National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting is a specialized communications and Cold War history museum located at 8070 Tylersville Road (GPS: Crosley Boulevard) inside Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester Township, Ohio, roughly 20 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. Housed inside the original 1944 Bethany Relay Station—an Art Deco brick transmitter building designed and operated by the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation during World War II—the museum preserves the technological legacy of international shortwave radio, early American home electronics, and Greater Cincinnati broadcast media. From 1944 until its decommissioning in 1994, this high-powered relay station transmitted uncensored news and cultural programming across the Atlantic to Europe, North Africa, and South America, earning the nickname from Adolf Hitler as the “Liar of Cincinnati.” Today, visitors walk through the preserved transmitter halls, examine rare vacuum-tube engineering, and trace the inventions of industrialist Powel Crosley Jr.
What to Expect at National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting
Exploring the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting begins in the historic Bethany Station control room, where massive 1940s and 1970s shortwave transmitters and master control consoles remain intact behind glass and along the main gallery floor. Visitors can begin their visit with an introductory documentary film detailing how Powel Crosley Jr. and his engineers constructed six 200-kilowatt transmitters in record time for the U.S. Office of War Information. Docents—many of whom are retired broadcast engineers, physicists, and veteran radio operators—lead 45-minute guided tours at 12:45 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM, explaining how curtain antennas once stretched across the surrounding 625-acre property to bounce signals off the ionosphere.
Beyond the Voice of America control rooms, the museum divides its galleries into focused collections covering the Golden Age of Radio, television engineering, and Ohio manufacturing. Two dedicated wings chronicle the Crosley Story: one focusing on electronic innovations such as low-cost regenerative receivers and the legendary 500,000-watt WLW AM super-station, and another showcasing mechanical consumer goods including Crosley Shelvador refrigerators, Icyball cooling units, and compact Crosley automobiles. Interactive stations in the Signals & Science Studio and the Radio Discovery Lab allow younger visitors and curious adults to test Morse code keys, observe oscilloscope waveforms, and see live demonstrations of amateur ham radio communications.
- Bethany Station Control Room & Transmitters: The original 1944 master control desk and towering shortwave transmitter cabinets that broadcast Voice of America programming across the Iron Curtain for five decades.
- The Crosley Story (Electronics & Mechanical Wings): Dual galleries displaying Powel Crosley Jr.’s mass-market radios, early WLW studio microphones, Shelvador appliances, and vintage Crosley subcompact cars.
- Cincinnati Media & Gray History of Wireless: Exhibits tracing regional radio and television pioneers alongside the Gray Collection of early 1900s spark-gap transmitters, crystal sets, and vacuum tubes.
- Novelty Radios & Signals Studio: Hundreds of mid-century character and transistor radios paired with the hands-on Radio Discovery Lab for testing electromagnetic waves and audio circuits.
- West Chester Amateur Radio Association (WC8VOA) Shack: A working ham radio station inside the museum where licensed operators communicate worldwide and demonstrate real-time global radio propagation.
National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 8070 Tylersville Rd (use Crosley Blvd for GPS), West Chester Township, OH 45069 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Voice of America MetroPark, West Chester Township (Butler County) |
| Operating Hours | Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Closed Monday–Thursday) |
| Admission / Price Range | $10 Adults, $9 Military, Free for youth under age 16 (pay at the door) |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1.5 to 2 hours (includes a 45-minute guided tour and self-guided exhibits) |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Free surface lot directly outside the entrance via Crosley Blvd; easy access from I-75 Exit 22 |
| Official Website & Phone | voamuseum.org | +1 513-777-0027 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
To get the most out of a visit, arrive between 12:15 PM and 12:30 PM on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to catch the first 45-minute docent-led tour at 12:45 PM, leaving over an hour afterward to browse the Crosley and Cincinnati Media galleries at your own pace. Advance tickets are not required; admission is paid directly at the front desk upon arrival. When navigating by car from Interstate 75 (Exit 22 for Tylersville Road), enter “Crosley Boulevard, West Chester, OH” into your GPS rather than turning directly off Tylersville Road, as the driveway into the museum parking lot branches off Crosley Boulevard next to the Voice of America Athletic Complex. A separate MetroParks motor vehicle permit is not required to park in the museum’s dedicated surface lot.
The single-story brick facility is completely barrier-free, featuring step-free threshold access, wide gallery aisles suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, accessible restrooms, and seating in the screening room. After touring the exhibits, step outside into the surrounding 435-acre Voice of America MetroPark, which features a 1.4-mile paved multi-use trail around the 35-acre lake, the Ronald Reagan Lodge, and Wigginsille dog park. For dining and shopping less than five minutes away, head immediately west along Voice of America Centre Drive or south to the Liberty Center mixed-use district, both of which offer numerous casual restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening hours and guided tour times at the VOA Museum?
The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Included 45-minute guided tours depart at 12:45 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM, and visitors can also explore all galleries independently during operating hours.
How much does admission cost and do I need advance reservations?
General admission is $10 for adults, $9 for active and retired military personnel, and free for children and teens under age 16. Advance online tickets are not required for regular weekend visits; simply pay at the front door by cash or card upon arrival.
How much time should I budget for a visit to the museum?
Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2 hours at the museum. That window allows enough time to watch the introductory documentary, join a 45-minute guided tour of the Bethany Station transmitters, and examine the Crosley electronics, vintage automobiles, and ham radio rooms.
Is the National Voice of America Museum wheelchair accessible and family friendly?
Yes, the museum is fully barrier-free on a single level with free paved parking right outside the front entrance and wide aisles throughout the transmitter halls. Children under 16 enter free and can engage with hands-on electronics demonstrations in the Signals & Science Studio and Radio Discovery Lab.
When planning your Mason travel guide or comparing verified attractions and museums in Mason, pair this stop with standout local spots including Zoomazium, Suburban Studios Mason Hwy 42, Mason Military Museum, and Hampton Inn & Suites Cincinnati Liberty Township (1.8 km away).
