10 Under-The-Radar Cleveland Museums - Cleveland Article

But few places truly encapsulate the city’s most unique eccentricities like the dozens of lesser-known museums that sporadically dot the map of Northeast Ohio. And, while they’re often smaller in size—don’t be fooled—these museums offer big experiences. 

A Christmas Story House & Museum: Tour the Tremont house where several shots from the cult classic A Christmas Story was filmed (refurbished to its movie splendor). Afterwards, cross the street to the museum where you can view artifacts, watch video and learn obscure facts about the classic holiday movie. Open year round!

Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Museum: Cleveland was once home to more Hungarians outside of Hungary than anywhere else. Make way to the Galleria at Erieview where you can view traditional costumes, Old World crafts and other ethnic artifacts.

Dittrick Medical History Center: Come face-to-face with a 19^th-century sadistic-looking first-aid kit, an 1861 amputating set complete with handheld saw and an old physicians surgical chair. This medical museum is packed with all sorts of medical artifacts, but is most known for its collection of historic contraception tools.

Dunham Tavern Museum: Located near Downtown, this former stagecoach stop and Whig party headquarters, is actually the oldest building still standing in its original site in Cuyahoga County.  Explore old-school artifacts, gardens and more.

First Ladies’ Library: Located in Canton, learn little-known stories of past First Ladies, take a gander at their inauguration dresses and do some reading on the fascinating families who made presidential history.

International Women’s Air & Space Museum: Located downtown at Burke Lakefront Airport, this museum studies the brave women who made a name for themselves in space and aviation through exhibits, artifacts and educational offerings.

Merry-Go-Round Museum: Located near Cedar Point in Sandusky, this one-of-a-kind museum takes you through the history of these gorgeous rides, shows you how pieces are hand carved and even offers rides on the museum’s own historic carousel. 

Museum of Divine Statues: Inside a former Catholic church in Lakewood, you’ll find dozens of gorgeously refurbished ecclesiastical statues in a reflective and respectful museum setting. Truly a hidden gem!

National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame: Learn about how the traditional dance got its own Cleveland twist and churned out dozens of Cleveland-based legends inside this small (but mighty) east-side museum.

The Cleveland Police Museum: Take a step back in time inside this downtown museum located at the Justice Center, which showcases confiscated firearms, old uniforms and interesting artifacts highlighting crime fighter Eliot Ness and the unsolved Torso Murders.