A condensed version was originally published in the Miniature Gazette, January/February 2025, pages 14–15. The version below contains extra material and live links for your convenience.
Celebrating Circumambient Culture
Continuing our compilation of the culture of Cincinnati, this time we’re cruising beyond the city circumference to sites you might like to visit en route or after your stay. First up, we’re showcasing museums of miniatures within our NAME Region A-3, followed by other museums and historic houses, presented in alphabetical order. Please go to the websites for details.
✑ Mileage estimates, shown between tilde characters, are distances from the Westin-Cincinnati, which is our official convention hotel downtown, located at 21 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
Musings on Museums of Miniatures
Cincinnati, Ohio, is located in NAME’s Region A-3, which encompasses all of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, along with the western portion of West Virginia. Out of 14 miniatures museums listed on the NAME website, we are privileged to have four in our region, each unique and wonderful in its own right, plus our NAME House in Carmel, Indiana, making five.
The unique focus of the Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, Kentucky, is the depiction of American social history in miniature, plus fun for all. With over 200 dollhouses, miniature buildings, and room boxes, the Exhibition Hall presents three “neighborhoods” that you can walk through: (1) A timeline of U.S. history from Native American through Colonial, Old West, early Southwest, and Modern eras; (2) A complete circa 1910 miniature town named Copper Hollow; and (3) A heavily-forested fantasyland with faeries, elves, witches, trolls, and a walk-in dragon cave. A fully stocked miniatures shop is open to all, and the facility is wheelchair friendly. Open Wednesday through Saturday. ~121 mi~ 344 Swope Drive, Danville, KY 40422 <thedollhousemuseum.com>
The KSB (Kathleen Savage Browning) Miniatures Collection at the Kentucky Gateway Museum in Maysville, Kentucky, houses one of the finest collections of fine art miniatures in the world—it will absolutely take your breath away! The 3,300-square-foot gallery is home to hundreds of exquisite limited-edition or one-of-a-kind miniature houses, room boxes, vignettes, and individual works of art, many of which have been created using the same materials and techniques that master artisans use to create full-sized items. The collection includes a number of exclusive exhibits, such as the 1:12-scale specially-commissioned Spencer House, representing the ancestral home of Princess Diana; the iconic Russell Theater in Maysville, replicating a 1929 atmospheric theater built in Spanish architectural style; and Catherine Palace, inspired by the legendary summer residence of the Russian czars (we’re not sure if the Palace will be on display in August). Exhibits are changed four times a year to coincide with seasons and holidays. A superb Gift Shop is on the premises. Open Tuesday through Saturday. ~61 mi~ 215 Sutton Street, Maysville, KY 41056 <ksbminiaturescollection.com>
✑ Spoiler Alert—The 2025 NAME Gala Committee is planning a very special Gala event and dinner to be held at the KSB Miniatures Collection. Read the exciting details in your Registration Packet!
The Midwest Miniatures Museum in Michigan features fine-quality miniatures beautifully displayed in a historic mansion near downtown Grand Haven. In 2019 they moved from Hickory Corners to the 1899 Robbins House and are in the process of renovating the nearly 8,000-square-foot house to museum space and offices. Delight in the works of numerous world-renowned miniaturists, with scale-model examples from various eras and historical periods, a variety of room boxes and vignettes, and so much more. Collections of individual miniature art include the Water Crystal pieces, the fine silver collections, and more than 200 Kachina dolls. Open Tuesday through Saturday. ~353 mi~ 20 South Fifth Street, Grand Haven, MI 49417 <midwestminiaturesmuseum.com>
The Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections, Inc. in Carmel, Indiana, describes itself as a museum of fine art in miniature. Opening in 1993, three local artisans created the museum in order to preserve and display scale miniatures and antique dollhouses, to ensure that fine collections would not be lost to future generations, and to introduce this art form to others. From their oldest piece, dated 1829, through depictions of modern living, and from individual artist pieces to collaborations, the museum displays thousands of miniatures, including room boxes, houses, and exquisite individual items. They also present special displays throughout the year and have an in-house shop. Open Wednesday through Sunday. ~121 mi~ 111 East Main Street, Carmel, IN 46032 <museumofminiatures.org>
The NAME House & Museum in Carmel, Indiana, showcases centerpieces and souvenirs from regional and national Conventions, presents the history of the Association, and is home to NAME offices (say “Hi” to Barb and Kim). See the special displays of miniatures made by Academy of Honor (AoH) recipients and rooms by Judy Berman, of Chrysnbon fame. It is about two blocks from the Museum of Miniature Houses, so be sure to allow time to visit both. Open Monday through Friday. ~122 mi~ 130 North Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032 <miniatures.org>
Meandering through Magnificent Museums
The Armstrong Air & Space Museum came to fruition in 1972 in Wapakoneta, Ohio—the hometown of aviator and astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon. As well as sharing the story of Armstrong’s life, the museum chronicles Ohio’s contributions to the history of aeronautics and space flight, from early space programs to current space exploration. Among interactive exhibits and seasonal events, the museum features many one-of-a-kind artifacts, including the Gemini VIII spacecraft, two of Armstrong’s spacesuits, and an Apollo 11 moon rock. Be sure to check out the Astro Theater, simulators, Infinity room, and full-scale mock-ups of the Gemini and Apollo space capsules. View the Museum Shop and virtual tour online. Open Tuesday through Sunday. ~112 mi~ 500 Apollo Drive, Wapakoneta, OH 45895 <armstrongmuseum.org> or <facebook.com/ArmstrongAirSpaceMuseum>
The German Heritage Museum focuses on the long history of German-Americans in the Greater Cincinnati area, one of the major G-A centers in the U.S. In addition, it showcases activities of 20 organizations under the umbrella of the German-American Citizens’ League of Greater Cincinnati, which was founded in 1895. The museum building had been a log home built around 1840 in Delhi Township, which was dismantled and moved to West Fork Park in Green Township. The museum is free. Open Sundays mid-May through October, plus the first Sunday of December (St. Nicholas Fest), and by appointment. The best contact is their Facebook page. ~10 mi~ 4764 West Fork Road, Cincinnati, OH 45247 <facebook.com/GermanHeritageMuseum>
The Glendower Historic Mansion, one of the finest examples of Residential Greek Revival architecture in the Midwest, houses the Harmon Museum and Art Gallery. The museum preserves Southwest Ohio history with its Shaker artifacts, prehistoric artifacts, four art galleries, extensive textile collection, and 1800s (indoor) Village Green. It has an elevator and a museum shop. Open Friday and Saturday only. ~32 mi~ 105 South Broadway, Lebanon, OH 45036 <wchsmuseum.org/harmonmuseum.html>
Built by the ancient American Indian cultures of Ohio, the Great Serpent Mound is an effigy mound representing a snake with a curled tail. At 1,376 feet long, 1-to-3-feet high, and 20-to-25-feet wide, it is the largest known surviving prehistoric effigy mound in the world. Research suggests that it was used to track summer and winter solstices. While more work is needed to clarify its age, archaeologists have alternately attributed its origin to the Adena culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100) or to the Fort Ancient culture (A.D. 1000–1650). It is being considered for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby are three burial mounds—two created by the Adena culture, and one by the Fort Ancient culture. Open Tuesday through Sunday, but may be closed for inclement weather. A walking tour is offered every second and fourth Friday. Free to visit, but they charge a parking fee. ~73 mi~ 3850 State Route 73, Peebles, OH 45660 <ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/serpent-mound>
✑ Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ohio include eight ancient earthworks comprising the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks. The sites demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and geometry, which helped Native Americans organize everything from cycles of planting and hunting to their ritual calendar. <hopewellearthworks.org/hopewell-ceremonial-earthworks-sites>
The award-winning Harmon Museum and Art Gallery preserves the rich history of Southwest Ohio within the Glendower Historic Mansion. Built around 1845 and lived in until the 1940s, the 4-story mansion is touted as one of the finest examples of Residential Greek Revival architecture in the Midwest. The museum houses Shaker artifacts and archives, an extensive textile collection with items as far back as 1740, prehistoric artifacts in the Archeological & Indigenous Peoples Exhibit, four art galleries, a research library, and special exhibits. Its Village Green recreates an 1800s town square with twelve shops. The museum is self-guided, has an elevator and a museum shop. Open Friday and Saturday only. ~32 mi~ 105 South Broadway, Lebanon, OH 45036 <wchsmuseum.org/harmonmuseum.html>
The Harrison-Symmes Memorial Museum preserves the history of, and includes articles from, 9th President William Henry Harrison (1841), his grandson 23rd President Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893), John Cleves Symmes (a relative and one of the founders of Cincinnati), and other historical artifacts. Open by appointment only, free to visit. ~16 mi~ 112 South Miami Avenue, Cleves, OH 45002 <hsmfmuseum.org>
✑ William Henry Harrison was an American military officer and politician. Elected 9th President of the U.S., he served the shortest time, dying after 32 days. He is remembered for his Indian treaties, his inventive election campaign, and the longest inaugural speech.
Called “Château Laroche,” the Loveland Castle & Museum was hand-built from stones gathered from nearby Little Miami River by medievalist and Boy Scout troop leader Harry Delos Andrews (1890–1981). Starting in 1927 with help from his friends—the Knights of the Golden Trail—Andrews built the castle based on European models he had visited after WWI. Situated along the banks of the Little Miami River in Loveland, enjoy the beautiful gardens and river path, bring a picnic, and participate in a ghost hunt or a wine tasting. Be forewarned: there is no indoor plumbing. Open daily. ~22 mi~ 12025 Shore Drive, Loveland, OH 45140 <lovelandcastle.com>
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Since 1923 the museum has grown from a small engineering study collection to the world’s largest military aviation museum with 19 acres of indoor exhibit space and additional outdoor parks. It features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts. One can walk through many of the planes, including the Presidential Collection (Caution: Stair steps are high and passageways through the planes are narrow). Located adjacent to the museum is the National Aviation Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have contributed to America’s legacy of aviation achievement. Collection videos and galleries can be viewed online. Museum store is on-site and online. Open daily, free parking and admission; there is a fee to use the simulators and to view films in the digital 3D theatre. ~60 mi~ 1100 Spaatz Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433 <nationalmuseum.af.mil>
Located in West Chester, north of Cincinnati, the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting presents the history of The Voice of America, Powel Crosley Jr., and radio and television. VOA was founded to counteract Axis propaganda during WWII. Why was the first VOA transmitter site here? The Government knew that Crosley’s WLW team had the knowledge and experience to design, build, and operate the kind of station that would reach Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world. The towers of the relay station continued in use through the Cold War. The site has since been decommissioned, the once prominent towers taken down, and much of the land turned into a public park. (Crosley’s historic WLW tower is still in use, visible a mile east of the museum.) The transmitter building remains to house the museum. Displays include the VOA control room, with two of the original six high-powered transmitters still in place; re-creations of radio and TV studios from the 1920s through the present; memorabilia from early radio and television; pioneers in the development of radio technology; plus related collections from Media Heritage and the Gray History of Wireless Museum in Cincinnati. Open Saturday and Sunday. ~24 mi~ 8070 Tylersville Road, Crosley Boulevard, West Chester, OH 45069 <voamuseum.org>
✑ “The Voice of America” is an international radio broadcasting state media network funded by the U.S. Begun in 1942, it is the largest and oldest of the U.S. international broadcasters that successfully created a listening audience in countries with repressive governments. The VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content in 48 languages, which it distributes to affiliate stations around the world. <insidevoa.com>
The Wright Brothers National Museum housed in Wright Hall has more artifacts related to the Wright brothers on display than any other place in the world. One of them is the first practical flying machine—the 1905 Wright Flyer III. Referred to as “the first pilot’s last project,” preserving the 1905 Wright Flyer III was Orville Wright’s last major project before he died in 1948. Adjacent to Wright Hall is a replica of Wilbur and Orville’s last bicycle shop, which represents how the store would have appeared in the fall of 1901. (The original building was moved to Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan, in 1938.) Open daily. ~52 mi~ 1000 Carillon Boulevard, Dayton, OH 45409 <daytonhistory.org/visit/things-to-see-do/wright-brothers-national-museum>
✑ Carillon Historical Park is a 65-acre open-air history museum that serves as the main campus for Dayton History. The daytonhistory.org website describes multiple points of interest in the park.
Highlighting Historic Houses
Take in breathtaking views from the 19th-century hilltop Behringer-Crawford Museum, with anthropological treasures and a diverse collection. Situated among the rolling hills of Devou Park in Covington, Kentucky, the museum was established in 1950 in the Devou family’s 19th-century home. It honors both William Behringer, a Covington native and avid traveler, and the museum’s first curator, Ellis Crawford, an archeologist. Thus, humble beginnings as an assortment of international memorabilia and archeological finds have expanded to include cultural history, archaeology and industry, as well as the visual and performing arts. Open daily ~4 mi~ 1600 Montague Road, Covington, KY 41011 <exploredevoupark.org/behringercrawford-museum>
The main house of the c1794 Christian Waldschmidt Homestead and Camp Dennison Museum is considered one of the best examples of Pennsylvania Dutch architecture west of the Alleghenies. The site preserves the home and history of Christian Waldschmidt, a veteran of the American Revolution, who moved to the area in 1794 and established a settlement called New Germany. During the Civil War, Camp Dennison used the homestead and surrounding grounds as a hospital and a mustering center. Owned and maintained by the Ohio State Society DAR, the site is open for public tours on Sunday afternoons from June through October. ~16 mi~ 7567 Glendale Milford Road, Camp Dennison, OH 45111 <ohiodar.org/waldindex.html>
Established in 1842 in Burlington, Kentucky, the Dinsmore Homestead was originally a diversified 700-acre farm with sheep, orchards, and basket willows, as well as a small vineyard. Today, the house and its furnishings, outbuildings, and extensive grounds have been preserved as a living document of the life of a prosperous farm family in the 19th century. The early Greek Revival style frame house contains original artifacts and art, preserved as when the family lived there. Primary sources allow docents to highlight the Dinsmore family’s connections to famous persons, like Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Open for tours Fridays through Sundays. ~22 mi~ 5656 Burlington Pike, Burlington, KY 41005 <dinsmorefarm.org>
Hillforest Victorian House Museum is a stately 1855 Italianate Renaissance mansion, located just blocks from the Ohio River and the historic district of Aurora, Indiana. The home was built into a hillside, akin to how Italian villas were built into mountainsides. Its Italianate architecture is reflected in the circular porches and colonnades, curved doors and windows. It was home to industrialist and financier Thomas Gaff and his family. It’s been open to the public since 1956. They host teas and special events. Only the first floor is handicap accessible. Open Tuesday through Sunday, April through December. ~31 mi~ 213 Fifth Street, Aurora, IN 47001 <hillforest.org>
John Glenn’s childhood home in New Concord, Ohio, is the site of the John & Annie Glenn Museum. John and Annie’s lives are presented through a series of tours; collections of childhood treasures; and memorabilia from Glenn’s military, political, and space careers. Open Wednesday through Sunday, May through October. ~175 mi~ 72 West Main Street, New Concord, OH 43762 <johnandannieglennmuseum.org>
✑ A former Marine pilot, Glenn was chosen to be one of the first seven astronauts in the U.S. space program. Piloting the Friendship 7 spacecraft in 1962, he became the first American to orbit the earth. From 1974 to 1999, he served in Congress as a U.S. Democratic Senator representing Ohio. Briefly returning to NASA in 1998, at 77 years old, he became the oldest person ever to travel in space.
The John P. Parker House museum, located on the Ohio River waterfront, was home to African-American inventor John P. Parker from 1853 until his death in 1900. Parker was born into slavery but was given an education by his physician owner and able to purchase his freedom. He was an abolitionist and a well-documented conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds make their way to freedom. The house is all that is left of Parker’s manufacturing complex that originally included a machine shop, blacksmithy, and foundry. Open Friday through Sunday, May through October. ~52 mi~ 300 North Front Street, Ripley, OH 45167 <johnparkerhouse.net> and <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P._Parker_House>
Built in 1825–1828, the John Rankin House was home to abolitionist and Presbyterian minister John Rankin, his wife Jean, and their 13 children. It was one of the original and most active stops on the Underground Railroad. It’s estimated that Rankin assisted in securing the freedom of more than 2,000 persons, sometimes as many as 12 at a time, and often at great personal risk. The house was acquired by the State of Ohio in 1938 for use as a historic site. Open Wednesday through Sunday, April through October. ~53 mi~ 6152 Rankin Hill Road, Ripley, OH 45167 <ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/john-rankin-house>
According to the website, “the Lane-Hooven House is a beautiful historic home that is one of the hidden gems in German Village!” The unusually-shaped octagonal house was built in 1863 for Clark Lane, a Hamilton industrialist who is thought of as the area’s first philanthropist. Nicknamed “Lane’s Folly,” the house took 11 months to build. In 1866 Lane built a second Romanesque Revival style octagonal building across the street that was dedicated as a free public library. Four owners later, in 1942, the original house was gifted to the City for community use. Ownership transferred to the Hamilton Community Foundation in 1951. Open by appointment only, self-guided tours are available Monday through Friday. ~36 mi~ 319 North Third Street, Hamilton, OH 45011 <hamiltonfoundation.org/about/lane-hooven-house>
Did you know that Sears, Roebuck & Co. once sold houses in kit form? Madeira’s historic Miller House Museum started life in 1922 as a Sears Crescent kit house that would have been constructed on-site by the patriarch of the family or a contractor. Operated by the Madeira Historical Society since 1998, the museum presents a slice of life from the 1920s through 1950. Visit on your own or take a tour. Open April through December on first Saturdays and third Sundays. Free; donations welcome. ~12 mi~ 7226 Miami Avenue, Madeira, OH 45243 <madeirahs.org>
✑ Cincinnati reportedly has the most Sears kit houses anywhere in the U.S. The kits included doors, windows, flooring, roofing, hardware, and enough paint to cover two coats. Electric, plumbing, and heating fixtures were available as add-ons. <cincinnati.com/picture-gallery/news/2024/09/28/sears-kit-homes-in-cincinnati/75188693007> and <chicagobungalow.org/post/before-clicks-there-were-catalogs-the-history-of-sears-mail-order-homes>.
The eighteenth-century Miller-Leuser Log House is one of the oldest houses in the area. According to a deed dated 1793, the first owner of the property was a Virginia officer who was granted 600 acres of land for his services in the Revolutionary War. In a second deed dated 1796, Ichabod Benton Miller bought 440 acres for $220.00. Skipping a few centuries, the final residents were Lawrence and Emma Leuser, who came as newlyweds in 1910 and lived there over 50-years. The Anderson Township Historical Society purchased the estate in 1971. Open on first and third Sundays from May through October and by appointment. ~10 mi~ 6550 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45230 <andersontownshiphistoricalsociety.org/log-house>
Known simply as Peterloon, this grand estate in Indian Hill (northeast Cincinnati) was once the home of Cincinnati real estate developer and arts patron John J. Emery, his wife Irene Langhorne Gibson (the daughter of artist Charles Dana Gibson), and their six children. The 4-story Georgian and Queen Anne style brick house was built in 1928–1930 to rival the finest houses of Europe and America. Tours by appointment only. ~16 mi~ 8605 Hopewell Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242 <peterloon.org>
Called the finest house in Clermont County when first built in 1865–1867, Promont House is notable for its fanciful Italianate architecture. It is primarily known as home to John M. Pattison from 1879 until his death in 1906 (a lawyer and politician, he served as 43rd Governor of Ohio in 1906). The Greater Milford Area Historical Society has sponsored Promont since 1983. They showcase period furnishings and rotating exhibits, along with a reference library and a gift shop. Tours are the first, third, and fifth Sundays each month. ~25 mi~ 906 Main Street, Milford, OH 45150 <milfordhistory.net/promont-museum>
The Ulysses S. Grant Birthplace is a small cottage in Point Pleasant, a quiet Ohio River hamlet. It was the first home of the first child of tanner Jesse Grant and his wife, Hannah. Christened “Hiram Ulysses Grant,” his name was mistakenly changed at West Point to Ulysses S. Grant. Open Wednesday through Sunday, April through September. ~25 mi~ 1551 Ohio 232, Moscow, OH 45153 <ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/u-s-grant-birthplace> Another interesting link: <ohio.org/travel-inspiration/articles/ohio-the-land-of-president-grant>
Learn about young Grant’s life by visiting the Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse. Grant lived in this home longer than any other during his lifetime—from 1823 when he was one year old, until 1839 when he left to attend West Point. The home, restored to its 1839 appearance, features a teenage Grant animatronic figure that “talks” about his early life. Open Wednesday through Sunday, May through October. HOME: ~42 mi~ 219 East Grant Avenue, Georgetown, OH 45121. SCHOOLHOUSE: ~0.3 mi from the home~ 508 South Water Street, Georgetown, OH 45121. <www.ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/u-s-grant-boyhood-home-schoolhouse>
✑ Grant was an American military officer and politician who served as 18th President of the U.S. from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General in the American Civil War, Grant led the Union Army to victory in 1865 and briefly served as U.S. Secretary of War.
Presidential Trivia. Ohio is nicknamed “The Mother of Presidents” because, as of 2024, eight of 45 Presidents were from Ohio. They are: William Henry Harrison (9th), Ulysses S. Grant (18th), Rutherford B. Hayes (19th), James A. Garfield (20th), Benjamin Harrison (23rd), William McKinley (25th), William Howard Taft (27th), and Warren B. Harding (29th). Of those eight, four were from Greater Cincinnati: William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, and William Howard Taft.
I hope you’ve found these snippets enlightening and perhaps discovered a site or two that you’d like to visit when you come to our 2025 NAME National Convention in August. Next time we’ll introduce you to our phenomenal local foods. Happy 2025!
Photo Credits:
The Village Green at Harmon Museum and Art Gallery from <wchsmuseum.org/harmonmuseum.html>.
The Painted Room of Spencer House from <ksbminiaturescollection.com>.
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force from <nationalmuseum.af.mil>.
The Great Serpent Mound, Loveland Castle & Museum and Promont House photos are used directly from en.wikipedia.org/wiki under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Contact: Ingrid Farnam-Koblish,
The Miniature Society of Cincinnati,
cincyminis@gmail.com. ◆