Museum of Ceramics

At the Museum of Ceramics, learn about East Liverpool's heyday as a center of the ceramics industry from 1840 to 1930 and see a great collection of locally made wares.

Museum of Ceramics

400 East 5th Street, East Liverpool, OH, USA
Open Hours
Tuesday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

General visitation operating hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 - 3:30
The museum closes for the winter months of January, February, and March. Call 330-386-6001 for exact closing and opening dates.

Please note: Hours can change due to staffing and weather conditions. Before visiting, please check for the most up-to-date information at www.themuseumofceramics.com.

Ohio History Connection strives to meet ADA requirements. The Museum of Ceramics Foundation has installed a new elevator and accessible restroom to make the museum accessible to walking impared visitors. Please call the site with specific questions and concerns or visit www.themuseumofceramics.com for more information.
Adult - $6.00 Student - $3.00 OHC Member - $0.00 Children under 6 - $0.00 Active Military - $0.00

Visit

The Museum of Ceramics houses an extensive collection of the wares produced in East Liverpool, Ohio, and the 1909 U.S. Post Office that now houses the museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Explore exhibits that depict the growth and development of the ceramic industry from 1840 to 1930, the period during which the city’s potteries produced over half of the country’s ceramics output. Through skillful use of photographs, ceramics and other artifacts, the exhibits vividly portray the products and day-to-day life. The most comprehensive collection of Lotus Ware, produced in the 1890s by East Liverpool’s own Knowles, Taylor & Knowles, is also on exhibit. Additional displays on the social, political and economic history of East Liverpool explore the impact of industry on the community. Average visit time: Allow 90 minutes

History

East Liverpool, known as “America’s Crockery City,” was the center of the ceramic industry in America. From 1840 to 1930, East Liverpool’s potteries produced over half of the ceramics manufactured in the United States. At the turn of the 20th century, East Liverpool’s ceramics industry was vibrant and was as important to East Liverpool as the steel industry was to Pittsburgh.

Located in the former city post office, the museum is a great example of the adaptive use of old buildings. In 1970, the State of Ohio purchased the post office in anticipation of developing a museum. In 1980, the building was designated The Museum of Ceramics. Constructed entirely of fireproof materials, the Beaux Arts style building contains many interesting architectural features, including ornately decorated domed ceilings, solid oak trim and a beautiful marble and terrazzo floor. The lobby displays a 1930s mural by Youngstown artist Roland Schweinsburg of James Bennett’s first pottery in East Liverpool, established in 1839.

The Museum of Ceramics is locally managed by the Museum of Ceramics Foundation.

  • Audiences: Families, Specialists, Tourists, Community Groups & History Enthusiasts
  • Historical Topics: The Arts, Daily Life, Industry & Labor & Settlement & Statehood
  • Regions: Northeast Ohio
  • Site Activities: Self-Guided
  • Museum & Site Type: Ohio History Connection Site

Upcoming Events at the Museum of Ceramics