A Campaign for the American Sign Museum

ACAMPAIGNFORTHEAMERICANSIGNMUSEUM

Phase I

STAFF OFFICES COLLECTIONS AREA EVENT BAR

STAFF OFFICES

With the growth of the museum comes the need for additional human capital – staff and a board. A comprehensive approach to staff growth, retention, and succession planning with a focus on compensation, benefits, and professional development has been implemented. A program for recruiting, training, and retaining staff and an expanded Board of Trustees will allow for a new structure to guide the museum’s initiatives and oversee its growth

A development director and facility rental manager were added in 2021, an operations assistant and part-time guest services staff were added in 2022, and the curator of collections & programming, a newly created position, events assistant, and chief financial officer were hired in 2023.

In February 2023, the museum elected eight new Trustees to the board

Upon completion of the expansion, the museum will hire the equivalent of an additional five fulltime employees to manage the new event space, educational programs, and increased visitor traffic

COLLECTIONS AREA

The Collections Area will provide the public with the opportunity to witness the preservation and restoration of signs in progress Conservation methods for appropriate treatment of historic signs, setting baseline preservation standards, and educating the industry on best practices will strengthen the historic fabric of the signmaking art form and urban vitality of neighborhoods

EVENTS BAR

The American Sign Museum is a leading economic driver in the Camp Washington neighborhood and attracts more than 60,000 visitors while hosting more than 120 events annually

Increased square footage plus new relationships with the Cincinnati and Northen Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureaus’ will allow the ASM to offer an open space to accommodate large conferences, events, and weddings in a unique environment.

The museum generates 77% earned income through facility rentals, admissions, and merchandise. With the expansion, the museum will be able to accommodate larger events, resulting in a significant increase in event rental income Additionally, the expanded exhibition space will include temporary exhibitions, encouraging repeat visitors resulting in increased admissions, gift shop sales and memberships. Following the completion of the expansion, museum leadership expects to maintain or increase its earned income ratio allowing for the sustainability of the organization.

EVENTS BAR

With the growth of the Museum comes the need for additional human capital – staff and a board. A The events bar features the original bar from the Mad Frog, a decades-old Mount Auburn music venue. The original Mad Frog sign, viewed on the East McMillian exterior, and original bar were rescued by the Sign Museum prior to its demolition in October 2022.

For over two decades, the bar and nightclub hosted local and regional artists performing live music across a variety of genres, including indie, jam, electronica, Americana, rock, metal, hip hop and punk, serving as a steppingstone for many local bands.

Prior to the Mad Frog opening in 1996, the spot was known as Cory's, a historic bar and jazz club credited with reviving Cincinnati's blues scene in the early '80s and hosted acts like Pigmeat Jarrett, Big Ed Thompson and H-Bomb Ferguson.

Phase IA

CINCINNATI SIGN GARDEN

Signs along the Monmouth Avenue exterior of the building were removed in 2019 to stabilize the brick wall and make way for a new steel grid. Dubbed the “Cincinnati Sign Garden” using the iconic “Cincinnati Gardens” letters, the new grid features signs from local businesses, new landscaping, improved lighting for safety, and the addition of murals to be designed and painted by local artist.

This enhancement project is supported by the Camp Washington Business Association and assists in their efforts to make the camp neighborhood a safer and more vibrant community.

HOLIDAY INN GREAT SIGN

The American Sign Museum completed restoration of the iconic 1950’s Holiday Inn sign. Known as the Great Sign, it symbolized the American road trip. The museum’s Great Sign is likely the only remaining authentic, full-sized exterior sign. Replicas of this classic sign can be found at the Henry Ford Museum and the Pink Palace in Memphis, but no others are known to exist. The restoration included a complete recreation of the starburst topper section. The new topper will allow guests to experience how the sign was meant to be seen and continue the museum’s efforts in preserving the rich history of American signage.

The museum acquired the Great Sign in 2002 from the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) of Las Vegas. Plans for the star section were developed based on designs made by Cummings & Co, the original manufacturer of the Great Sign. Allen Industries, Inc. of Toledo, Ohio created the metal base and star frame. Neonworks of Cincinnati created the neon tubing and wired the new section. Finally, Atlantic Sign Company installed the completed section.

LIBRARY & RESOURCE CENTER

In keeping with the mission of the museum, the library and resource center will support the preservation, restoration, science, and design of signs. It will house materials that otherwise would have been lost to time, ensuring future generations have access to valuable information and artifacts for scholarly research, education and learning, cultural understanding, and inspiration.

The museum’s historic archives, along with the digital intellectual property acquired from FASI in 2019, position the ASM to become the national thought-leader in the conservation, preservation, and history of signs.

CINCINNATI SIGN GARDEN

LIBRARY & RESOURCE CENTER

Thank you for your generosity and support. Your belief in the ASM’s mission lights our passion and commitment to making the American Sign Museum an even more remarkable institution!