A new era for OSU's world-renowned cartoon museum
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The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is the largest collection of comics and cartoon art in the world, and a hidden Columbus gem. Photos: Andrew King/Axios
One of Columbus' best-kept secrets marks the start of a new era this weekend, reopening at Ohio State with a new look, new exhibitions and an internationally recognized headliner.
Why it matters: The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is the world's largest collection of comics and cartoon art, an archive that draws experts and enthusiasts from all over the world.
Zoom in: You may have walked past the museum without ever realizing it. The modest space is nestled inside the High Street-facing Sullivant Hall on campus.
- Inside, the collection contains more than 3 million objects, ranging from newspaper comic strips and graphic novels to journals and artists' drawing desks.
- The gallery contains only a fraction of the collection's most interesting and popular items — the rest is open for appointments from researchers, historians, families and comic lovers.
Flashback: The museum was established in 1977 thanks to a massive collection donated by Ohio-born cartoonist Milton Caniff, an OSU alumnus.
- Originally called the Milton Caniff Reading Room, it was renamed in 2009 to honor his mentor, Billy Ireland, a longtime Columbus Dispatch cartoonist.
The latest: The museum has been closed since November, undergoing building upgrades and a layout change while leaders shift the way visitors will experience its collection.
- The space now centers around the "Story of Comics" exhibition, a trip through 400 years of comic history over a variety of mediums and storytelling methods.
- Inside, you'll find hundred-year-old comic strips, original drawings of Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and the drawing table where "Dick Tracy" was illustrated.
What they're saying: The museum's newest era is an attempt to embrace both fun and historical elements of the art, says Caitlin McGurk, curator of comics and cartoon art.
- "This is one of the few museums where you come and hear people laughing," she says.
The intrigue: The space isn't just about niche or historical work — heavy-hitters have their own dedicated exhibitions.
- One gallery is a dedicated "Calvin & Hobbes" space featuring a collection of originals from Bill Watterson, who has a longtime relationship with the museum.
The headliner of the new space is "Life Is Complicated," featuring the work of cartoonist Chris Ware, who wrote and designed the exhibition himself.
- The exhibition has been touring Europe for years, and Ware chose OSU as its final and only American stop.
- "That choice tells you everything you need to know about our standing," says McGurk.
The bottom line: Next year, the museum celebrates its 50th anniversary — and with a new look and a renewed focus, it may just get the acclaim it deserves.
- "We are a Mecca for people who love this," McGurk says.
📍 If you go: Open 1-5pm Tuesday-Sunday, 1813 N. High St.
- Free!