The Milan Museum offers visitors a day exploring historic buildings, beautiful grounds and engaging exhibits. The Gift Shop is a place to sit and relax with a cup of coffee and shop a selection of unique gifts and Milan souvenirs for everyone. Start your tour in the Welcome Center with the annual temporary exhibit before exploring the beautiful grounds and Four Seasons Sculpture Garden.
The Sayles History Galleries begin with the new Native American exhibit, features the 3,000 year old Adena pottery vessel, found close to the Museum grounds. Beyond lay 200 years of Milan history on display. From the first Europeans to the Moravian Missionary settlement, through the post-Revolutionary War pioneers, history awaits! Discover the history of the Milan Canal and shipbuilding industry, Civil War, WWI, WWII and the impact of Milan-born Thomas Alva Edison.
The dolls were a gift to the museum for Mildred Smith Coulton of Cleveland in 1955 when she was 85 years old. Mostly made in the 1800s they exemplify finely crafted English, German and French works. American-made exceptions are a leather head doll with painted features ca. 1790 and a Vermont Rockmaple-splint, square jointed doll made at Joel Ellis doll factory in 1873. Other are made of bisque, china, papier-mache, celluloid, tin, brass and poured wax. Mrs. Coulton named each member of her “family,” Beginning with her own personal dolls, Rosie, Fannie, Nellie, Bessie, Pearl, Fred and Black Bet.
The Galpin Glass Galleries display a timeline of glass beginning with ancient glass from the Roman Empire, early American Blown Glass and Pattern glass. The Art Glass Galleries are comprised of the Robert Mowry Collection with pieces from the American Art Glass Movement, European Art Glass Movement and the Modern Studio Glass Movement. Pieces on view include more than 1,500 works from Mt. Washington, Steuben, Tiffany, René Lalique, Johann Loetz, Thomas Webb & Sons, Dominic Labino, Charles Lotton and many more. The Contemporary Glass Gallery showcases pieces from Joel O’Dorisio and Dale Chihuly. The Folk and Decorative Arts Galleries showcase examples of early American Folk and Decorative Arts. Exhibits display excellent examples of arts in the Firelands; furniture, ceramics, paintings, textiles, sculptures and more.
Founded in 1968, The Edna Roe Newton Arts Building houses galleries filled with works from around the world. The building and collection of paintings, sculptures, glass, and decorative arts were the generous gift Bert Persing Newton. Mr. Newton has many ties to Milan, which is why he chose the Milan Museum to house his and his wife's extensive collection.
Experience the atmosphere of a real Blacksmith shop, where a horse awaits his shoes and the smithy tools of the trade are on view. Discover the machines used to make tools for farming, fire and other industries in the area.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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The historic Village of Milan is the birthplace of Thomas A. Edison and recognized by the National Trust as a Distinctive Destination. Visitors to The Milan Museum will learn a history rich in progress and creativity.
