American Sign Museum
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The American Sign Museum offers a highly unique and colorful walk through the history of American signage, displayed within an immersive indoor 'old city street' or '1960s Main Street' setting. It features a diverse collection of historical signs, some allowing a view into their inner workings, and aims to tell the story of how signs started. Its artistic and historical value is often praised for its distinct appeal.
Key Highlights
- ✓Unique and wide variety of historical signs, some with visible inner workings.
- ✓Immersive and high-quality 'old city street' or '1960s Main Street' display indoors.
- ✓Well-told historical narrative about the origins and evolution of signs.
- ✓Enthusiastic and welcoming staff create a positive atmosphere.
Standout Features
- ⭐Highly immersive display featuring 'store fronts and lights on Main Street' that brings the signs to life.
- ⭐Knowledgeable and welcoming staff contribute to an enjoyable experience.
- ⭐Plenty and easy parking available, reducing arrival stress for families.
- ⭐Gift shop offers 'cool miniature sign replicas' (though actual neon signs are not available).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Be prepared for a potentially short visit, ranging from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on your engagement level.
- →If sensitive to crowds or loud noises, consider visiting during off-peak times to potentially avoid the 'very crowded' and 'rambunctious' environment.
- →Manage expectations for the gift shop; it sells miniature replicas but not full-size or mini plug-in neon signs.
- →If planning to take a guided tour, be aware that it might involve a loud presenter and a crowded group, which could be overwhelming for some children.
Things to Consider
- ⚠The museum is described as 'pretty small,' with some visitors completing it in as little as 10 minutes, despite others taking up to an hour.
- ⚠Can become 'very crowded,' leading to 'sensory overload' and 'rambunctious crowd of gawkers and rowdy kids.'
- ⚠The 'guided tour' was described as having a 'young lady with a shrieking voice who yelled into a microphone,' which contributed to the sensory overload.
- ⚠One reviewer found the collection 'crammed into the space' and needing to be spread out for better appreciation.
- ⚠The gift shop is perceived as 'lacking' by some, specifically not selling actual neon signs or miniature plug-in neon signs, only miniature sign replicas.
Price & Value
The ticket price is $20 per person. While some reviewers found it 'worth the price of admission' for its unique content, others felt it was overpriced, suggesting $10 would be a more 'reasonable ticket price' given its small size and short duration. There are no mentions of hidden costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations are mentioned in the reviews. However, descriptions of the space being 'crammed' and leading to 'sensory overload' suggest potential challenges for visitors with mobility impairments or sensory sensitivities, especially during crowded periods.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information available regarding food and drink policies from the provided reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Ample and easy parking is available in the area, making arrival convenient for families.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Can be 'very crowded,' leading to a 'rambunctious crowd of gawkers and rowdy kids,' especially impacting the guided tour experience.
- •The small size of the museum exacerbates the feeling of being crowded.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features or measures were mentioned in the provided reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families seeking a venue that will occupy children for several hours.
- • Families with children sensitive to loud environments, large crowds, or prone to sensory overload, especially during peak times.
- • If your primary goal for the gift shop is to purchase actual neon signs or unique themed merchandise.
- • If you expect a sprawling museum experience, as some reviewers describe it as 'pretty small' for its price point.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Self-guided tour (School & Youth Program)
$7 per student, $10 per adultIn-person groups. Minimum 10 children, maximum 60 children, with 1 adult per 10 children. During Museum's normal operating hours or Mon-Tues 9 am – 3 pm by inquiry.
Highlights tour/School Tours Program (in-person)
$7 per student, $10 per adultIn-person groups. Minimum 10 children, maximum 60 children, with 1 adult per 10 children. During Museum's normal operating hours or Mon-Tues 9 am – 3 pm by inquiry.
Virtual Programs (School & Youth Program)
$20 per sessionPrograms for schools and youth groups.
Maker Series: Paper Weaving (Workshop)
$55 for ASM members | $75 for non-membersDuration: 3 hours (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
Create a branded collage in this workshop.
Communicating with Signs (School & Youth Program)
See general program feesDuration: 90 minutes
Discussion on symbols and how businesses use them in signs, exploration of signs from late 1800s-1980s, creation of personal signs.
Marketing & Branding (School & Youth Program)
See general program feesDuration: 90 minutes
Discussion on how fonts, symbols, and colors build brand identity, exploration of popular brand evolution, development of a brand and marketing plan.
Financial Literacy I: Wants & Needs (School & Youth Program)
See general program feesDuration: 90 minutes
Discussion on wants and needs using signs, how businesses influence spending, practice identifying currency, 'shopping' on Main Street.
Financial Literacy II: Convenience vs. Quality vs. Price (School & Youth Program)
See general program feesDuration: 90 minutes
Discussion on convenience vs. quality vs. price in financial decisions using signs, weighing costs, 'shopping' on Main Street to plan a weekend day in budget.
Financial Literacy III: Inflation (School & Youth Program)
See general program feesDuration: 2 hours
Discussion on inflation using signs, causes and effects of inflation, creating a personal budget from 1963 to 2022 to see price changes.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Made in Camp
October 11, 2025
FREE
The annual neighborhood celebration returns! Explore the Camp Washington neighborhood and meet the artists and makers.
Sign Crafting Saturday
October 25, 2025; November 22, 2025
Not specified (Likely included with general admission or separate fee not listed)
Explore the skills needed to become an expert sign maker. Play with different materials each month as you learn about different elements of sign making.
Maker Series: Paper Weaving
November 8, 2025
$55 for ASM members | $75 for non-members
Create a branded collage in this workshop.
🍎Food Policy
- • Food and drinks are not permitted in the exhibition areas for the safety of the collection.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Visitors are welcome to: Take casual photos for personal use only; Use point and shoot cameras, cell phones, and tablets; Post images from their visits on personal social media sites as long as they are not used for profit.
- • Visitors may not: Bring a designated photographer to shoot portrait-style photography (unless pre-arranged with Kirk at kkeevert@americansignmuseum.org); Bring any camera equipment such as tripods, selfie sticks, and ring lights into the Museum; Distract or block other guests from enjoying the collection; Touch any of the signs or objects in the collection; Sell or publish images taken at the ASM. Stock photography and retail items containing images of the Museum’s collection are never permitted.
- • ASM staff have the authority to verify the intent of photography and enforce the policy. Non-compliance may result in denial of photography, request to leave, and forfeiture of admission fee.
- • Guests who may have difficulty with blinking or flashing lights will need to use discretion.
- • Certified service animals are welcome; non-certified animals must remain at home.
📅Booking Policy
- • Pre-purchasing eTickets is not required for general admission, but optional eTicket slots are provided for convenience.
- • Groups of 15+ are encouraged to reserve eTickets in advance.
- • No prior reservations required for public guided tours or neon demonstrations (neon demos are first-come-first-serve and space limited).
- • Group Visits (15+ paid visitors): Reservations required, can be arranged during normal hours or after depending on availability. Requesting additional programming (staff-led tour) requires an additional fee. Contact Alex at aanderson@americansignmuseum.org or call 513-701-2180.
- • Speaker Series sessions can be booked by emailing Erin at learn@americansignmuseum.org.
- • School/Youth Programming: Contact learn@americansignmuseum.org to book. Self-guided tours require at least one (1) week’s notice. Highlights tours/School Tours Programs require at least four (4) weeks’ notice. Payment for virtual programs is due one week prior to the program.
🚗Parking Information
- • Free parking lot at the first entrance on the right, through the black gate (1330 Monmouth Ave).
- • Street parking available on Monmouth Avenue.
- • Handicapped parking spaces are along the side of the building, closer to the side lobby entrance.
- • Buses and motor coaches must park on Monmouth Avenue, without blocking the entrance to Neonworks of Cincinnati.
- • Double check GPS address for 1330 Monmouth Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225 to avoid being directed to Kentucky.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Jordan Letner
a month agoA one of a kind museum that can be appreciated by all. Not only does it contain an abundance of signs of a wide variety, but the story of how signs started and their history is extremely well told. Worth the price of admission. Plenty of parking in the area. Museum can take around an hour or less to complete if you are taking in all of the exhibits. Cool gift shop selling miniature sign replicas as well. The outside of the building also has a lot of signs on display
Justin Ciminero
a month agoGreat info on signs throughout the history. Some signs allow you the ability to see inside to view the inner workings. Really nice museum layout, A+ on old city settings, really makes the signs come alive. If you're in the media or advertising business, this can be considered a pilgrimage. Easy parking. The museum takes about an hour. The only complaint is that the gift shop is lacking. They don't really sell any actual neon signs. It would've been great to get a mini neon plug-in sign advertising the museum.
Jeremy Clark
a month agoExcellent venue! The displays were all top notch and high quality. The "street" was unexpected but a brilliant way to display the signs indoors. We enjoyed our time and recommend anyone that enjoys history, signs, advertising, etc to stop by for a stroll down memory lane.
Nancee Desch
2 weeks agoThis is a super fun and colorful walk down Main St during the 1960's. There's lots to see and learn. The store fronts and lights on Main Street are exceptional. The staff is very enthusiastic and welcoming.
Arie Ross
2 months agoThis museum is pretty small. We saw the whole thing in 10 minutes and left. A reasonable ticket price would be $10, yet they charge $20. It was very crowded and the “guided tour” consisted of a young lady with a shrieking voice who yelled into a microphone to a rambunctious crowd of gawkers and rowdy kids. The collection is impressive but it’s just so overwhelming. Sensory overload for sure. I’m glad the signage is preserved but it’s so crammed into the space that they need to spread things out so it can be better appreciated. I can’t recommend that people go here with the price.