American Icons
Ohioans changed the world. Here is where you can revisit history and learn more about some of our most notable names.
Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Wapakoneta: This tribute to native son Neil Armstrong rises along I-75 like a futuristic moon base. The museum highlights Ohio’s role in aeronautics, but its focus is the first man to walk on the moon. Artifacts include the plane Armstrong learned to fly in as a teen, his Gemini 8 capsule and an Apollo 11 training spacesuit. 500 Apollo Dr., Wapakoneta 45895, 419/733-8811, armstrongmuseum.org
Artistic Expression
The National Annie Oakley Center, Greenville: Annie Oakley
John & Annie Glenn Home, New Concord: John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, was born in Cambridge, and his family moved to New Concord in 1923. Today, the home where he lived tells the story of Glenn and his wife, Annie, who also grew up in New Concord. Displays include artifacts from Glenn’s time in the military, space program and politics. 72 W. Main St., New Concord 43762, 740/825-3305, johnglennhome.org Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum, Milan: The man who brought the world the first commercially successful lightbulb, the phonograph and scores of other inventions got his start in the Erie County town of Milan. Today, the house he was born in reflects the time when his family lived there, and a home next door houses a small museum with some of Edison’s famous inventions. 9 Edison Dr., Milan 44846, 419/499-2135, tomedison.org Wright Brothers National Museum, Dayton: Located at Carillon Historical Park, this museum displays more Orville and Wilbur Wright artifacts than anywhere else. The highlight is the 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world’s first practical airplane. It is displayed in Wright Hall, which was built for the purpose.1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton 45409, 937/293-2841, daytonhistory.org
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Explore visual art, vintage finds, makers and more throughout the city of Akron’s downtown. Akron was built on tire production, but there is a lot of arts muscle covering the city’s industrial skeleton. The place that gave us Goodyear (the company is still headquartered here) also brought us rock ’n’ roll legends Devo and The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde as well as the platinum-selling bluesy rock duo The Black Keys. Creativity runs deep here, and you can sample it at these spots throughout downtown.
AKRON ART MUSEUM: The city’s art museum moved into downtown’s 1899 post office building in the early 1980s. A 2007 expansion tripled the museum’s size and remade the institution with a signature look and modern feel, thanks to a design by renowned Viennese architecture firm Coop Himmelblau. Inside, art lovers can browse a diverse collection that is focused on pieces from the 1850s to the present day. Special exhibitions are hosted throughout the year, and a garden added in 2016 offers a space for the public and art to meet. 1 S. High St., Akron 44308, 330/3769186, akronartmuseum.org
WRIGHT: COURTESY OF DAYTON HISTORY; ART MUSEUM: RACHAEL JIROUSEK
became famous for her sharpshooting talents as she shattered expectations of what a woman of her era could do. Today, the Greenville native’s legacy is preserved at the Garst Museum, which also has Oakley artifacts on display, including a collection of her guns and a traveling trunk with her name stenciled on the side. 205 N. Broadway St., Greenville 45331, 937/548-5250, garstmuseum.org
