Harmon Museum and Art Gallery

Explore the rich history of Southwest Ohio, thanks to our extensive collection of art and artifacts, in this award-winning museum. Housed in historic Harmon Hall, Harmon Museum and Art Gallery covers four floors (over 77,000 sq. ft.) and houses the largest Shaker collection in the world, four art galleries, prehistoric artifacts, a recreation of an 1800s town square, an extensive textile collection, research library, and more.

Harmon Hall was built in 1913 as a recreation center and donated to the City of Lebanon by William Elmer Harmon, real estate mogul and philanthropist. Harmon was born and raised in Lebanon and complained there was no place to play when he was a child. He gave Lebanon Harmon Hall, Harmon Park, Harmon Golf Course and endowed the Harmon Civil Trust to maintain the properties. In 1961 Harmon Hall became the home of the Warren County Historical Society Museum. In 1979 the Harmon Civic Trust deeded the building to the Warren County Historical Society. The Historical Society changed the name to Harmon Museum & Art Gallery in 2017 to better reflect the museum’s collections and to honor Mr. Harmon.

Exhibits

The Robert & Virginia Jones Shaker Gallery offers the largest collection of Shaker artifacts and archives in the world. Our extensive textile collection is the 2nd largest in Ohio and features items as far back as 1740. The newly renovated Archeological & Indigenous Peoples Exhibit has been called "one of the finest collections outside of the Smithsonian" by a national consultant. The updated Bruce E. Young Farm Heritage Gallery showcases the tools used by Warren County's agricultural community throughout its history. The Village Green is a recreation 19th century town square with twelve shops including a daguerreotype studio, milliner, sweet shop, and more. Circulating special exhibits ensure there's something new every time you visit!

Harmon Museum's art collection is the 2nd largest between Dayton and Cincinnati. Our four art galleries include contemporary, folk, American and a rotating exhibition gallery, the Gary Simendinger Gallery, where we showcase the​ work of noted 20th and 21st Century Ohio artists.

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