The Scioto County Heritage Museum LLC (Museum) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed to “collect, preserve, own and display material and artifacts of a historical and antiquarian value relating to Scioto County, Ohio to include the City of Portsmouth, all its villages and all the rural areas in between” (from our Constitution).

Additionally, the Museum proposes to be more than just a community “attic”. While displays of historical artifacts are by nature an integral part of any museum, the mere viewing of such cannot serve any purpose other than conjuring up some nostalgic memory in the viewer. The Museum aims to provide much more. Through constantly evolving exhibits, hands-on experiences, educational programs, lectures, and material for research, all who visit can have a unique and meaningful experience. We have a rich, impressive history in Scioto County that Museum programs can highlight. Those who live here can be proud of our past. Those who visit us or are just passing through will go away delighted with what they have discovered. The word will spread. A lifelong audience will emerge

In the early half of this year some citizens of Portsmouth and Scioto County gathered to celebrate and honor our local history and heritage. In the old Portsmouth High School gymnasium they lined all four walls with their personal collections of historical artifacts. It was an impressive display of items from bygone days that delighted students and adults alike. They learned about the flood of 1937 and the tornado of 1968, early fire department history, the participation of Scioto County in the Spanish-American War, the Hillcrest Children’s Home, the medical history of Scioto County, our impressive sports heritage, the local struggle for civil rights, historic buildings and steel and shoes. Students were particularly intrigued. What were the Korn Karnival, Millbrook and the Vulcan airplane? Really? And why so many dairies?

At the end of the show as they packed up their materials the exhibitors began to talk. They realized they were just taking their collections home to be stored out of sight until the next event, whenever and wherever that might be. Someone joked, “You know when we die our kids are just going to put this stuff on eBay.” Then and there it became apparent – we need a museum.