Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum image

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum

Tourist attraction Museum Library

Exhibits trace the history of cartoon art, from comic strips to graphic novels, on the OSU campus. People often mention museum, comics, cartoons, free, exhibit,


Address

1813 N High St, Columbus, OH 43210, United States

Website

cartoons.osu.edu

Contact

+1 614-292-0538

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (61 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 1 to 5 pm
  • Wednesday: 1 to 5 pm
  • Thursday: 1 to 5 pm
  • Friday: 1 to 5 pm
  • Saturday: 1 to 5 pm
  • Sunday: 1 to 5 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (14) comics (7) cartoons (7) free (6) exhibit (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Andrew M. 1 year ago on Google • 201 reviews
    Nice little free museum on the second floor of Sullivant Hall, right off high street. They have a lot of original Calvin and Hobbes artwork, in addition to revolving exhibits. Been here twice, back in 2017 and now in 2023, and it was a fun way to spend an hour or so both times. An absolute hidden gem on campus.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tiffany F. 5 years ago on Google • 74 reviews
    LOVED the Cartoon Couture exhibit. The Exhibit was laid out in an organized manner & highly detailed. Such great content. The front desk staff were friendly & welcoming. I highly recommend any exhibit at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Musuem. Such a great time!!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 J M. 5 years ago on Google
    Decent collection of comic/cartoon artifacts. It's hard to complain about a free attraction, but I was expecting a little more with the word museum in the title (three rooms of items). Good to combine with the nearby Orton Geological Museum, which is also free and smallish.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonnyreverb 1 year ago on Google
    A Columbus treasure, and a "must see" for any cartoon or animation fan. Their collection includes original frames from "Gertie the Dinosaur" (1914), "Calvin and Hobbs" (1985-1995), Charles Schultz, and just about anyone you can name.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sam M. 11 months ago on Google • 66 reviews
    The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is a really neat, free feature on OSU's campus. We stopped by on Friday and had a great time. There are parking garages on campus just a short walk from the museum building, and we paid $10.00 for event parking (probably due to the graduation weekend). The museum is on the 2nd floor, and had a few featured exhibits on display - 3 rooms total. While not huge, it's still really enjoyable to walk around and see what they have. Pictures were allowed in some spots. There was a fun variety of art, a lot that was very nostalgic! I think there's also a reference library people can check out, but by appointment. I would absolutely recommend people stop by the cartoon museum if they're in Columbus and have the opportunity.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Judy G. 5 months ago on Google • 511 reviews
    A hidden gem. For fans of comics, cartoons, and graphic novels, this is a must see!

  • 5/5 Joel B. 11 months ago on Google • 100 reviews
    Very nice museum dedicated to the history of cartoons. The displays are nicely and clearly labeled, and it's very cool to be able to see original drawings from some of the biggest names in comic history, like Schultz and Watterson. I've been a Calvin and Hobbes fan since I was a kid, and it was awesome to be able to see actual originals from the strip. We visited during the exhibit for Bill Blackbeard's collection, which was an amazing story of someone who collected an incredible amount of comics and cartoons from newspapers over several decades. It was a very interesting exhibit. If you're a fan of cartoons or comics, I'd definitely recommend a visit. It's a very well curated and set up exhibit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tiffany W. 2 years ago on Google
    Great little museum. We especially liked that dogs in cartoons were celebrated.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Owen K. 2 years ago on Google
    Though small, the actual comics on display are very interesting. The whole museum gives off a very wholesome vibe.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jay L. 8 months ago on Google • 173 reviews
    The more of a comics fan you are, the more you'll love this place. Even for casual fans, there is a lot to love. Well deserving of the reverence serious comics fans and students heap upon it. Rotating exhibits give you reason to come back again and again.

  • 5/5 E'yen A. G. 5 months ago on Google • 47 reviews
    Really nice facility, another gem to visit on Ohio State University's campus.

  • 5/5 GB W. 7 months ago on Google • 32 reviews
    Had one of the best days of my entire life in the Reading Room yesterday. Staff was beyond nice and kind. An incredible experience, I wish I lived in Ohio I'd come all the time.

  • 5/5 Dee F. 6 months ago on Google • 15 reviews
    An amazing place. Getting to see that astounding work on display there, lovingly curated, was inspirational.

  • 4/5 Gary S. 6 years ago on Google
    Interesting, but has very little Billy Ireland information or cartoons. Lots of interesting drawings by various cartoonist.

  • 5/5 Limmy K. 9 months ago on Google
    Fun and free! Not very big but enough to look at for about 30min - 1 hour.

  • 5/5 Keon C. 3 years ago on Google
    The POGO exhibition was great! I love satire!

  • 4/5 Gaurav J. 6 years ago on Google
    Nice dive in American cartoon history . Was Some education for my kid too.

  • 3/5 Tommy H. 1 year ago on Google
    Cute but small exhibit

  • 5/5 Ishmael A. 1 year ago on Google
    I try to stop here every time I'm in Columbus to see the wonderful collection they have

  • 5/5 V G. 1 year ago on Google
    Neat history of old school comics, that you would read in the papers when you were a kid.

  • 5/5 Max Z. 2 years ago on Google
    A very interesting and in-depth experience!

  • 4/5 Nadia 4 years ago on Google
    Very good museum, rich with good content.

  • 5/5 Victor J. 1 year ago on Google
    Very cool, so much history and interesting pieces. You could easily spend hours especially if you are into cartoon artworks. It's a free museum so it is a must see you won't be disappointed

  • 5/5 Sue A. 8 years ago on Google
    The museum was a very different experience. A wonderful space of original artwork, memories and a historical timeline of the "evolution of modern cartoons".

  • 5/5 Kira V. 5 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum is relatively accessible. The entrance to the building has long ramps that are not too steep for those in a wheelchair or in general who cannot use the stairs. They have accessible entrances that can open automatically into the building however they lack it when entering the actual museum as well as the doors that lead to the restroom. There is an elevator that allows for access to the second floor where it is located as well. Within the actual museum I like that signing in is at a lower table with an opening to sit at like a desk as well as all the displays that are on stands are easily visible. Overall the museum is accessible, however, it could use some improvements to be fully accessible.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍


Call +1 614-292-0538 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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