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Brush Your Way Through the Toledo Museum of Art

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Art lovers who visit Ohio who want to stop at the Toledo Museum of Art. This museum houses over 35,000 pieces of art from across the United States that are displayed in approximately 35 galleries. It was started in 1901, and has been very popular since its inception not only for its quality art collection but also for its free admission. Besides the standard collection that visitors can see anytime of the year, the facility also rotates out several temporary exhibitions on various subjects. This museum is also one of the most visited ones in the country, with a yearly attendance of more than 470,000 people.

Besides housing pieces of art, the museum also brings visitors into the experience with guided tours given by trained docents, after school programs and glass demonstrations that make art come alive for the general public. On Fridays, parents can bring their children in for various activities that make for an evening of fun and quality time together.

It also features an outdoor Sculpture Garden along with the recently finished Glass Pavilion. The works on display are done by some of the most talented and creative artists in history, including: Matisse, Monet, Van Gogh, El Greco, Holbein and Rubens. There are also pieces from ancient times, Asia and you can stroll through their incredible collection of glass pieces.

The admission is free to the general collection, there may be a fee to attend any special exhibitions. Parking is five dollars, but you can park for free by becoming a member of the museum or by spending a certain amount in the gift shop. It is open from 10 to 4 Tuesday through Thursday, 10 to 10 on Friday, 10 to 6 on Saturday and 12 to 6 on Sunday. The Toledo Museum of Art is well worth a day’s visit, where you can stroll through the endless galleries and enjoy a beautiful art.

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: Toledo Museum of Art

Ohio’s Paradox of Slavery

The state of Ohio presents an interesting paradox when it comes to considering the historical question of slavery. Ohio was ahead of its time when it outlawed slavery in its first constitution drafted in 1803. Though African-Americans in the state lived under a legal form of freedom, the same legal system also denied them the basic rights of other residents of the state. For example, they were not allowed to testify in court if a white person was on trial for a crime, they could not send their children to publicly funded schools and they could receive no financial support from state poor houses. They were also not allowed to be a member of the state’s militia or to have the basic right to vote. Though they had left slavery behind in the South, they were still bound by the shackles of racism.

This legal flip-flop of freedom was coupled with racist pressures within white society. Many whites had a strong fear that African-Americans coming into the state would take away employment opportunities for whites. They actively pushed to keep them out of the state altogether. On the flipside, there were many whites who went in the opposite direction. They were supportive of African-Americans, especially during the period of the Civil War when slaves were fleeing north on the Underground Railroad. They risked their lives and being arrested to help funnel these travelers to freedom.

Despite the racism and efforts of narrowminded whites, African-Americans still continued to cross Ohio’s borders to find conditions that were remarkably better than those found down south. Their iron determination to start a new life and achieve freedom overcame these obstacles, though it took another century of strife to get the total freedom that they desired. This goal was achieved during the Civil Rights Movement, that eventually got the strength needed to make legal freedom a reality.

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: African American, Civil Rights Movement, Slavery, Underground Railroad

Finding History: The National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center

Stepping back into Ohio’s history is easily done when you visit the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center located in Dayton, Ohio. The museum offers a broad range of programming for both adults and children that brings to life the fascinating story of African Americans in the state. There are museums displays that take you from the early days when African-Americans first entered the state into the 20th century and beyond through the turbulent years of the Civil Rights Movement.

For example, the display titled “From Victory to Freedom: Afro-American Life in the Fifties,” takes you through the period from 1945 to 1965. Starting with the end of the war, you will take a walk through this time by looking at actual items from the period, photos and three-dimensional settings. This includes a fifties barbershop and the interior of a church. The scenery comes to life with recordings of music and the voices of those who lived through this period. You can also get an inside look at African-Americans’ contribution to the history of music by watching a short film titled “Music As a Metaphor.”

The museum is also home to traveling and temporary exhibitions that feature a singular topic. Teachers can also bring their classes to the museum to take part in various educational programs. Presented by the museum staff, these programs take children into their state’s history by presenting it on a level that they can understand. Programs are geared for different age groups. Schools can contact the museum for further information and to schedule a class visit.

The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center is a destination that should be high on your list the next time you visit Ohio. It will change how you see the state’s history and provides education to the general public through enjoyable and engaging presentations. They also help to keep the contributions of African-Americans to the state from being forgotten.

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: African American, Museum, Ohio, United States

Delving into The Cleveland Museum of Natural History

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is one of the best of its kind in the country, and is a one-stop source of learning and entertainment for visitors. Started in 1920, the museum has grown over the decades and now has a current focus on presenting research in science, education and conservation of the natural world. It also offers over 140 educational programs for the approximately 80,000 students that visit the museum each year. Visitors can peruse a variety of permanent exhibitions and look over the vast collection of natural history artifacts that are housed here.

For example, the museum holds over 5 million specimens and items within its collections. Visitors can stop to see Lucy, which is a cast made a 3.2 million-year-old skeleton of a human being. Children will go crazy for the life-size replicas of dinosaurs from the past, including a Tyrannosaurus rex. For a more recent exhibition, museum goers can stroll through the Perkins Wildlife Center and Woods Garden. This area showcases plant life and animals that are native to the state of Ohio.

Behind the scenes, museum curators conduct research into the following areas: physical anthropology, archaeology, botany, zoology and paleontology. Other museum staff help visitors travel to the stars in the Shafran Planetarium. They can also look at a telescope that was constructed in 1899 in the Meuller Observatory. Rockhounds can find over 1,500 kinds of minerals and gemstones that are located in the Wade Gallery.

For those who like something different, the museum regularly hosts special events that give visitors a different twist on a familiar topic. For example, there will be upcoming events on the natural history of chocolate and a variety of hands-on activities for all ages on Astronomy Day. Regardless of your interests, you will be able to find something to catch your fancy at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Museum, Ohio

Reconnecting with Ohio’s Canals

Normally, when you think of Ohio, the first thing that comes to mind is agriculture, which was one of the primary industries in the state’s early history. But something that you might not consider is how important the construction of canals were to the state early on. In 1820, Ohio’s population was bursting at the seams with over 580,000 people in the state’s boundaries. One of the biggest problems they faced was minimal ways to travel and transport goods in and out of Ohio.

Individuals could travel over The National Road that ran from Cumberland all the way to Wheeling, but were in for an expensive trip. The other option was to travel over the Ohio- Mississippi River passage, but the risks were great and the trip too lengthy. The answer to the state’s prayers came in the form of a canal that was being built to bring Lake Erie, the Hudson River and New York City together. It would offer a safer, more efficient and cheaper way to travel and ship goods. Other canals that were constructed around the area had their heyday until 1855, when they ran approximately 1,000 miles.

Their high tide was brought to an end by the advancement of the railroad into the West, which made traveling over land cheaper and faster. The canals are no longer bringing in the profit and had become too expensive to maintain. Much of the land and water way that had once been used for transport was sold to private investors. Many of them suffered major damage during the flooding that occurred in 1913 due to excessive snow. In current times, the remnants of the canals that are left are being restored and protected. Current efforts are being made to transform the canals to serve a new purpose as recreational areas for the state and its visitors. This helps to keep alive their importance in Ohio’s early history.

Filed Under: News, Sports Tagged With: Canal, Lake Erie, New York City, Ohio

Running the Bases: The Story Behind the Cleveland Browns

When you think of a football team with a winning past, you will often hear the name of the Cowboys or the Bears. The Cleveland Browns are another team to have an interesting past history in professional football. Started in 1945 by Arthur B. McBride and Robert H. Gries, the team was to make a splash in the next four decades. The Browns were able to nab a total of eight league championships and won their way into 21 playoffs. The team also garnered 18 division titles.

Starting off in 1946, the Browns played in the American Football League under the tutelage of coach Paul E. Brown. He would stay as the head coach until 1962, not only giving the team a long period of quality coaching but also his name. For the four years that it was a member, the team won the league championship each year. It then went on to stellar performance in the National Football League, taking the championship in the first year it joined.

The team changed hands in 1953, when Sol Silberman purchased Arthur McBride’s share of the team. Robert Gries remained as owner of the other half. The Browns repeated their success by winning the 1954 and 1955 championship. Their success turned sour in 1956 when many of their players, such as Otto Graham at quarterback, retired from professional football. There was a bright spot in this losing season, as a new rookie was brought onto the team. In the draft, Jim Brown joined their ranks and would later become a phenomenal running back.

The period from the early sixties into the nineties had periods of unrest and winning. They took the 1964 championship, but wouldn’t see this level of winning again for quite a while. They continued to be successful on the field but were able to reclaim their former glory in the championship ring until 2002 when they return to the playoffs.

Filed Under: News, Sports Tagged With: Cleveland Browns, National Football League, Otto Graham

A Famous Ohio Native Who Reached the Stars

Ohio has been home to a variety of famous individuals, from sports to those who have soared into the stars. One of the state’s native sons is Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. His birth occurred on August 3, 1930 outside of Wapakoneta, Ohio. He found an early interest in flight and airplanes starting at age two when his father took him to the Cleveland National Air Races. This early visit spawned a lifelong love of soaring in the sky and he spent his childhood constructing plane models and even building his own wind tunnel.

He finally got his chance at the age of 15, when he started taking flying lessons. He completed his training by age 16 and earned a student pilot license. Neil Armstrong continued his education through a United States Navy scholarship and attended Purdue University, pursuing an aeronautical engineering degree. The Navy called him to war in 1949 where he flew 78 missions in the Korean War and received three medals for his efforts. He finally graduated in 1952 from Purdue and received a masters degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Southern California. He spent part of his time after school working at the NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratories in Cleveland.

His subsequent career as a test pilot and engineer led him into destiny when he entered the space program in 1962. His first job with NASA was as a backup command pilot for the Gemini 8 crew. His exemplary service with NASA led to him being chosen for the historic flight into space in 1969 when he and Buzz Armstrong took man to the moon for the first time. Neil Armstrong, one of Ohio’s native sons, is an excellent example of how determination and hard work can help you achieve extraordinary things.

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: NASA, Neil Armstrong, Purdue University

Traveling and Learning about the Nation’s First Ladies

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 02: First lady Michelle...

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First Ladies National Historic Site located in Canton, Ohio serves to preserve the memory and contributions of the many first ladies throughout our country’s history. The two main structures on the property are the Victorian Ida Saxton House and the City National Bank Building.

When you arrive, the first place to stop is the Education and Research Center located in the City National Bank Building. The structure was erected in 1895, and within its walls are housed a number of exhibits. You can also watch the park film in the Victorian era theater that can seat up to 91 people. The bank also houses a research library, which can be used if you contact the park and schedule an appointment.

Next stop on your visit should be the Ida Saxton House, which was originally constructed in 1841. Ida Saxton McKinley was the wife of president William McKinley. The home had some changes made in 1865, but has currently been restored to its Victorian era appearance. You can take a walk through the home led by staff in period costume who will help you understand the history of the home and the many exhibits throughout it. The items you will see include artifacts from past first ladies that show the crucial part they played in the White House. You will see some of the dresses so that they have worn, personal effects and place settings from the White House.

The park also has special exhibits and events that focus on various first ladies that occur throughout the year. If you plan to take a tour of the home or bank building, the Park Service suggests you arrive at a minimum of 10 minutes early. There are no tours offered on Mondays, but are offered weekly Tuesday through Saturday. First Ladies National Historic Site is a fascinating walk through history and your family will enjoy the time spent there.

Filed Under: Entertainment, News, Travel Tagged With: Victorian era, White House, William McKinley

Ancient Builders in Ohio History

Ohio has a history that stretches back to ancient times, all the way to 200 B.C. You can see some of their structures at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park located in Chillcothe, Ohio. Here, ancient builders constructed mounds of various shapes to use in ceremonies that were part of their culture. They were originally built in the time period between 200 B.C. and 500 A.D. The cultures that built these mounds were a dynamic people that were active spiritually, economically and were very active in trade. They had a strong trade relationship with their neighbors, garnering items such as shark teeth, copper and obsidian rock. The various cultures along this trade routes are highlighted at Hopewell.

You can begin your visit to the park by watching a short film and then stroll through the museum. In here, you will be able to see many of the artifacts that were found during excavations near the mounds. Park rangers also conduct interpretive talks and guided tours, which are offered during the summer season. You will need to make arrangements with the park to get involved in these activities.

When you get outside, you can guide yourself through the trail that winds among the mounds. There are numerous signs along the way that explain the history of the area and give details about the culture along with how they constructed these massive earthworks. For those with a more adventurous spirit, you can take a 14 mile long bike trail, called the Tri-county Triangle Trail, which is paved. The park also hosts special events, such as Hopewell Discovery Day. During this event, families can see demonstrations of flintknapping and take guided tours of the mounds. For a bit of ancient history and a wonderful day out, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is the perfect place for you and your family to go.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Ancient history, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Ohio, United States

The Inside Story on William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft National Historic Site found in Cincinnati, Ohio shows the life he lived before he entered the White House as the President of the United States and a justice of the Supreme Court. Taft spent the major portion of his early life in this home, from his birth all the way up to 1857 when his political career took him to new places. This environment and his family played a crucial part in shaping who he became and his personal philosophy that he took with him when he entered politics.

Visitors coming to the park can take a ranger led tour through the home, seeing numerous exhibits. They will learn the history of the home, its inhabitants and Taft’s contributions to our nation’s history. Staff in period costume give talks on the histroy at the time, including family traditions and various personal items they used on a daily basis.

Special events are also offered, with candle light tours being done from late Novemebter through the second of Janurary. The Taft home is decorated for the holidays, Victorian style, and visitors can partake of holiday snacks. They will also get to learn how the Taft family celebrated the holidays. This event is free for the general public to take part in, giving your family a special treat during the holiday season. You can also take part in the New Year’s Day Open House.

The park is open year-round from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. daily. If you would like to take a guided tour, they are given on a rotation of every 30 minutes throughout the day. The last one to go out is at 3:30 in the afternoon. William Howard Taft National Historic Site is a pleasant walk through the history of one of our greatest presidents and is well worth the stop.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: President of the United States, United States, White House, William Howard Taft