Information
Landmark: Arms Family MuseumCity: Youngstown
Country: USA Ohio
Continent: North America
Arms Family Museum, Youngstown, USA Ohio, North America
Overview
The Arms Family Museum, a stately historic home, sits at 648 Wick Avenue in Youngstown, Ohio, its front porch shaded by old maple trees.The Mahoning Valley Historical Society runs it from Greystone, a graceful Arts & Crafts–style mansion built in 1905 with warm oak trim and tall, sunlit windows.The museum keeps the Arms family’s legacy alive, offering visitors a glimpse of the Mahoning Valley’s rich architecture and culture-like the warm glow of stained glass in its historic halls.Greystone, a grand stone mansion with tall arched windows, was built for Wilford and Olive F. A. Arms, who moved easily among Youngstown’s elite in the early 1900s.This home embodies the Arts & Crafts spirit, with hand-carved details, warm wood grain, and a seamless flow into the surrounding landscape.The Arms family was woven into the fabric of Youngstown, cherishing its art, fine craftsmanship, and the stories etched into its old brick buildings.Their home has become a museum, keeping the carved woodwork, worn leather chairs, and ornate décor that show how they lived and what they valued.The museum showcases the Arts & Crafts style with stone walls cool to the touch, warm wood beams, handcrafted cabinetry, intricate leaded glass, and rooms arranged in a balanced but asymmetrical flow, all opening onto gardens that blend naturally with the building; visitors can wander through restored spaces that capture the Arms family’s original vision and artistry.At the Arms Family Museum, you’ll find both permanent and changing exhibits that spotlight local history, culture, and design, including *Arts & Crafts Design at Greystone*, where original sketches, faded photographs, and well-worn artifacts bring the home’s design and decoration to life.These materials showcase Olive Arms’ work and capture the Arts & Crafts spirit that shaped the house, from its hand-carved wood to its warm, sunlit rooms.On the second floor, “Making an Impact” shines a light on Youngstown’s African American community, tracing their story through decades of segregation and discrimination, and celebrating hard-won victories - from opening local businesses to building vibrant neighborhoods.It pays tribute to the people and groups who helped shape the community’s history, from the first bricklayers to the voices that filled its town hall.Tailor Made: Local Clothing & Accessories - this exhibit displays 19th- and 20th-century garments, textiles, and accessories, each piece revealing the careful stitch work of local tailors and dressmakers.Mid-Century Modern in the Mahoning Valley explores design trends and everyday life from the 1940s through the 1960s, highlighting treasures like a gleaming 1948 Youngstown Kitchens set and playful toys made by local factories.The Benjamin Franklin Wirt Collection holds an array of artifacts gathered by local lawyer and state senator Benjamin Franklin Wirt, from weathered historic documents and Native American tools to richly woven textiles.Servants of Wick Avenue: An exhibit that delves into the lives of the domestic workers who kept Wick Avenue’s grand homes running-polishing brass railings, preparing meals, and quietly shaping the rhythm of family life.The Anne Kilcawley Christman Hands-On History Room invites kids and families to dive into Mahoning Valley’s past through lively games, colorful crafts, and activities that turn history into something you can touch, build, and laugh about together.The museum welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., with doors closed on Mondays and national holidays.Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and college students with ID, and $5 for kids ages 3 to 18.Children under 3 get in free, as do active or retired military members and anyone with a Mahoning Valley Historical Society membership.Your ticket also gets you same-day entry to the other Mahoning Valley Historical Society sites-perfect for squeezing in a quick stop at the Arms Family Museum.Visitors can park right next to the museum, just steps from the front doors.The Arms Family Museum sits on Wick Avenue in Youngstown’s historic district, just a short walk from Youngstown State University, where the brick sidewalks echo with footsteps.You can reach it easily from major highways like I-80 and I-680, with bright green signs pointing the way.The Arms Family Museum isn’t just a historic house-it’s a lively hub where the region’s architecture, social history, and local stories are carefully kept, like sunlight catching dust motes in a old parlor.The museum brings Youngstown’s diverse past to life through exhibits and programs that share stories of local craftsmanship, reveal shifting social dynamics, and recall pivotal events-like the clang of steel in a bustling mill.If you’re drawn to architecture, local history, or the social life of the Mahoning Valley, this museum offers a rich trove-like standing in a hall where every brick tells a story.
