Trying to think of something fun to do while still being socially distanced? Consider a short drive to a museum or place of interest. Here is our list of places located within a two-hour drive of Cincinnati; Northern Kentucky; Dayton and Springfield, Ohio; and Southeastern Indiana. Before heading out, be sure to check with the venue’s hours and if a reservation is necessary.

Alexandria, Kentucky
Campbell County Log Cabin Museum – reconstructed log cabins on display

Aurora, Indiana
Hillforest Victorian House Museum – 1955 residence to tour

Cincinnati, Ohio
American Sign Museum –  see over 100 years of all kinds of signs
CIncinnati Art Museum – 60,000+ pieces of art from 6,000 years
Cincinnati Fire Museum – learn about Cincinnati’s firefighting history
Cincinnati Observatory – gaze at the sky and stars
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum – interactive exhibits, memorabilia and artifacts
Cincinnati Skirball Museum – Jewish artifacts at Hebrew Union College
Contemporary Arts Center – view all kinds of contemporary art
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal – 3 museums and an Omnimax theater
Duke Energy Children’s Museum at the Union Terminal – hands-on education through exhibits and interaction
German Heritage Museum – learn about Cincinnati’s German history
Harriet Beecher Stowe House – learn about the life of HBS and her book: Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Museum of Natural History & Science at Union Terminal – interactive exhibits and artifacts
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – exhibits and interactive experiences about the struggles for freedom
Taft Museum of Art – visit this historic home and view European and American masterworks
William Howard Taft National Historic Site – learn about President William Howard Taft at his Greek Revival home

Batavia, Ohio
Tri-State Warbird Museum – historic aviation museum

Burlington, Kentucky
Dinsmore Homestead – view the main house, outbuildings and graveyard of the Dinsmore family

Cleves, Ohio
Harrison-Symmes Memorial Foundation Museum – visit the tomb of President William Henry Harrison; the museum features historical artifacts

Clifton, Ohio
Clifton Mill – historic grist mill in a beautiful setting

Columbus, Ohio
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum – largest world collection of comicsCenter of  Science and Industry (COSI) – science in a very fun way!
Central Ohio Fire Museum – learn about firefighting
Columbus Museum of Art – free admission on Sundays
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens – 400 plant species
Jack Nicklaus Museum – “fore” golf enthusiasts
National Veterans Memorial and Museum – learn about combat from the perspective of a war veteran
Ohio Craft Museum – all kinds of arts showcased
Ohio History Center/Ohio Village – learn about Ohio
Orton Geological Museum – see dinosaur relics
Wagner-Hagans Auto Museum – all kinds of cars

Covington, Kentucky
The Carnegie – art gallery exhibits 
Behringer-Crawford Museum – learn about regional Northern Kentucky history

Dayton, Kentucky
Dayton Heritage Museum – learn about the history of Dayton, Kentucky

Dayton, Ohio
America’s Packard Museum – dedicated to the Packard Motor Car Company
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery – science learning experiences
British Transport Museum – look at British cars
Carillon Historical Park – learn all about Dayton’s history
Dayton Art Institute – an impressive art collection
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park – learn all about the Wright Brothers from their bicycle shop
Dayton International Peace Museum – learn about strategies Dayton has used to achieve peace
The Contemporary Dayton – view contemporary art
Paul Laurence Dunbar House – a restored home of the poet and writer
International Peace Museum – learn about local, national and international peace
Miami Valley Military History Museum – learn about our Armed Forces’ veterans
National Museum of the US Air Force – world’s largest military aviation museum
Patterson Homestead –  John Patterson founded National Cash Register – learn about the family
SunWatch Indian Village – 13th century American Indian village along the Great Miami River

Florence, Kentucky
Big Bone Lick State Park Museum – learn about ice-age mammals and Native American history

Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Ft. Thomas Military and Community Museum – learn about the Civil War Battery Hooper defensive position

Fort Wright, Kentucky
James A. Ramage Civil War Museum – learn about the war and the defense of the North

Georgetown, Ohio
Ulysses S. Grant Home and Schoolhouse – learn about General and President Grant’s life

Germantown, Ohio
Veterans Memorial Museum – learn about the U.S. Military

Greenville, Ohio
Garst Museum – 300,000 American artifacts on display + Annie Oakley Center

Hamilton, Ohio
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park  – indoor and outdoor exhibits (300 acres and 60 sculptures)  

Indianapolis, Indiana
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site – collections and exhibits to the U.S. President and General in the Civil War
Children’s Museum  – largest children’s museum in the world to explore science, history and arts 
Conner Prairie – interactive history museum (Fishers, Indiana – north of Indianapolis) 
Eiteljorg Museum – American Indian and Western art museum
Indiana Historical Society – learn about Indiana’s history with exhibits and collections
Indiana World War Memorial & Museum – 5-block memorial site – learn about U.S. military history
Indiana State Museum – learn all about the state’s past and future                
Indianapolis Zoo – visit the outdoor and indoor animal exhibits
Madame Walker Theatre – building tour about the Black experience in Indianapolis and CJ Walker’s legacy as the first self-made female millionaire
Newfields – museum of nature and the arts

Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Dearborn County Historical Society & Museum – learn local history, tour an 1819 log cabin

Lebanon, Ohio
Glendower Historic Mansion and Harmon Museum – step back into time in these homes

Lexington, Kentucky
Ashland – The Henry Clay Estate – National Historic Landmark with 18-room mansion and gardens
The Aviation Museum of Kentucky –  earn about aviation
Bluegrass Distillers – tour and tasting of Kentucky bourbon
Explorium of Lexington – children’s museum to learn and explore
Headley-Whitney Museum – museum filled with fine and decorative arts
James E. Pepper Distillery – learn about the distillery that includes a tasting
Kentucky Horse Park – tour several barns and museums
Lexington History Museum – learn all about Lexington at the pocket museums
Mary Todd Lincoln House – learn about the wife of Abraham Lincoln
University of Kentucky Art Museum – view 4,800+ pieces of art
Waveland State Historic Site – Antebellum house with original outbuildings

Louisville, Kentucky
Conrad-Caldwell House Museum – learn about the Gilded Age at this Victorian mansion 
Kentucky Derby Museum – interactive exhibits and walking tour at the racetrack
Louisville Mega Cavern – zip lines, tram tours and walking tours – all in a large cavern
Muhammad Ali Center Museum – interactive exhibits, images and artifacts 
Slugger Museum/Factory – guided factory tours and a museum dedicated to baseball
The Speed Art Museum – worldwide collections of art 
The Waverly Hills Sanatorium – tours and paranormal investigations
The Zoo Louisville – inside and outside animal exhibits

Madison, Indiana
Lanier Mansion State Historic Site – view the historic home located along the Ohio River
Madison Railroad Station Museum – local history museum
Schroeder Saddletree Factory Museum – learn about how saddles were made; by appointment only

Maysville, Kentucky
Rosemary Clooney House Museum – find costumes, photos and other memorabilia at her former home
National Underground Railroad Museum – Bierbower Home was a safe house for the underground railroad
Kentucky Gateway Museum Center – exhibits and collections all about Maysville and Kentucky

Metamora, Indiana
Metamora Horse-Drawn Canal Boat – visit the grist mill and Whitewater canal

Miamisburg, Ohio
Mound Science & Energy Museum – learn about energy and nuclear power

Moores Hill, Indiana
Carnegie Hall – museum is open by appointment

Newport, Kentucky
Newport Aquarium – discover the underwater world with all kinds of creatures
World Peace Bell Center – world’s largest free-swinging bell

Oregonia, Ohio
Fort Ancient – learn about Ohio’s prehistoric past at N. America’s largest ancient hilltop enclosure

Oxford, Ohio
Miami University Art Museum – 10,000 objects of art 

Petersburg, Kentucky
Creation Museum – Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden

Ripley, Ohio
John Rankin House – learn about the Underground Railroad stations in Ohio

Rising Sun, Indiana
Ohio County Historical Museum – 1800–1900s historical collection of Ohio County items

Springfield, Ohio
Daniel Hertzler House – pre-Civil War home showcasing 19th century living
The Gammon House – Underground Railroad site
Hartman Rock Garden – admire Ben Hartman’s outdoor rock garden with 250,000+ stones
Heritage Center of Clark County – home to the Historical Society museum; learn about early settlements and growth of the area
Pennsylvania House Museum – former 19th century inn features furniture and artifacts from the 1800s and admire a 100,000 button collection
Springfield Museum of Art – enjoy many art collections
The Westcott House – prairie-style home built in 1908 by Frank Lloyd Wright

Trotwood, Ohio
Iams Homestead Museum – learn about the history of Trotwood (open April – August)

Troy, Ohio
Miami Valley Military History Museum – learn about U.S. Armed Forces veterans
WACO Air Museum – learn the history of WACO Aircraft Company during the Golden Age of Flight

Wapakoneta, Ohio
Armstrong Air & Space Museum – learn about Neil Armstrong and space history 

Waynesville, OhioCaesar’s Creek Pioneer Village – log cabins and buildings from the local area on display
Museum at the Friends Home – learn about the Quakers from 22 rooms of historic exhibits

West Liberty, Ohio
The Ohio Caverns – largest in the state with over 2 miles of paths below ground

Williamstown, Kentucky
Ark Encounter –  ark-shaped museum with three decks of Biblical exhibits

Wilmington, Ohio
Clinton County History Center – learn about the history and genealogy of Clinton County

Did we miss a museum or interesting place to visit? Let us know! sknabe@sibcycline.com