I found the Merry-Go-Round Museum online while looking up things to do in the area. Honestly I…read morewasn't sure what to expect but once I saw the great Yelp reviews, we decided to stop in. It ended up being one of our favorite experiences in Sandusky! It's small but mighty with tons of intricately carved merry-go-round animals, some of which were crafted in the early 1900s. I learned quite a bit and the displays were so fun to look at. Your admission ticket includes 1 ride on the carousel which is in the center of the small museum (you can pay for additional rides). They made an announcement that they were starting it up so we took our spots - Nate got on a seahorse and I sat in a chariot. When I tell you that thing goes fast, I mean it. I think the operator said it gets up to 7 mph! I actually started to get a bit dizzy, but it was so fun and brought me so much joy. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time. They have an on site woodworker/carver which was so cool. The building that houses the museum is an old post office and it's definitely seen better days (it's 100+ years old), so I hope they can continue to house this museum there!

I'd been here once about 20 years ago and enjoyed it. Now, with a kid, we had to go when nearby…read more And it was even better than I remembered. Housed in I think an old post office, cool building. Parking around back. Loads of carousel horses in the lobby and all around- and swans, and giraffes, and merhorses, and more. A carver was there on the Sunday we went, and was great with the kids. The big draw is the merry-go-round inside. You get passes for one ride with your ticket, and can get more for $1 each. Kid K went twice. It seems fast inside, but all the kids loved it. The organ was playing Halloween-appropriate songs at the end of September. Ever heard the Ghostbusters theme on a calliope? There's also the Cedar Point museum, with some of the collection that used to be in a building at the amusement park. Mostly souvenir items, but some bits from there and some photos. A little roller coaster simulator video game. Tiny gift shop. Great staff. Definitely would come back.

Another small (well, mid-sized) museum that knocks it out of the park…read more Great staff. Well displayed artifacts with lots of information, interactive stuff for kids, boats out back, models everywhere. Covers natural science, local history, shipping in general, and more. Kid K loved it, especially the scavenger hunt. I loved the stories and artifacts. Small gift shop with quality options. Definitely will be back when in town.

I appreciate that Ken, one of the older members of the museum, clearly demonstrates his passion and…read morededication to the subject matter. When we arrived we were the first two there for the day, and he got up and expressed his appreciation that we came in and was eager to give us a tour around the facility. He previously worked on boats in the area during his career, so he knows his stuff! We started off watching the fifteen minute video that told us about the various important aspects of Lake Erie and Sandusky as a port, such as ice harvesting, fishing, sand dredging, and coal shipping. Then Ken showed us the boats in their collection, explaining the differences between the construction of each, followed by an entire room of outboard motors of various makes and horsepower! Then we returned to the main showroom to look at the exhibits. I especially liked the map that showed the channels throughout the years, the miniature model of the train-to-ship coal shipping station, and the depth charts of each Great Lake. You're sure to find something that interests you and learn something! They're also doing a solid job of putting in exhibits to interest children, such as building a small model boat, playing giant Battleship, learning to tie knots, and steering a boat around a projected screen of Lake Erie. A new exhibit is being added soon so kids can aim a canon at a screen and pretend to sink ships in the distance like in 1813! The restrooms are crisp and clean. The gift shop is somewhat small/limited, but I found a couple postcards to purchase. The volunteers help with the gift shop and admissions and are friendly.

After a late lunch at the Tin Goose diner, came over to this very nice aviation+ museum. First,…read more you can tell by the ladies working the front desk - admission, you're in a great place, when you comment you don't have your readers with you and it'll be difficult to read the information at the exhibits. Without missing a beat, Valerie offers her pair. Her only request is that I return them when I leave. . So very kind of her. We pay the admission, and begin the tour. There was a lot to see and I would definitely give yourself at least 90 minutes to see both areas. There is a hangar also to see the bigger planes. There were many nice tributes, and we got a kick out of the Hogan's Heroes memorabilia. The vintage cars were a bonus. I can't wait to tell my dad he needs to take a drive here just for the classic cars! I think one of the first cars he drove was the '57 bel aire convertible. The yellow one here is in pristine condition. Also loved the vintage Bob's Big Boy side of window drive up sign. Classic! The attention to detail and restoration is truly a labor of love for many of the items here. In the hangar, there were quite a few volunteers. They were busy getting things ready for Father's Day weekend! The ford two motor plane will be taking passengers for a nostalgic ride. This museum is an amazing tribute to the put in bay, Lake Erie aviators. There is also war memorabilia! The investment that continues in this amazing museum and the diner attached is remarkable. I'll be telling my aviation, car enthusiast friends and people looking for something neat to do to come by, enjoy and donate to help these pieces of history to continue to be available for generations to come! Great way to spend a few hours! Highly recommend this Gem! PS, I did return the glasses after I left. I also bought a cute onesie for my granddaughter !

A small but simply amazing aviation museum! Other reviews have done a wonderful job of describing…read morethe planes and items on exhibit and they have done a wonderful job. The people who volunteer and work here IMHO are what makes this a simply amazing museum. From the fine people that greet you and buy tickets from and work the gift shop. The fine folks working and restoring tanks and finding the time to inform and answer questions. When I apologize when noticing it was minutes from closing time, instead of being rushed out the door I was given a "behind the ropes" tour of planes that included getting up close and personal with the most impeccably restored B-25 I've seen. To our surprise our guide turned out to be the Director of Operations for the museum. His unassuming nature and will to give this history teacher a tour well past closing time speaks volumes of his love and dedication to both the museum and its visitors. One of the best museums I've been to and would encourage a visit.

Made the mistake of taking our kids (3 and 6) a few years ago. Lady at desk was rude and stated the…read moredisplays and exhibits (if you can call them that) are for older kids and not to be touched. It's essentially a big room full of various experiments and equipment but they expect the kids to sit and essentially just watch. Calling this a children's museum is pretty disingenuous honestly. Definitely not for young kids.

If you have young kids, 10 or younger, this is a must do! My 2 kids, aged 8 and 5 had a blast and…read morewere kept entertained for 2 hours on the guided tour. The owners are clearly passionate about their museum and sharing their knowledge through age appropriate hands on activities. We had to drag my daughter in, having a fit about not wanting to go, and we had to drag her away after the experience ended with a huge smile on her face. As parents, any chance to get our kids enjoying education is always a plus.

A must-visit destination! The lighthouse is great, but the real magic happens at sunset - the sky…read moreis stunning. I went with a friend in June 2025, and we loved it. It's on Lake Erie, just 30 minutes from Cedar Point. Don't miss it.

This was a must. I showed up and in 20 mins I was up in the top. Very khool little lighthouse…read more The attendees were great. And so were the ladies in the gift shop/museum. For 3$ and the conservation of this light house is really nice to see. And if you venture to the top,77 steps, all around the outside railing they have mile markers telling you how far out in that particular direction, is located. Like say Canada, 75 miles. Sandusky 5.7miles.

Small museum but a big experience…read more Nice little old house (two, actually, with the office/gift shop/extra gallery.) great staff- friendly, informative. We learned a lot. Kid K was bored by the end but still said she liked it. Family history plus info about his intentions. Steep stairs so be careful. Classy items in the gift shop. Definitely worth a visit if you are nearby, or a detour if you are at all interested in history or technology.

I had the privilege of touring the historic birthplace of Thomas Alva Edison. And, I had the…read morepleasure of having Deb - a wonderful retired school teacher - narrate the tour. To get to the historic house, I had to drive past the quaint Milan town square, which in itself seems to be a genuine piece of Americana. The house and adjacent museum visitor center are located near the top of a hill. They overlook what is now a defunct historic canal. Inside the visitors center, there is an impressive collection of Edison's audio inventions - many that still work! Inside the house are several artifacts owned by the Edisons, as well as other period-correct pieces. A few of Thomas Edison's personal items are even on display upstairs. Deb enthusiastically painted a vivid picture of how life was in the Edison house. She explained how many of the artifacts were used. The "school teacher" in her certainly came out, as she encouraged questions. The house is conveniently located only a few miles from the Ohio turnpike. I highly recommend experiencing this interesting and informative, historic gem.

A small, moving memorial park close to the lake. A dozen or so small marker plaques with a…read moresentence or two on different subjects. A statue built of chains (but sadly repaired a bit with solid metal.) Lush landscaping. A few benches, and a gazebo. A nice place to visit before or after exploring the shops and lakefront. Sobering and inspiring.

How can I be the first to review. What a wonderful little museum. Whether you a part of the…read morelakeside every summer for life club or not this is a must do while in the area. I learned so much. There is fascinating information about the entire area from history right up until right now. There is a scavenger hunt kids can do once a day every day all summer for a little candy treat and a prize. What a great way to get them into learning about the region. Go in the back room and read about the civil war time in the area. Then go over to Johnson's Island and visit the graves of the soldiers you just read about.