Highland County’s Music Makers Museum named official location on America 250-Ohio Creativity Trail

In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, Music Makers Museum announced it has partnered with the America 250-Ohio Commission to be an official stop on its new Ohio Creativity Trail.

Music Makers Museum is located east of Hillsboro on U.S. Route 50 and is the only Highland County site listed on the Creativity Trail.

This experiential driving trail of 108 sites across Ohio showcases Ohio’s past and present writers, musicians, artists and other creatives who have significantly contributed to artistic expression.

The Ohio Creativity Trail was officially launched on Feb. 7 in Toledo. It is the second of six planned experiential trails for America 250-Ohio’s signature Trails & Tales program. The Ohio Creativity Trail sites are grouped into six categories: On the Page, Music, Visual Arts, Glass & Pottery, Folk & Traditional Art and Carousels.

The Music Makers Museum chronicles how Americans have enjoyed recorded music. It charts the development of the recording industry, starting with Ohioan Thomas Edison’s hand-cranked phonographs and continuing through to the modern iPod. Among the museum’s many stories, it spotlights early Ohio influences to blues, jazz, funk, country and other music genres.

The Museum features over 50 playable phonographs and various recording media showcasing overlooked early recording artists. It captures “the Soul of Early Recorded Music” and developments that influence how we listen to music today. The interactive, family-friendly exhibition “How’d We Get Here?” invites visitors to immerse themselves in early music-listening experiences. The Music Makers Museum is open to visitors by appointment.

“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with America-250 Ohio to promote Ohio’s music history and other creative aspects of Ohio life,” said Charlotte Pack, Curator of Music Makers Museum. “By working together, we can bring to light and showcase the hidden gems in our state so that we can discover the hidden treasures of creativity among us.”

“It’s no secret that Ohioans leave their mark on the world, whether in the form of paint on a canvas, words on a page, or new artistic ways to express thoughts and ideas,” said Todd Kleismit, Executive Director, America 250-Ohio. “In partnership with Music Makers Museum, we’re showcasing their great work, as well as other talented artists across Ohio to generate excitement for our state’s significant contributions to the cultural fabric of America. We look forward to celebrating with Music Makers Museum throughout 2025 and 2026.”

“This designation is a wonderful recognition of Highland County’s rich musical heritage and creative spirit. We are thrilled to see Music Makers Museum earn a spot on Ohio’s Creativity Trail,” said Jamie Wheeler, Executive Director of the Visitors Bureau of Highland County. “While visiting the museum, we invite travelers to explore all that Highland County has to offer — whether it’s enjoying our scenic parks and trails, discovering local shops, eating at our restaurants or experiencing our events. There’s something here for everyone to enjoy.”

For more information on the Music Makers Museum, visit https://www.musicmakersmuseum.com. To learn more about the America 250-Ohio Trails & Tales Program, and the Ohio Creativity Trail, visit https://america250-ohio.org/trails-and-tales/.

About America 250-Ohio:In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semi quincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semi quincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future”— Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.

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