The Dayton International Peace Museum is a museum located in Dayton, Ohio, at 208 W. Monument Ave. It is the second peace museum to be created in the United States, with The Peace Museum in Chicago, Illinois, which closed in the late 2000s, being the first. The mission of the Dayton International Peace Museum is to inspire a local, national, and international culture of peace. Its exhibits and programs are designed to educate people of all ages about nonviolent responses to conflict. In addition to functioning as a traditional museum that displays peace-related objects of permanent value, the Peace Museum serves as an activities center for those who seek a community of peace. The Peace Museum features permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibits that highlight the rich history of, and potential for, nonviolent solutions to conflict. Located in Dayton's historic Isaac Pollack House, the Peace Museum includes a library, an interactive children's room, a gathering space where visitors can engage in conversation, and holds events such as book discussions and story slams. In 2014, the 1876 structure was refitted with modern technology. The new equipment allows the Peace Museum to produce multimedia, interactive exhibits, and to broadcast programs and virtual exhibits to multiple rooms. The museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
History
The Dayton International Peace Museum was founded in 2004 by Ralph and Christine Dull, J. Frederick Arment, Lisa Wolters, and Steve Fryburg. Ralph is an Ohio farmer and green energy specialist, and Christine is a former teacher. Both are long-time peace activists and members of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Christine was on the National Council of FOR for three years. Ralph received the 2009 Pioneer of Ohio Award from Green Energy Ohio and the National EPA Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2010. They are authors of the book: *, chronicling the Dulls' work in the USSR in 1989. Their goal was friendship with the Soviet people. They were profiled in Time Magazine and the New York Times. Ralph wrote '. This work outlines basic strategies for modern nonviolent conflict resolution, describes the Dulls' trip to Iraq, and includes a sampling of Ralph's observations on peace and nonviolence. J. Frederick Arment is an educator, marketing strategist, and writer. He is the author of the novel: ' and The Elements of Peace: How Nonviolence Works. He is executive director of International Cities of Peace. Lisa Wolters is a graphic designer and ceramic artist. Steve Fryburg is a Veteran for Peace, a former police officer, and director of the Missing Peace Art Space. He was a long-time director of the Museum.
Current initiatives
In May 2015, the Peace Museum held its inaugural Peace Heroes Walk in downtown Dayton. The event brought together more than 700 people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate peace heroes and the ideals that guide them: rejection of violence, promotion of justice, and recognition of the interconnectedness of all people. Inspired by the successful walk, the Peace Heroes Walk Around the World was founded. The purpose of this educational initiative, a collaboration with the Peace Museum, is to promote peace literacy through the stories of peace heroes. Paul K. Chappell, author of the Road to Peacebook series, is the international spokesperson for the Peace Heroes Walk Around the World. Paul has been instrumental in developing the concepts of peace literacy, peace heroes, and peace hero ideals.
