throughout the year.
Located in Cleveland’s impressive University Circle neighborhood in the Wade Park District, the museum is generously supported by the residents of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Ohio Arts Council. The museum earned a four-star rating by Charity Navigator, the nation’s top evaluator of charities and non-profits for two consecutive years.
Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art at 11150 East Blvd in Cleveland. General admission is always free.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
