NEW RICHMOND, Ohio – If you love regatta races and cardboard boats, you'll love the Cardboard Boat Museum in New Richmond.
- At least 30 cardboard boats are on display
- No admission fee, donations welcome
- 1,500 annual visitors
On the banks of the Ohio River, it's dubbed “the world's only,” and volunteer Ray Perszyk says no one has challenged them on that in the 12 years of the museum's existence.
For 27 years, annual regatta races take place on the river in New Richmond. Hundreds of people visit, dozens of boats hit the water – some float, some sink.
12 years ago Tom and Eddie Lemon decided to open a museum as a place to store and show off some of the best cardboard boats. At any given time, the museum houses around 30 boats.
“Some of them haven't been raced in a few years, they're more artistic,” said volunteer Clarence Sharp. “And we really don't want to ruin that part of it, that's why it is a museum. We try and keep the pretty ones and, of course, we keep the ones that we race every year.”
There is no admission at the museum, but donations help keep the lights on.
Some of the boats at the museum include a replica riverboat, Batmobile, and ambulance. Other include the front-half of an airplane, made after the famous airplane emergency landing in the Hudson River in 2009.
A teacup is popular with the kids. Sharp says it's not good for racing, but kids love spinning down the river.
Sharp says there is a science to building a long-lasting and floatable boat.
“The biggest thing is making sure you have it taped, sealed good. And the more layers of latex paint you put on it the better it's going to hold up.”
The “Pickled Lemon” has traveled 44 miles in water. Other boats have seen better days.
And the museum, along Front Street in New Richmond, is right on the river. It has seen its share of high water. But interestingly, it's probably the only museum where a flood won't damage the artifacts.
“All we're going to have to do is clean up. Everything in here will float, most everything. I don't know about the old car right now. But everything else sitting in here will float.”
The museum is open on Tuesday's, Saturday's and Sunday's. Groups are welcome.
Sharp says the museum has seen visitors from all over the world. Visitors from all but three U.S. states have also trotted through the building. The museum welcomes approximately 1,500 visitors each year.