Welcome to the Museum of Ceramics
East Liverpool , Ohio
The largest public display of Lotus Ware.
The Legacy of the Potters: A Chronicle in Clay
This gallery presents the largest public exhibition of Lotus Ware, accompanied by examples of Yellowware and Rockingham pottery—wares produced by the earliest craftsmen who laid the foundation of America’s pottery industry. Together, these pieces trace the evolution of a fledgling trade that would one day flourish into a hallmark of American artistry and enterprise.
At the heart of the display stands a remarkable relic of early craftsmanship: a 170-year-old “Great Wheel,” one of only six known to survive in the United States. Surrounding it, exhibits of tools, utilitarian wares, and decorative ceramics bear witness to the ingenuity and labor of generations of potters.
The exhibition culminates in the display of more than two hundred pieces of Lotus Ware, the celebrated fine bone china produced by Knowles, Taylor & Knowles in the 1890s. Revered for its delicate translucence and artistic refinement, Lotus Ware represents the pinnacle of American ceramic achievement—a true pièce de résistance of the potter’s art.
Complementing the historical artifacts are paintings by Roland Schweinsburg, which vividly depict the working lives of 19th-century potters.
The accompanying gift shop, The Clay Shop, offers jewelry fashioned from shards of original local pottery, allowing visitors to take home a tangible piece of this enduring heritage.
Pottery Capital of the United
States
Museum of Ceramics – East Liverpool, Ohio
East Liverpool, Ohio, was a community wholly devoted to the production of pottery, a distinction that earned it national recognition as the “Pottery Capital of the Nation.”
The lower level of the Museum of Ceramics illustrates the city’s industrial heritage through life-size dioramas depicting a jigger shop, kiln, decorating shop, and salesroom, providing an immersive representation of traditional pottery production processes.
Exhibits on the upper level present extensive displays of ware produced by individual potteries, demonstrating the technical skill and artistic range that characterized East Liverpool’s ceramic industry.
Over Forty Years of Service
Since its establishment in 1980, the Museum of Ceramics has preserved and interpreted a wide-ranging collection of dinnerware, art pottery, and utilitarian ceramic wares representative of East Liverpool’s prominent role in American ceramic manufacturing.
The museum is housed in the city’s former United States Post Office, a distinguished Beaux Arts–style structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The institution is jointly administered by the Ohio History Connection and the Museum of Ceramics Foundation.
Classes and Community Events
-
Classes and Community Events -
TRIVIA NIGHT: Trivia Night is the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. Teams of 1 - 4 players compete for half the night’s take. Admission $10
ART CLASSES : Art classes are held every Wednesday from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. No need to sign up, just head over to the MoC and bring some paints with you. Call the MoC for any questions or click on the link to learn more.
CLAY CLASSES: Our Ceramic Classes will resume April of 2026. Click on the Clay Classes link and feel free to give us a call at the MoC to check for the next class series:
(330) 386-6001
Hours of Operation
Open Months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Open Hours:
Tuesday 9 AM–3:30 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–3:30 PM
Thursday 9 AM–3:30 PM
Friday 9 AM–3:30 PM
Saturday 9 AM–3:30 PM
Closed on:
Sunday & Monday
and during the months of :
January, February, March
Admission fees : Adult $6.00. Children, $3.00. AAA, Senior, $5.00. OHC and MoC Members are free as are military personnel.
Guided Tours
Guided tours are offered during regular museum hours and must be scheduled at least one week in advance. The Museum of Ceramics will make every effort to accommodate requests for evening tours, as well as tours during our closed months of January, February, and March.
To arrange a tour, please contact the museum at 330-386-6001. Adult group tours are available at a reduced admission rate of $3.00 per person.
Special age-appropriate programs are also available for school groups. Free for Fourth is a hands-on educational tour designed specifically for fourth-grade classes and is offered free of charge.