Pencil Sharpener Museum
{{short description|Museum in Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{infobox museum
| name = Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum
| logo =
| image =
| map_type = USA Ohio#USA
| coordinates = {{coords|39.5365|-82.4445|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| established = 1989
| dissolved =
| location = 13178 OH-664, Logan, Ohio 43138
| collection_size = 3,479 (2023){{Cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=World's First Pencil Sharpener Museum: world record in Logan, Ohio |url=https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2023/5/worlds-first-pencil-sharpener-museum-world-record-in-logan-ohio-423218 |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=World Record Academy |language=en}}
| visitors =
| founder = Paul A. Johnson
| owner = Charlotte A. Johnson
}}
The Pencil Sharpener Museum, officially the Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum, is a museum showcasing about 3,479 pencil sharpeners just outside of Logan, Ohio. It is located off Ohio State Route 664, inside the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. It is believed to be the largest collection of these items in the entire country, claiming to contain no duplicates.{{Cite web |title=Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum |url=http://www.ohio.org/destination/logan/art-exhibitsexhibitions/paul-a-johnson-pencil-sharpener-museum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401155555/http://www.ohio.org/destination/logan/art-exhibitsexhibitions/paul-a-johnson-pencil-sharpener-museum |archive-date=2016-04-01 |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=Tourism Ohio}}
History
The collection was started by Rev. Paul Johnson in 1989.{{Cite web |title=Pencil Sharpener Museum |url=https://www.explorehockinghills.com/things-to-do/arts-museums/museums/pencil-sharpener-museum/ |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=Explore Hocking Hills |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721172601/https://www.explorehockinghills.com/things-to-do/arts-museums/museums/pencil-sharpener-museum/ |url-status=live }} His wife, Charlotte, had bought him two metal car-shaped sharpeners as a gift, and Johnson needed a hobby following his retirement in 1988. Johnson died in 2010, and Charlotte decided to move the collection to Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center.{{Cite web |last=Rivers |first=Brionna |date=2022-03-11 |title=Quirky hobby turns historic at Pencil Sharpener Museum |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2022/03/09/quirky-hobby-turns-historic-at-pencil-sharpener-museum- |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Spectrum News 1 |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721172600/https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2022/03/09/quirky-hobby-turns-historic-at-pencil-sharpener-museum- |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Killea |first=Frances |title=Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum |url=https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/to-the-point |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Ohio Magazine |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721172601/https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/to-the-point |url-status=live }}
Exhibits
The pencil sharpeners are organized by category, having sections such as food, travel, music, and others. The oldest sharpeners can be found on the lower shelves, and the collection also contains a book describing the correct way to sharpen a pencil. There are also many different materials in the collection, including plastic, metal, and glass versions, along with ones that can be handheld, hung on the walls, or shelf-mounted.
References
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External links
- [https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/paul-a-johnson-pencil-sharpener-museum The museum at Atlas Obscura]
- [https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/7952 The museum at Roadside America]
Category:1989 establishments in Ohio
Category:Museums established in 1989