Arts & Theatre
Art at Your Fingertips: Pyramid Hill's Tactile Sculptures
Posted on Mar 20
Making art accessible for everyone!
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum is known for its breathtaking outdoor art and fascinating Pyramid House, showcasing centuries-old artifacts. Now, thanks to an innovative collaboration with the Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, the museum is more accessible with their new tactile sculptures.
Art at Your Fingertips
Pyramid Hill's Pyramid House Museum is an impressive collection, featuring over 70 Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Syrian and Egyptian antiquities dating to 1550 BCE. Through this collaboration, Clovernook has created nine tactile sculptures— replicas of existing pieces in the Pyramid House— designed to offer a hands-on experience for visitors who are blind, visually impaired, neurodivergent, or those who prefer tactile learning.
"Accessibility is for everyone," says Emily Cox, Education & Community Liaison for Pyramid Hill. "People learn in different ways, and some people need that tactile learning aspect to be able to fully digest the art."
These tactile sculptures allow guests to explore the details and textures of the historic artworks in a way that was previously out of reach. Currently, there are nine tactile sculptures available upon request— there is at least one tactile sculpture to represent each era of history featured in the museum.
Pyramid Hill is dedicated to making art accessible for everyone. Visitors can now engage with these tactile sculptures, gaining a deeper appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship of the ancient works.
The Clovernook Center
Since 1903, the Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired has empowered people who are blind or visually impaired to lead active lives, while also providing life-enriching opportunities. The Arts & Accessibility Initiative is Clovernook's response to the need for improved accessible materials and experiences in museums and public spaces.
"At the heart of this initiative is the inclusion of individuals who are blind and visually impaired in every step of the production process," their website reads. This initiative allows Clovernook to help improve experiences through developing tactile graphics, braille materials, and accessible resources for institutions like Pyramid Hill.
Located in The Pyramid House
The tactile sculptures are all housed inside the iconic Pyramid House. While exploring the park, you can't miss the large glass pyramid that sits on top of a nearly 7,000-square-foot underground home.
The Pyramid House was a dream of Harry T. Wilks, the founder of Pyramid Hill. He bought the land in 1987 with a vision of building an underground home, built with a pyramid roof as its main source of light. Wilks completed the home in 1992 and later founded the park in 1997.
The pyramid is made of three layers of glass that reflect ultraviolet light, and curved skylights brighten the two long corridors that lead to Pyramid House's 2,500-square-foot great room— now lined with the ancient sculpture collection.
The Pyramid House is open from 12pm – 5pm during the park's regular hours (closed Tuesdays) for guests to visit the museum. The nine tactile sculptures are available to visitors upon request.
Alongside the museum, Pyramid Hill features over 400 acres of beautiful natural scenery, 70+ monumental outdoor sculptures, an 1820s pioneer house, and a Museum Gallery for rotating contemporary exhibits.
Whether you’re experiencing Pyramid Hill for the first time or revisiting, the new tactile sculptures at the museum offer an inclusive, interactive way to connect with art. Plan your visit and discover how this thoughtful collaboration is bringing history to life.
Visit Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
1763 Hamilton Cleves Road | Hamilton, Ohio
Open 9am – 5pm | Closed Tuesdays
