About us
Learn About Our Mission to Inspire Peace and Understanding:
Discover our story, values, and commitment to building a more peaceful world.
who are we?
The International Peace Museum is a unique institution dedicated to inspiring peace, understanding, and positive change through education, art, and community engagement. Located in Dayton, Ohio, our museum serves as a vibrant space where visitors of all ages can explore diverse perspectives on peace, social justice, and conflict resolution. Through compelling exhibits, community-driven events, and impactful programs like Peace 101, we provide the tools and knowledge for individuals to become active peacebuilders in their communities. As a nonprofit organization, we work closely with local partners to foster a culture of empathy, resilience, and solidarity, empowering everyone to contribute to a more peaceful world.
Where do we come from?
The International Peace Museum was founded in 2004 by farmers Christine and Ralph Dull, along with J. Frederick Arment, Lisa Wolters, and Steve Fryburg. It emerged from a commitment to peace and nonviolence inspired by Dayton’s legacy in global diplomacy. Our founders envisioned a space that would not only honor Dayton’s historic contributions but also foster a culture of peace and positive change within the Miami Valley community.
Known for its aviation and military history, Dayton continues to play a pivotal role in history, being home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and the namesake of the 1995 Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the International Peace Museum, we aim to illuminate peace histories and narratives, often overshadowed by the spectacle of war.
As the only brick-and-mortar museum dedicated to peace in the United States, we find inspiration from other global peace institutions like the Gernika Peace Museum in Spain and the Kyoto Museum for World Peace in Japan.
We are guided by UNESCO’s belief that peace must be constructed within minds and cultures, so, we address peace through human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Our exhibits and programs encourage visitors to engage with “positive peace,” defined by justice, equality, and respectful relationships—offering a path to transform violent histories into a shared commitment to a more peaceful future.
From 2004-2021, the International Peace Museum was located in the Isaac Pollack House on 208 W. Monument Ave. On May 27, 2022, the museum reopened with a ribbon cutting ceremony at our current location at 10 N. Ludlow St. in Dayton's Courthouse Plaza.
