Betts House in Smithsonian Magazine

The Betts House to Participate in Smithsonian Magazine’s

Museum Day on September 27, 2008

On Saturday, September 27, 2008, the Betts House will participate in the fourth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. On Museum Day, museums and cultural institutions nationwide will open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors.

“We are pleased to participate in this nationwide event and are delighted to offer residents of the greater Cincinnati area the opportunity to visit the Betts House for free,” said Julie Carpenter, executive director of the Betts House.

The Betts House will be open for free from 12:30 – 4:30 pm on Saturday, September 27, 2008. Visitors of all ages will be able to participate in a hands-on blacksmithing activity and tour the house. In addition, the special exhibit Great Cincinnati Families at Home, featuring the historic homes of the Taft, Probasco-Rowe, Hauck, and Huenefeld families, will be on view. Great Cincinnati Families at Home is co-curated by Walter E. Langsam, architectural historian and adjunct associate professor at the University of Cincinnati, and author of Great Houses of the Queen City; and historic preservation consultant Beth Sullebarger of Sullebarger Associates and contributing author of Architecture in Cincinnati. The exhibit is made possible by grants from the John Hauck Foundation, the William S. Rowe Foundation, the Jeanne Anderson Trust, and contributions from anonymous donors.

Last year, upwards of 100,000 people attended Museum Day. All 50 states plus Puerto Rico were represented by 651 participating museums. Attendees must present Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. The Museum Day Admission Card will be available in the September 2008 issue of Smithsonian magazine and a downloadable version is available on the Museum Day website at www.smithsonianmag.com under “Culture Spotter.”

The general public is welcome to participate by going to the Smithsonian.com website and downloading the Museum Day Admission Card. Listings and links to other participating museums’ and sponsors’ sites can be found on the Museum Day website.

ABOUT THE BETTS HOUSE
Built in 1804, the Betts House, “Ohio’s oldest brick house,” is located in the Betts-Longworth Historic District in downtown Cincinnati. The Betts House Research Center was established in 1995 to promote the study of building materials and historic preservation through special exhibits and public programs. Tours of the house showcase its history and construction. An ongoing exhibit features a timeline of the house paired with the history of Cincinnati and the nation. The Betts House also supports the fields of construction and architecture with a summer outreach program, Bond at the Betts, providing youth from inner-city neighborhoods a hands-on introduction to the building trades.

VISITOR INFORMATION
The Betts House is located two blocks west of Music Hall at 416 Clark Street. Parking is available on Clark Street, John Street, Central Avenue, and the Town Center Garage on Central Parkway behind Music Hall. The Betts House is open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 am - 2 pm; other days and times by appointment. The museum is closed on federal holidays and the month of August. Group tours are available by appointment. Admission is $2 per person.