Announcements

Artifacts from an ancient civilization come to the US for the first time

Maya: The Exhibition—open through January 3, 2021

Immerse yourself in the genius of the Maya—early disrupters living in cities of stone carved into the rainforest. By studying the stars they developed a calendar more accurate than any other in the world. Their discovery of the number zero opened the door for advanced mathematics. Rubber balls were essential to Maya sports centuries before the “discovery” of vulcanized rubber. And they introduced the world to chocolate. Theirs was a civilization of astronomers, mathematicians, inventors and gods.

For the first time in the United States, the mysteries of the Maya come to life. Through over 300 artifacts discover how the Maya live on today – in their inventions that continue to shape our daily lives and in the millions who carry on the Maya tradition in language and lineage.

Maya: The Exhibition is open through January 3, 2021 at Cincinnati Museum Center. Learn more at cincymuseum.org/maya.

New exhibits tell the story of Cincinnati’s geography and character

Permanent additions to Cincinnati Museum Center showcase depth of collections

Cincinnati Museum Center is adding two new additions to its Cincinnati History Museum. Shaping Our City showcases how transportation has spurred innovation through a selection of vehicles, maps, historic objects and interactive elements. As much as transportation has provided access, it has also impaired access. One of the questions the new gallery examines is how Cincinnati’s urban design has both connected and divided the city and its people.

You Are Here shares the stories of Cincinnati’s people—its people, places, traditions and struggles—that spark curiosity about how life in the city was, is and can be. The gallery is centered around three themes: Living Here, Working Here and Playing Here. Through home videos, guest-submitted photos and items from Cincinnati Museum Center’s collections, the gallery explores Cincinnati’s industries, sports, arts, food, schools and more.

Both exhibits are open now and more information can be found at cincymuseum.org/historymuseum.

Blog offers inside look at collections and preservation

Off the Shelf

With millions of collection pieces at their fingertips, Cincinnati Museum Center’s curators have more stories to tell than can fit on the museum floor. Off the Shelf is a tour inside the stacks of Cincinnati Museum Center, a closer look at the tools and techniques of preservation and research.

Cincinnati Museum Center’s collections include Archaeology, Archives and Manuscripts, Ethnology, History Objects and Fine Art, Invertebrate Paleontology, Minerology, Moving Images and Sound Recordings, Photographs and Prints, Printed Works, Vertebrate Paleontology and Zoology. Join the curators as they pull items off the shelf and reveal the stories behind them.

Catch up with Off the Shelf at www.cincymuseum.org/blog.

The Filson Historical Society Announces Reopening Plan

The Filson Historical Society announces a tentative reopening plan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning July 1, staff will return to the building at no more than 50% capacity on any given day, in accordance to Kentucky’s “Healthy at Work” guidelines. Prior to this, staff have been working remotely and only entering the building on an as-needed basis.

Tentatively, beginning September 1, the Filson will open for research and rental space tours by appointment only. Filson members can schedule September research appointments on August 3, and the general public can schedule September appointments beginning on August 10. More information on how to make appointments will be released in advance of those dates.

Anyone entering the Filson during this phase will be required to wear a mask, complete the health check form, and follow all current protocol regarding sanitization. Staff will communicate these requirements, and any special requirements regarding handling of collections, when setting up the appointments.

All programming will continue to be held virtually through the end of the year. For a list of upcoming virtual events, please visit filsonhistorical.org/events.

The Filson anticipates resuming normal operations based on current protocols and recommendations from the CDC and the state of Kentucky on January 2, 2021. More information will be released in...