America 250: Chilo River History Museum Passport

For the very first time, local museums are coming together to launch the Clermont County History & Museum Passport. This brand-new initiative encourages guests to collect stamps as they travel from site to site, discovering everything from early settlement stories to aviation history, agriculture, and the legacy of President Ulysses S. Grant.

Whether you stop by just one museum or make it a full day of exploration, each site promises engaging exhibits, knowledgeable volunteers, and plenty of opportunities to learn something new. The passport makes it easy to track your visits and marks the beginning of an ongoing journey through Clermont County’s fascinating past.

One of our very own museums, the River History Museum at Chilo Lock 34 park has been featured in the passport! The Chilo Lock 34 River Museum occupies the former operations building at the Ohio River Lock and Dam #34. Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decommissioned the facility in 1964, Clermont County Park District was able renovate the building in 2005 as an interpretive visitor center and museum. With the theme of “Living and Working with the Ohio River”, the museum offers an interactive glimpse into the history of steamboats, floods and working and living on the river. Open: Saturdays 10am-4:30pm from April through October. Make sure to stop by and get your stamp!

The passport program was made possible through an America 250 Ohio grant and is recognized as an official America 250 project, designed to inspire communities across the state as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026. More information and locations can be found here.