Robert McCloskey Wonder Works' Temporary Home at Pyramid Hill
- Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
As the Robert McCloskey Wonder Works Museum prepares for its next chapter, it will become the nonprofit in residence at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum for an 18-month period beginning May 29, 2025. This partnership will bring two exhibitions to Pyramid Hill’s Gallery Museum, celebrating the life and work of Robert McCloskey, one of America’s most beloved children’s book authors and illustrators, and a city of Hamilton native.
Previously housed inside Heritage Hall at Hamilton’s historic Municipal Building, the McCloskey Museum is relocating due to the building’s redevelopment. To ensure the continuation of its mission, the McCloskey Museum will find a temporary home at Pyramid Hill, where visitors can explore McCloskey’s legacy in a new setting that blends art, history, and nature.
The first exhibition, opening May 29 and running through November 10, 2025, will focus on McCloskey’s deep Hamilton roots and how his early life shaped his career. It will feature original sketches, illustrations, and personal materials, highlighting artwork from Lentil, McCloskey’s first published book, set in Hamilton, Ohio.
The second exhibition, opening in March 2026 and running through the summer, will focus on McCloskey’s passion for environmental conservation, his attention to the small wonders of the natural world and his dedication to draftsmanship and design. Set within the landscape of Pyramid Hill, where art and nature intersect, this exhibition will offer visitors a deeper appreciation of McCloskey’s storytelling.
"Robert McCloskey's connection to both the community of Hamilton and his passion for natural landscape, make this partnership a wonderful next step for the Museum and we look forward to sharing McCloskey's hometown heritage and literary legacy at Pyramid Hill," says Carrie Halim, Curator of the McCloskey Museum.
As part of the residency, the iconic Lentil and His Dog sculpture—originally gifted to Hamilton by the Hamilton Community Foundation and sculpted by Nancy Schön—will be temporarily relocated to Pyramid Hill for visitors to enjoy.
The McCloskey Museum will also play an active role in Pyramid Hill’s public programming, facilitating one event in each of these popular series: Family Fun on the Hill, Summer Art Series for Kids, Dogs & Donuts, and Ink & Drink. The McCloskey Museum will be a featured participant in the annual Art Fair on September 27-28, 2025.
In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and the McCloskey Museum have partnered with the America 250-Ohio Commission to be an official stop on its new Ohio Creativity Trail. This experiential driving trail of 100+ sites across Ohio showcases Ohio’s past and present writers, musicians, artists, and other creatives who have made significant contributions to artistic expression. It is the second of six planned experiential trails for America 250-Ohio’s signature Trails & Tales program.
“It’s no secret that Ohioans leave their mark on the world, whether in the form of paint on a canvas, words on a page, or new artistic ways to express thoughts and ideas,” said Todd Kleismit, Executive Director, America 250-Ohio. “In partnership with Pyramid Hill and the Robert McCloskey Wonder Works Museum we’re showcasing their great work, as well as other talented artists across Ohio to generate excitement for our state’s significant contributions to the cultural fabric of America. We look forward to celebrating throughout 2025 and 2026.”
“This residency allows us to celebrate McCloskey’s legacy in a new way, offering visitors an immersive experience that connects his work to the art and natural beauty of Pyramid Hill as well as being an important part of Ohio’s rich history,” said Sarah Templeton Wilson, Executive Director of Pyramid Hill.
About Robert McCloskey (1914–2003), a Hamilton native, authored and illustrated some of the most enduring children’s books of the 20th century, including Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, and Time of Wonder. His ability to capture the wonder of childhood through simple, yet deeply relatable illustrations continues to inspire generations of readers.
About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.
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