American Sign Museum Expansion Opens

The American Sign Museum (ASM, Cincinnati) is holding a grand opening of a 20,000-sq.-ft. expansion on July 13 with programs and activities throughout the weekend, according to a press release.

Highlights of the expansion include the following:

• Ioka Theatre marquee – The Ioka Theater, a landmark in Exeter, NH, opened in 1915. The only marquee in the ASM’s collection, the sign will mark a new theater space in the museum, which will be used to screen videos about the collection as well as for meetings and events.
• The Ward’s Butter Bread sign – During demolition of a Chicago building, the original façade – hidden for more than 70 years – featuring three hand-painted advertisements was discovered. Protected from the elements, the signs were in good condition with the Ward’s Butter Bread one found to be the work of Jack Briggs, founder of Beverly Sign Co., which inspired the sign industry in the 1950’s and ’60s.
• Johnny’s Big Red Grill – Tallest sign in the new wing at 21.5 ft., from Ithaca, NY.
• G & J Tire – Oldest sign in new wing, circa 1927, from Buffalo, NY.

Lobby of the replica Ioka Theater

Some 36 sign painters from across the US and Canada created the hand-painted signs in the expanded Main Street. To see our photo gallery of the sign artists at work, click here.

A new photo gallery of the re-opened expansion is coming soon!

The museum will hold a ribbon cutting on Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m. for the grand opening, along with a VIP party. Ribbon-cutting attendees include Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval; David Dupee, ASM director; Tod Swormstedt, ASM founder and curator.

For more information, visit americansignmuseum.org.