Dayton has an International Peace Museum!!? I had no idea! I visited the museum Friday. The Dayton International Peace Museum is located at 208 W Monument St in Dayton, about 2 blocks west of Main St. It's in an old, historic, three story mansion called the Pollack House. The mission of the museum is to inspire a local, national and international culture of peace. The museum was founded in 2004 and helps people of all races, ages and nationalities learn nonviolent ways to achieve peace.
The third story was closed for renovations, as was part of the first floor. But the remaining area on the first floor and the entire second floor were open and quite interesting. The first floor is where their current exhibit is being displayed. The exhibit is called Quilting the Golden Rule. It's seventeen quilts with a religion and that religion's main concepts on the quilt. It's fascinating, actually to see seventeen different religions, yet they all have the same main point, the golden rule - do unto others as you'd have them do to you. The second floor consists of a library with books and audio visual materials that are able to be checked out as well as a small section of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize winners' books. There are areas to sit and research if needed. The children's room is also located on the second floor.
Around the museum are pictures of peace makers, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa and Jane Addams to name a few. There are also posters, for lack of a better word hung around the museum with conflicts and peaceful resolutions to those conflicts. It's all very interesting and moving.
The Pollack House is absolutely gorgeous inside. It was built in 1855 on West Third St in Dayton and was actually on the city demolition list twice. In 1979 the house was moved from West Third to it's current location on Monument. I would think if the current residents ever vacate the property someone will snatch it up in a heartbeat, it's an amazing house.
The museum is small but powerful and well worth a visit! You can view their information at www.DaytonPeaceMuseum.org.
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